⚠️ SAFETY: Armbar from Mount targets the Elbow joint. Risk: Elbow hyperextension. Release immediately upon tap.
The Armbar from Mount represents one of the most fundamental and high-percentage finishing techniques in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, targeting the elbow joint through hyperextension. From the dominant mount position, this submission leverages superior positional control to isolate an opponent’s arm and create mechanical advantage through hip extension. The mount-to-armbar transition is particularly effective because it capitalizes on the defensive frames opponents naturally create when attempting to escape mount, turning their defensive structure into offensive opportunities. This technique exemplifies the core BJJ principle of using an opponent’s energy against them - as they push to create space, you redirect that energy to capture and extend their arm. The armbar from mount serves as a gateway submission that opens pathways to multiple other attacks including triangles, Americanas, and back takes, making it essential for developing a complete offensive game from top position.
Category: Joint Lock Type: Arm Lock Target Area: Elbow joint Starting Position: Mount Success Rates: Beginner 45%, Intermediate 60%, Advanced 75%
Safety Guide
Injury Risks:
| Injury | Severity | Recovery Time |
|---|---|---|
| Elbow hyperextension | Medium | 2-4 weeks |
| Elbow dislocation | High | 6-12 weeks |
| Ligament tears (UCL/MCL) | CRITICAL | 3-6 months or surgical repair |
| Bicep tendon strain | Medium | 3-6 weeks |
Application Speed: SLOW and progressive - 3-5 seconds minimum from capture to full extension
Tap Signals:
- Verbal tap (saying ‘tap’ or any distress signal)
- Physical hand tap (minimum 2 taps on partner or mat)
- Physical foot tap (stomping or tapping with foot)
- Any distress vocalization or signal
- Frantic hand waving if arms trapped
Release Protocol:
- Immediately release hip pressure and lower hips to mat
- Open legs and remove leg pressure from opponent’s head/shoulder
- Release grip on opponent’s wrist/arm
- Allow opponent to pull arm back to safety
- Check verbally that partner is okay before continuing
Training Restrictions:
- Never spike or jerk the submission - apply smooth, progressive pressure only
- Never use competition speed in training - always allow minimum 3-5 seconds
- Always ensure training partner has at least one hand free to tap
- Never fully extend the joint in training - stop at first sign of resistance
- Never practice on partners with existing elbow injuries without instructor supervision
Key Principles
- Maintain mount control throughout the transition to prevent escape during arm isolation
- Control the wrist before committing to the leg swing to ensure arm security
- Keep opponent’s thumb pointing up (supinated) to maximize elbow vulnerability
- Use hip extension as primary force rather than pulling with arms
- Squeeze knees together to control opponent’s head and prevent posture recovery
- Keep opponent’s arm tight to your chest to eliminate escape space
- Point toes and pinch heels to create maximum hip pressure and control
Prerequisites
- Establish stable mount position with weight distributed forward over opponent’s chest
- Control opponent’s defensive frames or pushing arms
- Break opponent’s elbow connection to their body
- Secure grip on opponent’s wrist with both hands
- Create angle by shifting hips toward the target arm side
- Maintain heavy chest pressure to prevent bridging escape during transition
Execution Steps
- Establish mount control and pressure: From mount, distribute your weight forward onto opponent’s chest while keeping your base wide. Pin their shoulders to the mat and prevent bridging by keeping your hips low and chest heavy. This foundational control is critical before attempting any submission. (Timing: Establish solid control for 2-3 seconds before proceeding) [Pressure: Firm]
- Isolate the target arm: Identify which arm to attack - typically the arm opponent uses to frame against your chest. Use one hand to trap their wrist and your other hand to post on the mat near their head. If opponent has both arms tucked, use collar grips or head control to bait them into creating a frame, then immediately capture the extended arm. (Timing: 1-2 seconds to identify and capture target arm) [Pressure: Moderate]
- Secure two-on-one wrist control: Transition to gripping the captured wrist with both of your hands, ensuring the opponent’s thumb is pointing upward (supinated position). Pull the wrist slightly toward you while keeping their elbow tight to your chest. This two-on-one control prevents the opponent from pulling their arm free during the transition. (Timing: 1 second to establish double grip) [Pressure: Firm]
- Shift angle and prepare leg position: While maintaining wrist control, shift your hips at a 45-degree angle toward the trapped arm side. Keep your weight heavy on their chest as you begin to bring your leg (on the same side as the trapped arm) up near their head. Your other leg remains posted wide for base during the transition. (Timing: 2 seconds to shift hips and position leg) [Pressure: Firm]
