Escape the armbar

Before it’s locked

• Keep your elbows tight to your body
• Don’t post your hands on their chest or the mat
• Keep your arm bent and close

The main escape

1. Clasp your hands or grab your own sleeve to keep the arm bent
2. Stack them onto their shoulders so their hips can’t lift
3. Turn your thumb out like a hitchhiker so your elbow faces sideways
4. Pull the elbow free and pass, or come up in their guard

Escape roadmap

The seven stages of this escape. Work from the top: the earlier you act, the less you need the later stages.

1. 1
   Prevent

   • Keep your elbows tight to your body
   • Don’t post your hands on their chest or the mat
2. 2
   Defensive posture

   • Keep the arm bent and close
   • Weight forward, onto them
3. 3
   Hand fight

   • Clasp your hands or grab your own sleeve
   • Hug your trapped arm to your chest
4. 4
   Make space

   • Stack them onto their shoulders
   • Step up so their hips can’t lift
5. 5
   Clear the structure

   • Turn your thumb out like a hitchhiker so your elbow faces sideways
   • Push their leg off your head or face
6. 6
   Late escape

   • Rotate the elbow and pull it out as you come up
   • Tap once your elbow is straight and their hips start to lift
7. 7
   Back to safety

   • Come up in their guard with your elbows tight
   • Or pass to side control

Escape options

Drill it

My notes

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