Far Side Armbar

Student Objectives:

  1. The student will apply the far side armbar technique, from Side Control, against a nonresistant partner.
  2. The student will practice keeping their hips low during the transition around the head by lunge stepping near the hip before the rotation.  
  3. The student will explore the control and pressure from the Forearm Wedge while practicing the Far Side Armbar.

Teaching Cues:

  • Underhook
  • Shrimp
  • YES! (cheer)
  • Step
  • Lunge
  • Sit

Lesson: Far Side Armbar

The assisting student will lie in the Side Control bottom position with their feet and back flat on the floor.  The practicing student will start with their hands clasped and their arms in a Crossface and an Underhook.  The practicing student should allow space for the assisting student to move as it is part of the set up for the far side armbar.  

To initiate the technique, the assisting student will Shrimp. This should turn the chest towards the practicing student and orientate their body onto their side.  As the assisting student shrimps, the practicing student will transfer the hand of the underhooking arm to the back of the tricep of the assisting student.  As the practicing student is taking control of the tricep, the attached forearm should slide in front of the assisting student’s body with the elbow pointing towards the floor.  The hand will pull down on the tricep while pushing into the stomach with the forearm.  This is known as the Forearm Wedge.  It creates a lot of control over the orientation of the assisting student’s body and should prevent them from rolling their back to flat to the floor.    

Once the practicing student has a strong forearm wedge they will give a slight turn of their body so that their chest and belly button are facing the assisting student’s head.  This will allow for the practicing student to step over the assisting student’s head with the outside leg. Make sure that during this transition they do not kick their partner in the face.  

Once the foot has stepped over the head the practicing student will be in a modified combat base position.  The head can be lightly squeezed behind the knee pit of the practicing student to adjust their base and prepare for the lunge step.    

The foot that is posted will make a large step towards the belt of the assisting student.  The further the step the better the armbar.  Some students will communicate that they feel like they are losing their balance during this transition and that is ok because they should allow themselves to fall on their buttocks as they drag the planted knee.  This knee will rotate during the fall to orientate the knee pit over the face of the assisting student.  As the practicing student’s buttocks hit the floor they should pinch their knees together while leaving their feet where they lay (the lunge step should have the foot as close to the belt as possible).  

The unraveling of the Forearm wedge should leave the arm controlled in a traditional armbar position.  To finish the armbar the practicing student will fall back with the arm and maintain the pinch of the knees.

Possible Extensions:

  • Once the student has a good understanding of this movement the stepping over the head should be eliminated.  While there is still a transition around the head, the foot just swings directly to the hip rather than posting in the modified Combat Base on the other side of the head.  When done this way, kicking your training partner in the face is a real worry.
  • Have the practicing student start in the Knee on Belly position.  Once elevated the assisting student will take their outside hand and place it on the knee.  When the hand is on the knee with the intent to stuff the knee back to the floor, the hand will be placed in the palm up position on between the bicep and the rib cage (as in the above lesson the hand should attempt to control the tricep area).  Once the hand is in position the assisting student will shrimp and stuff the knee to the floor.  This should leave the practicing student in the same position as the Forearm Wedge in the above lesson plan.

Possible Refinements:

  • To lead the transition of the foot lunging to the hip, have the practicing student reach with their free hand to try and grab a hold of the pants.  This seems to help guide the practicing student to the correct position while also allowing a secure armbar by grabbing the pants at the knee.
  • Make sure the practicing student pulls the assisting student all the way on their side.  When this pull is combined with the shrimp of the assisting student it should be pulling them in the direction that their chest is starting to go.  While performing this, make sure the forearm is pushing on the stomach so that they can’t turn all the way belly down.
  • The Forearm Wedge is the power of this position.  Make sure the practicing student builds an understanding of the pulling with the hand on the tricep and the pushing with the forearm.  These are contradicting forces that will have a “gas and clutch” feel to them.  Allow students additional time to build an understanding of the opposing pressures and how to use them to their advantage.

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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