How to Perform an Armbar
Whether it’s wrestling, mixed martial arts, or self-defense, the armbar should be on your repertoire of locks and holds. Armbars may not look as spectacular as spinal locks or as painful as chokeholds, but they are extremely effective at neutralizing your opponent and making them submit. Here are some of the techniques you need to know when performing armbars.
The Armbar: An Overview
The armbar is a joint lock that affects one or more joints found in the arm. Most armbars hyperextend the elbow joint, but the position and pressure used in the armbar can also affect the shoulder and the wrist. In a fight, the armbar can be manipulated, twisted, and pulled in such a way that the joint literally snaps out of its sockets, causing serious injury. In competition, the execution and form of the armbar is judged for points or decisions, or can be used to make the opponent submit.
Armbar Techniques
Almost all armbars are similar in the sense that the fighter locks the arm of his opponent using his own arms or legs, and pulls on the arm to inflict pressure on the elbow, shoulder, or wrist joints. In submission fighting, the armbar may be combined with other maneuvers to create a flashy, effective submission hold that not only affects the arm, but other parts of the body as well.
The armbar is a common technique in many martial arts and wrestling forms, including judo, jujitsu, vale tudo, and is also popular as a rest hold in professional wrestling. Here are four common armbars you may want to know about.
armbar
Standing Armbar. The standing armbar is a lock used on a standing opponent to immobilize the elbow joint, or to take an opponent down to the floor for a follow-up grounded submission hold. It is often combined with a wrist-lock to add pressure to the wrist.
Flying Armbar. The flying armbar is a lock performed on a standing opponent as a takedown. It requires a lot of athleticism, since it involves wrapping your legs on a standing opponent and using your own weight to exert pressure on the elbow as well as hyperextend the shoulder joint. The flying armbar can often be countered by a slam, although it is a very flashy maneuver.
Cross Armbar. The judo hold known as the jujigatame is a popular grounded hold because it is very effective and cannot be easily countered. The attacker grapevines his legs around the arm of the opponent, and hyperextends the elbow joint by lifting his hips up. The cross armbar may also be combined with submission holds like neck-scissors if the attacker is flexible enough.
Fujiwara Armbar. Innovated in professional wrestling, the Fujiwara armbar is a grounded hold performed on a prone opponent. The attacker is positioned 90 degrees to the opponent’s side, leans back to put his weight on the opponent, and then pulls back on the opponent’s near arm on a 90 degree angle. The Fujiwara armbar not only affects the elbow joint, but it also pulls on the pectoral muscle.
All self-defense techniques used for sport should only be performed by seasoned, experienced athletes who know the dynamics and dangers of the move. With these steps, you can add some new maneuvers to your repertoire of submission holds.