⚠️ SAFETY: Far Side Armbar targets the Elbow joint (hyperextension). Risk: Elbow hyperextension (ligament damage). Release immediately upon tap.
The Far Side Armbar is a high-percentage finishing technique targeting the opponent’s far arm (the arm furthest from you) when controlling from top positions like side control, mount, or north-south. This submission exploits the opponent’s defensive frames by isolating the extended arm and applying hyperextension pressure to the elbow joint. The far side armbar is particularly effective because it attacks the arm that opponents naturally use to create distance and prevent transitions, making it a fundamental component of submission chains from dominant positions.
Unlike near-side armbars which require significant position changes, the far side armbar can often be secured with minimal positional adjustment, making it a reliable finishing option when opponents are defending tightly. The technique leverages body weight, hip positioning, and leg control to isolate the targeted limb while maintaining top pressure. Success depends on proper grip control, angle creation, and the ability to prevent the opponent from defending by clasping their hands together.
This submission appears frequently in both gi and no-gi competition at all levels, often as part of systematic attack sequences that force opponents into defensive dilemmas. When combined with other submissions like the kimura, americana, or transition to mount, the far side armbar becomes even more potent as it capitalizes on the opponent’s defensive reactions to create finishing opportunities.
Category: Joint Lock Type: Arm Lock Target Area: Elbow joint (hyperextension) Starting Position: Side Control Success Rates: Beginner 35%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 65%
Safety Guide
Injury Risks:
| Injury | Severity | Recovery Time |
|---|---|---|
| Elbow hyperextension (ligament damage) | High | 4-8 weeks for moderate sprains, 3-6 months for severe tears |
| Elbow dislocation | CRITICAL | 3-6 months with potential for permanent instability |
| Bicep tendon strain from resistance | Medium | 2-4 weeks |
| Shoulder strain from torquing during setup | Medium | 2-6 weeks |
Application Speed: SLOW and progressive - 3-5 seconds minimum from control to tap. Never snap or jerk the submission.
Tap Signals:
- Verbal tap (saying ‘tap’ or any verbal signal)
- Physical hand tap (on partner or mat)
- Physical foot tap (on partner or mat)
- Any distress signal or unusual sound
Release Protocol:
- Immediately release hip pressure and stop extending the arm
- Open your legs if using leg control over the body
- Return opponent’s arm to neutral position slowly
- Allow opponent to recover and reset before continuing
- Check with partner verbally that they are okay
Training Restrictions:
- Never spike, jerk, or apply sudden explosive force to the submission
- Never use competition speed or pressure in training rolls
- Always ensure partner has clear access to tap with at least one hand
- Stop immediately at any sign of discomfort or unusual joint sound
- White and blue belts should practice at 30-50% speed only
Key Principles
- Isolate the far arm by controlling the wrist and preventing hand clasping
- Create the proper angle by positioning your hips perpendicular to opponent’s shoulder
- Secure the arm across your chest/body before committing to the finish
- Use leg positioning to control opponent’s torso and prevent escapes
- Apply pressure through hip extension, not by pulling the arm
- Maintain tight connection between your chest and opponent’s captured arm
- Control the opponent’s head or near arm to prevent defensive turns
Prerequisites
- Dominant top position (side control, mount, north-south, or knee on belly)
- Control of opponent’s far wrist or forearm
- Opponent’s arm extended or creating a defensive frame
- Weight distribution preventing opponent from bridging or turning
- Clear path to rotate or adjust hips toward opponent’s head
- Opponent’s near arm controlled or neutralized to prevent hand clasping
Execution Steps
- Secure far arm control: From side control or mount, identify the opponent’s far arm (furthest from you). Grip the wrist firmly with your near hand, or cup behind the elbow if they’re framing. Your goal is to prevent them from pulling their arm back or clasping their hands together for defense. (Timing: 0-2 seconds) [Pressure: Firm]
- Break opponent’s defensive structure: Drive your weight forward and down to extend the opponent’s arm fully. If they’re framing against your neck or shoulder, use your free hand to swim under their arm or peel it across your body. The arm should be straightened and pulled across your chest at approximately shoulder height. (Timing: 2-3 seconds) [Pressure: Firm]
- Trap the arm to your body: Once the arm is extended, clamp it tightly to your chest by squeezing your elbow to your ribs. The opponent’s arm should be positioned so their thumb points up and their tricep presses against your sternum. This grip prevents them from bending their arm to escape. (Timing: 1 second) [Pressure: Firm]
