The 5 step armbar from the guard.

The 5 step armbar is one of the first submissions that a white belt is taught and is used successfully in competition at all levels. If you want to be good at Brazilian Jiu Jitsu you need to be able to do this in your sleep. The best way to learn the 5 step armbar is to learn each step individually and then drill all the steps together. You will want to get the transition between the steps so smooth that it actually becomes only one step. Try to go for this armbar every time you are in the guard and try to use it against as many people as possible, remember people react differently to submissions and you need to get used to dealing with these counters.




STEP 1:

 Start off by getting a sleeve and high collar grip and use the sleeve grip to pull the arm as straight as possible. Pull the collar towards your belt to give you enough space to move to the next step.

 STEP 2:

 While maintaining pressure on the sleeve and collar move the foot on the same side as the straightened arm and place it on your opponents hip and squeeze your knee towards your collar gripping hand. This will trap the arm and stop it from being pulled out.

 STEP 3:

As you push down on his hip move your other leg up into your opponents armpit and keep your knee bent to control his posture. It is important to move your leg up as high as possible, This will force your opponents torso to turn away from you. As a rule of thumb, by this step you will want to look into your opponents ear.

 STEP 4:


At this point you will let go of the collar grip and move that hand to grip the elbow of the trapped arm. Once the arm is secured you can let go of the sleeve grip and use that hand to grab your opponents head and push it down as you throw your leg over it. Now move your hands to the wrist of the trapped arm.

You want your leg to be over the head and not the neck as this will stop your opponent from standing up or stacking. You will want to keep your legs bent   and move your knees as close to each other as possible.

 STEP 5:



To finish pull down on the wrist and lift your hip up as you keep your knees bent. Remember to do this slowly because you don't want to break your training partners arm.

Well there you go, the armbar in five easy steps. Remember practice makes perfect and repetition makes permanent.


I would like to thank Jacques Wagner from Crazy Monkey Centurion in South Africa for demonstrating this technique for the camera, for more info go to http://crazymonkeycenturion.co.za/.