Armbar
Overview
Section titled “Overview”Safety
Section titled “Safety”Armbar causes the most injuries in jiu jitsu.
Three main positions
Section titled “Three main positions”- Top armbar (top juji)
- Belly down armbar (choi)
- Closed guard armbar (stack)
Core Mechanics and Concepts
Section titled “Core Mechanics and Concepts”Anatomy of the armbar
Section titled “Anatomy of the armbar”Elbow line control
Section titled “Elbow line control”The fulcrum concept
Section titled “The fulcrum concept”Why grip fighting matters more than cranking
Section titled “Why grip fighting matters more than cranking”Top Armbar (Top Juji)
Section titled “Top Armbar (Top Juji)”- Half
- Quarter
- 3/4
- Scissor
- Double shoulder post
- Arm saddle
- Triangle
Core mechanics
Section titled “Core mechanics”- Foot position
- Which hip
- Preventing rotation
- Preventing elbow freeing
- Hierarchy of grips
Breaking mechanics
Section titled “Breaking mechanics”Finishing mechanics
Section titled “Finishing mechanics”Breaking grips
Section titled “Breaking grips”- RNC grip
- Hand to hand
- Leg grip
- Triangle/armbar threat
Countering escapes
Section titled “Countering escapes”- Hitchhiker
- Leg trap
- Getting stacked
- Escaping over leg
Defense
Section titled “Defense”- Defensive grips
- RNC grip: freeing the elbow and stacking
- Leg trap escape
- Hitchhiker
- Reverse hitchhiker
Entries
Section titled “Entries”- From mount
- From side control
- From back control
- From S-mount
Belly Down Armbar (Choi)
Section titled “Belly Down Armbar (Choi)”Core mechanics
Section titled “Core mechanics”- Rotational pressure on the arm
- Breaking posture
- Leg positioning
Breaking mechanics
Section titled “Breaking mechanics”How you get there
Section titled “How you get there”- Spin out of stack
- Bridge on top
- Choi bar entry
- Falling off the back
Offense
Section titled “Offense”- Break grip and finish
- Roll them over
- To the back
Troubleshooting
Section titled “Troubleshooting”- They posture
- They roll
- They trap foot
- They step/jump over head
- Limp arm
- Sprawl and walk
Defense
Section titled “Defense”- Preventing and dealing with the choi bar
Closed Guard Armbar (Stack)
Section titled “Closed Guard Armbar (Stack)”Why this is hard to hit at fundamentals level
Section titled “Why this is hard to hit at fundamentals level”Breaking mechanics
Section titled “Breaking mechanics”How to recognize you’re here
Section titled “How to recognize you’re here”How to get out of it / transition to better position
Section titled “How to get out of it / transition to better position”Summary
Section titled “Summary”Coaching Guide
Section titled “Coaching Guide”Common entries and sequences
Section titled “Common entries and sequences”Key game progressions
Section titled “Key game progressions”Choi bar sequence (belly down armbar). The choi bar is a great candidate for progressive game design.
Game 1: Belly down armbar hold. Start in belly down armbar position. Attacker wins by keeping the arm out for 20 seconds. Defender wins by freeing their elbow or stacking. This game teaches rotational pressure, breaking posture, and foot placement in position. Gets students decent at half-holding it before adding complexity.
Game 2: From elbow connection. Move the starting point back in the chain to when the attacker’s elbow connects to the defender’s stomach. This randomizes it significantly more, as the defender has more options and the attacker has to work through the full choi bar entry sequence before arriving at the belly down position.
Note: Tested in advanced class (2026-03-24) and went really well.
Common problems and cues
Section titled “Common problems and cues”Recommended games
Section titled “Recommended games”Resources
Section titled “Resources”- Armbar, Lachlan Giles (Submeta)
- Armbar Escapes, Lachlan Giles (Submeta)
- Finishing the Armbar, Lachlan Giles (Submeta)
- Belly Down Armbar, Lachlan Giles (Submeta)
- Choi Bar from Open Guard, Lachlan Giles (Submeta)
- Choi Bar from Half Butterfly, Lachlan Giles (Submeta)