- Position your hips: Begin rotating your hips to create perpendicular alignment with the opponent’s shoulder. Your hips should be positioned near their head, with your body forming a ‘T’ shape relative to theirs. Maintain chest-to-arm connection throughout this movement. (Timing: 2-3 seconds) [Pressure: Moderate]
- Establish leg control: Swing your near leg over the opponent’s head or face, or step it across to the far side of their body. Your far leg should base out for stability or hook under their far side for control. This leg positioning prevents them from turning into you or sitting up to escape. (Timing: 1-2 seconds) [Pressure: Moderate]
- Secure the arm position: Adjust your grip to control the wrist with both hands if possible, or maintain one hand on the wrist and use your chest/shoulder to pin their tricep. The opponent’s thumb should point toward their feet, and their elbow should be facing upward (in the direction you’ll apply breaking pressure). (Timing: 1 second) [Pressure: Firm]
- Apply finishing pressure: Drive your hips forward and upward toward the ceiling while pulling the wrist toward your chest. The breaking pressure comes from hip extension, not arm strength. The opponent’s elbow hyperextends as your hips create a fulcrum point. Apply pressure slowly and progressively over 3-5 seconds, stopping immediately upon tap. (Timing: 3-5 seconds) [Pressure: Light]
Opponent Defenses
- Clasping hands together (prayer defense) (Effectiveness: High) - Your Adjustment: Attack the grip by peeling fingers, using your legs to torque their body, or transitioning to kimura/americana on the near arm before returning to far side armbar
- Turning toward you to hide the arm (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Adjustment: Use your legs and hips to prevent the turn, or allow the turn and transition to back control or alternative submissions like the crucifix
- Pulling the arm back toward their body (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Adjustment: Maintain firm grip on the wrist and use your body weight to keep the arm extended; if they succeed in bending it, transition to mounted position or other attacks
- Bridging or explosive hip movement (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Adjustment: Maintain heavy hip pressure and low center of gravity; use your legs to base out and prevent being rolled; their bridging often exposes the arm even more
- Grabbing your gi or leg to create frames (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Adjustment: These grips typically don’t prevent the finish if your position is sound; continue applying pressure and their grips will break as the armbar tightens
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What is the minimum time you should take to apply finishing pressure to the far side armbar in training? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: You should apply finishing pressure progressively over a minimum of 3-5 seconds in training. This slow, controlled application allows your training partner adequate time to recognize the danger and tap safely, preventing sudden hyperextension injuries to the elbow joint. Competition timing may be faster, but training should always prioritize partner safety.
Q2: Which direction should the opponent’s thumb point when you have the far side armbar properly positioned? A: The opponent’s thumb should point toward their feet (away from their head). This thumb position prevents the hitchhiker escape where they could rotate their arm and relieve pressure on the elbow. If the thumb points toward their head, they can more easily rotate and escape the submission.
Q3: What is the primary source of breaking pressure in the far side armbar, and why is this biomechanically important? A: The primary source of breaking pressure should be hip extension and upward drive, not pulling with the arms. This is biomechanically important because your hips and core generate much more force than your arms, creating a more effective submission. Additionally, hip-driven pressure is easier to control and apply progressively, making it safer for training while being more difficult for opponents to resist.
Q4: How should you respond if your opponent clasps their hands together in prayer defense against your far side armbar attempt? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: When opponent clasps hands in prayer defense, you have several options: systematically peel their fingers apart by isolating and breaking individual grips; use your legs and body torque to stress their grip until it breaks; transition to attacking their near arm with kimura or americana; or transition to mount/other positions. Never use sudden explosive force to break the grip as this can cause finger or wrist injuries.
Q5: What critical safety protocol must you ensure before finishing the far side armbar in training? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: Before finishing the far side armbar in training, you must ensure that your training partner has at least one hand free and accessible to deliver a tap signal. If both their hands are trapped or controlled in a way that prevents tapping, you must adjust your position or release enough pressure to allow tap access. Additionally, you should apply pressure slowly and progressively, watching for any tap signal including verbal taps or distress sounds.
