Submission · Armlock · Fundamental
FundamentalArmlockGi & no-gi

Armbar (Juji Gatame)

A submission (armlock) you hit from Closed guard, Mount (Tate Shiho Gatame), Knee on belly, S-mount, Back control, Seated open guard, Technical mount and Crucifix. Fundamental level.

Armbar (Juji Gatame) · 1 of 60

Fundamentals: Armbar from the Closed Guard

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Starts from

Get to one of these positions first, then look for the armbar.

Closed guardMount (Tate Shiho Gatame)Knee on bellyS-mountBack controlSeated open guardTechnical mountCrucifix

Key steps

Armlock. Tap early in training, and let go as soon as your partner taps.

  1. Isolate their arm, thumb pointing up
  2. Swing your leg over their head
  3. Pinch your knees and keep their arm on your chest
  4. Lift your hips to finish
If they defend it

They stack you: switch to the triangle or omoplata.

Common mistakes

Common mistake

Letting space open between your legs.

Key details
  • Pinch your knees together the whole time
  • Their thumb points to the ceiling

How to defend it

Caught in it?
Learn the early defense, the escape and when to tap.
How to escape it

Where you’ll face it

You’re most likely to get caught in it from these positions. Each one has its escapes.

Mount (bottom)Knee on belly (bottom)

Related positions & techniques

Starts from
Closed guardMount (Tate Shiho Gatame)Knee on bellyS-mountBack controlSeated open guardTechnical mount
Defend it
How to escape the armbar
Similar submissions
Kesa armlock (arm over the thigh)S-mount armbarBicep slicerChoi bar
Also from Closed guard
Scissor sweepHip bump sweepFlower (pendulum) sweepOmoplata sweepKimura trap back takeArm drag to the back (guard)
In courses
Foundations II: Closed guardFoundations V: Pins & mountFoundations VI: Standing, front headlock & backOpen guard setBack attack set
Seminars

Safety and research

What the research says

The most common cause of competition injury in the best-known study: the elbow was the most injured joint, usually by armbar hyperextension. In a 2025 survey of 881 practitioners, armbars caused 21% of submission injuries. Tap early, and finish slowly with training partners.

Source: Scoggin et al., Assessment of Injuries During Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Competition, Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine (2014); Stegerhoek et al., Injury prevalence among BJJ practitioners globally: 881 participants, BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine (2025)

Read about itGrapplearts articlesBJJ Heroes

Practice

Quick checkArmbar (Juji Gatame) quick check4 questions
My notes

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More from these positionsOther techniques that start where this one does
Scissor sweepSweep → Mount (Tate Shiho Gatame)Hip bump sweepSweep → Mount (Tate Shiho Gatame)Flower (pendulum) sweepSweep → Mount (Tate Shiho Gatame)Tripod sweepSweep → Passing open guardSickle sweepSweep → Passing open guardOmoplata sweepSweep → Side control (Yoko Shiho Gatame)Rear naked choke (Hadaka Jime)Submission · ChokeTriangle (Sankaku Jime)Submission · Choke
← Crucifix choke17 of 44 submissionsKimura (Gyaku Ude Garami) →