Armbar

Student Objectives:

1. The student will practice the basic mounted armbar when their partner pushes up with straight arms from mount bottom.
2. The student will analyze the mechanics needed to finish an armbar.

Teaching Cues:

• Push Up Chest
• Compressions
• Chicken Squat  
• Turn the Knees
• Don’t kick your partner in the head
• Big Hug

Lesson: Armbar from Mount

The assisting student begins with their back flat on the ground, knees gently bent, and feet flat on the floor.  Their hands start in the Home Alone position.  The practicing student takes the mount position with their chest low and arms in superman position.  

A good training partner pushes up with their arms as a cue for the practicing student to move into the armbar.  Remind the practicing student to sit up as the arms are pushing, it is natural for students in the mount position to be heavy on top; however, straight arms are good for this technique. The practicing student should want future opponents to straighten their arms.  

As the assisting partner pushes up with their arms, the practicing student takes one hand and threads it under the extended arms. The practicing student places this hand in the center of their opponent’s chest. The second hand goes around the extended arm and lands on top of their other hand.  This is the “chest compressions” position.  

The practicing student applies their weight to their hands to quickly transition to both feet. Encourage the practicing student to align their feet close to the plane of the assisting student’s shoulders.  Also encourage them to stay in a squatting position. Too much space allows their future opponents to easily pull their arm out.    

Once on their feet, the student  pivots on the balls of their feet and points both knees towards the assisting student's free arm.  This orients their body so they can lay the outside of their thigh on the chest/abdominal muscle of the assisting student.  Tell the student to “lay down” on their partner and use the knee as a pillow.  This makes the leg that comes around the head weightless and eases the leg’s transition over the head of the assisting student.  This also helps students with flexibility problems and overweight students who cannot take the leg over the head normally.  

Once the leg clears the head, the student takes their buttox to the floor. They also hug the arm tightly (at this point it should already be in place between their arms).  Finally, the practicing student pinches their knees and places their back on the floor.    

Ensure you talk about safety associated with the armbar. Students should not pull on the wrist or lift their hips as it can bind the arm.  It’s important to instruct students regarding armbar mechanics and binding pressure.  Assisting students should not wait for pain, but should tap when they feel pressure.  

Possible Extensions:

• As the students become proficient at “popping up” and the transition of the leg around the head, they may execute this move without ever putting their feet on the floor.  This is the desired movement, but it takes practice to execute without kicking your partner in the face or endangering their partner’s arm during the transition.
• This lesson is similar to the way you would do an S-Mount Armbar.  Using the S-Mount armbar is an easy extension to allow students a slower, dominating transition.
• Pair this armbar with any of the mounting techniques to create a flow from the mount transition directly into a submission.  
• Pair this armbar with the L-Escape.  It gives the practicing student practice on the entry and allows practice on defense.

Possible Refinements:

• During the finish of the armbar, make sure they are hugging the arm with the crook of their elbow.  The student can cross grip their own shoulders to achieve this.
• The assisting student’s pushing motion combines with the practicing student’s chest compressions and creates enough momentum to move to their feet.  This is the key to accomplishing the motion without ever putting the feet on the floor.

Reference materials:

Teaching Reflections:

• How did I do teaching?
• What could I do better next time?
• Did the student gain proficiency in lesson material?

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