Q6: Why is perpendicular hip positioning important for the effectiveness of the far side armbar? A: Perpendicular hip positioning (creating a ‘T’ shape with your body relative to opponent’s) is crucial because it maximizes leverage on the elbow joint by creating the proper angle of attack. When your hips are positioned near their head at a 90-degree angle, your hip drive creates direct hyperextension force on the elbow. Poor angle reduces leverage, making the submission weaker and easier to defend against, while proper positioning allows even smaller practitioners to finish larger opponents.
Q7: What are the two most severe injury risks associated with far side armbar, and what causes them? [SAFETY-CRITICAL] A: The two most severe injury risks are elbow hyperextension with ligament damage and elbow dislocation. Elbow hyperextension occurs when excessive force is applied to the joint beyond its normal range of motion, typically from jerking, spiking, or applying pressure too quickly. Elbow dislocation is caused by extreme hyperextension or torquing while the arm is locked, especially if the opponent resists explosively or the practitioner applies sudden force. Both injuries are prevented by slow, progressive pressure application and immediate release upon tap.
From Which Positions?
Expert Insights
- Danaher System: The far side armbar represents one of the most mechanically sound submissions in jiu-jitsu due to its fundamental reliance on proper leverage and body positioning rather than athletic attributes. What makes this technique particularly systematic is the clear checkpoint progression: first, you must establish arm isolation and prevent defensive hand clasping; second, you must achieve perpendicular hip alignment to create optimal leverage angles; third, you must secure the arm to your torso to prevent escape through arm bending; and finally, you apply controlled hip extension to generate breaking force. Each checkpoint must be satisfied before progressing to the next, creating a methodical pathway to the finish. The far side armbar also exemplifies the principle of attacking the frame—the very structure the opponent uses to defend becomes their vulnerability when properly isolated and controlled. From a safety perspective in training, the slow and progressive application of pressure is non-negotiable; the elbow joint has limited capacity for hyperextension, and sudden force can cause catastrophic ligament damage. Students must develop the patience and technical precision to control each phase of the submission, understanding that in training, the demonstration of control is more valuable than the finish itself.
- Gordon Ryan: In competition, the far side armbar is one of my highest-percentage finishes from top positions because it directly attacks the defensive frames that opponents instinctively create when under control. The key to making this submission work at the highest levels is understanding the difference between training application and competition application—in training, you apply this submission over 3-5 seconds with progressive pressure to protect your partners; in competition, the application is much faster, but still controlled and technical. What separates elite execution from beginner attempts is the grip fighting and arm isolation phase. Against high-level opponents, you cannot simply grab the arm and expect it to stay extended; you must use weight distribution, angle creation, and often feints to other submissions to create the opening for arm isolation. I often threaten kimuras or americanas on the near arm to force opponents to defend, which naturally extends their far arm into the perfect position for the armbar. The finish itself should feel effortless if your positioning is correct—if you’re muscling the armbar with arm strength, your angle is wrong. The competition mindset is to be decisive once you secure the position: control the wrist, adjust your hips quickly, and extend through your hips with authority. But never forget that your training partners are not your competition opponents; protect them so they can help you improve every day.
- Eddie Bravo: The far side armbar is a beautiful technique because it works in both gi and no-gi, which is rare for a lot of traditional jiu-jitsu submissions that rely heavily on fabric grips. In the 10th Planet system, we emphasize the belly-down variation of the far side armbar because it provides superior control in no-gi situations where the opponent is slippery with sweat. When you rotate to your stomach while maintaining the arm isolation, you can use your entire body weight to apply shoulder pressure while still hyperextending the elbow—it’s extremely difficult to escape and doesn’t require you to sit back and risk losing the position. The setup we use often comes from the truck position or when we’re transitioning through various top positions, catching the arm as opponents try to create frames or push us away. One of the most innovative applications is combining the far side armbar threat with lockdown controls and electric chair setups—when opponents defend the lower body attacks, their arms become extended and vulnerable. Safety-wise, especially when teaching this to newer students, I emphasize the importance of building a training culture where everyone understands that tapping is not losing, it’s learning. The far side armbar can come on very suddenly if the setup is clean, so both the person applying it and the person defending it need to have that mutual respect and communication. In our gym, we practice these submissions thousands of times at slow speed before we ever try them at competition pace, and that foundation of safety allows us to innovate and experiment without injuring each other.