- Swing leg over head and establish armbar position: In one smooth motion, swing your leg over opponent’s head while keeping their arm pinned tight to your chest. Your leg should land across their face/neck area. Immediately bring your other leg over their torso, clamping both knees together. Keep your weight back and hips elevated off the mat while maintaining constant control of the wrist. (Timing: 2-3 seconds for complete transition) [Pressure: Maximum]
- Final position adjustment and submission finish: Pinch your knees tightly together to control opponent’s head and prevent them from turning into you. Keep their arm tight to your chest with thumb pointing up. Scoot your hips close to their shoulder to eliminate space. Squeeze your heels together and point your toes. To finish, slowly and progressively extend your hips upward while pulling their wrist down slightly toward your chest. The elbow should be directly over your hips as you create the hyperextension. (Timing: 3-5 seconds progressive pressure to submission) [Pressure: Maximum]
Opponent Defenses
- Pulling arm free before leg swing (Effectiveness: High) - Your Adjustment: Maintain two-on-one wrist control with maximum grip strength. Keep their elbow pinched to your chest and shift your weight onto the trapped arm. If they begin to escape, abandon the armbar and return to mount rather than losing position completely. Alternatively, chain to triangle or Americana attacks.
- Stacking and driving forward during transition (Effectiveness: High) - Your Adjustment: As opponent stacks, maintain wrist control and use their forward momentum to pivot underneath them, often resulting in a sweep to mounted armbar position. Alternatively, release one leg and use the underhook to take the back as they drive forward. Never try to force the armbar against a successful stack.
- Tucking elbow and making fist to prevent extension (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Adjustment: First ensure knees are squeezed tightly together to control their head. Then use both hands to peel their grip open - one hand controlling the wrist, the other hand prying fingers away from the palm. Alternatively, adjust angle by walking your shoulders toward their head to change the leverage point and break the grip. If defense persists, transition to omoplata or triangle.
- Turning into you to release pressure (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Adjustment: Squeeze knees together more tightly to prevent head movement. If they manage to turn slightly, slide your bottom leg under their head deeper and consider transitioning to triangle position. Maintain wrist control throughout. You can also walk your hips closer to their shoulder to cut off the turning angle.
- Grabbing your gi pants or belt during transition (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Adjustment: Once in full armbar position with both legs secured, opponent’s grip becomes largely irrelevant. Focus on proper hip extension rather than trying to break their defensive grip. The submission force comes from your hips, not from pulling their arm. If needed, adjust your angle slightly to increase pressure despite the grip.
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What is the minimum application time for an armbar in training and why is this critical? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: The minimum application time in training should be 3-5 seconds of progressive, smooth pressure. This is critical because the elbow joint can be seriously injured with sudden force, potentially causing ligament tears or dislocation that require months of recovery or surgery. Training at slower speeds allows partners to recognize the danger and tap safely while still learning proper mechanics. Competition speed should only be used in actual competition where both participants accept the injury risk.
Q2: Why must opponent’s thumb be pointing upward during the armbar finish? A: The thumb-up (supinated) position aligns the elbow joint in the weakest anatomical configuration for resisting hyperextension. When the thumb points up, the forearm bones (radius and ulna) are rotated so the elbow’s natural hinge movement is perpendicular to your hip extension force. If the thumb points down (pronated), the forearm bones can rotate partially, distributing force across multiple planes and significantly reducing submission effectiveness. The supinated position also stretches the bicep tendon, adding additional control.
Q3: What are the three most important control points during the armbar transition from mount? A: The three most critical control points are: (1) Two-handed wrist control - both hands gripping the wrist prevents arm escape during the transition; (2) Chest pinning of the captured arm - keeping their tricep tight to your chest eliminates the hitchhiker escape; (3) Knee squeeze on opponent’s head - clamping knees together prevents them from turning into you and escaping. Losing control of any of these three points significantly reduces success probability and may result in losing position entirely.
Q4: How should you respond if opponent begins to successfully stack you during the armbar transition? A: If opponent achieves a successful stack during the transition, you should NOT try to force the armbar against their forward pressure. Instead, maintain wrist control and use their momentum to your advantage by pivoting underneath them, often resulting in a sweep to mounted armbar from the bottom. Alternatively, release your bottom leg and use an underhook to transition to back control as they drive forward. Fighting against a successful stack typically results in losing the position and potentially giving up top position.
Q5: What is the correct hip position during the armbar finish and why? A: Your hips should be elevated off the mat with your lower back arched, while only your shoulder blades touch the mat. This elevated hip position is crucial because the submission force comes from hip extension, not arm pulling. When hips are flat on the mat, you have minimal extension range and significantly reduced leverage. The elevated position allows you to thrust your hips upward into opponent’s elbow joint while pulling their wrist toward your chest, creating maximum hyperextension force through proper biomechanical alignment.
Q6: What should you do immediately when your partner taps to an armbar? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: Immediately upon feeling or hearing the tap: (1) Lower your hips to the mat to remove all hyperextension pressure, (2) Open your legs to release control of their head/shoulder, (3) Release your grip on their wrist/arm completely, (4) Allow them to safely retract their arm, (5) Verbally check that they are okay before continuing training. Never hold a submission after a tap, even for a moment. The tap is an absolute signal to release immediately, as joints can be damaged very quickly once someone taps.
From Which Positions?
Expert Insights
- Danaher System: The armbar from mount represents the quintessential application of positional hierarchy in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu - you begin from the sport’s most dominant position and transition to a mechanically superior finishing position. The key to systematic armbar execution lies in understanding that this is fundamentally a control problem, not a submission problem. Most practitioners fail because they abandon mount control prematurely in their eagerness to finish. The proper sequence requires establishing complete wrist dominance with a two-on-one grip before any commitment to the leg swing. The biomechanics of the finish are simple but precise: the elbow joint must be positioned directly over your hip crease, the thumb must point upward to prevent forearm rotation, and extension force must come from hip drive rather than arm pulling. In training, apply the submission with glacial slowness over 5-7 seconds minimum - this is not merely about safety, though that is paramount, but about developing the sensitivity to feel exactly when your partner reaches structural failure. That kinesthetic awareness will make you far more dangerous in competition than any amount of explosive cranking.
- Gordon Ryan: In competition, the armbar from mount is my highest percentage finish because it directly exploits the fundamental defensive error most people make under pressure - they push against your chest to create space. That pushing frame is exactly the gift I need to capture and extend their arm. The difference between training and competition application is timing and commitment. In training, I give my partner 3-5 seconds to recognize the danger and tap safely. In competition, once I’ve secured proper position with wrist control and leg placement, I’m finishing in under 2 seconds because hesitation creates escape opportunities. That said, even in competition I never jerk or spike the submission - fast doesn’t mean reckless. The technical details that matter most at the elite level: keep your hips as close as possible to their shoulder to eliminate the hitchhiker escape angle, squeeze your knees violently together to prevent any head movement, and extend through your hips while simultaneously pulling their wrist to your sternum. Against high-level opponents, you often only get one clean attempt before they become hyper-aware of the threat, so your first attack must be technically perfect. I chain the armbar with mounted triangles constantly - if they defend one, they expose the other.
- Eddie Bravo: The mounted armbar is fundamental, but at 10th Planet we look for ways to make it tighter and more unexpected. One of my favorite setups is from the gift wrap control we use extensively in our system - when you’ve got their arm trapped across their own neck from mount, they’re already in a compromised structure, and stepping over into the armbar becomes almost unstoppable because they can’t defend with their wrapped arm. Another concept we emphasize is the ‘dead orchard’ principle - creating situations where every defensive option leads to a different submission. From mount, if I attack the armbar and they pull their arm out, I’m immediately switching to a triangle or taking the back. If they stack me during the armbar transition, I’m using that forward momentum to sweep them and finish from the bottom or transition to an omoplata. The key is never being married to one submission - the armbar is just one piece of a larger attacking system from mount. For the actual finish, most people don’t elevate their hips enough. Your ass should be way off the ground, almost like you’re doing a hip thrust at the gym. That elevation combined with squeezing your heels together creates absolutely absurd amounts of pressure. And in training, for the love of god, go slow. I’ve seen too many people blow out their training partners’ elbows by being overly aggressive with armbars. Save that intensity for competition where both people signed up for it.