Arm Lock

Family

腕関節技(Ude Kansetsu Waza)

Translation: Arm joint technique

Overview

The Arm Lock family encompasses all joint lock submissions that target the shoulder, elbow, or wrist — hyperextending, rotating, or compressing these joints beyond their normal range of motion to force a submission. ^[1] This is the largest and most diverse submission family in BJJ, containing the armbar (juji gatame — the single most iconic submission in martial arts), the kimura (double wristlock / gyaku ude garami), the americana (ude garami), and dozens of variations. ^[1],[2] Arm locks are the most fundamental and highest-percentage submissions across all grappling arts — the armbar alone has decided more competitive matches than any other single submission technique in BJJ, judo, and MMA combined. ^[2],[3] Jigoro Kano formalised arm lock techniques (kansetsu waza) in Kodokan judo, recognising the elbow as the only joint that could be safely attacked in competition; BJJ later expanded this to include shoulder locks (kimura, americana) and wrist locks. ^[3]

Also known as

ArmlockArm Joint LockUpper Limb LockUde Kansetsu WazaJP

Used in

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Judo Wrestling Sambo

History & Origin

Arm locks have existed in combat systems since ancient times — Greek pankration and Indian wrestling traditions both included elbow hyperextension techniques. ^[1] Jigoro Kano formalised arm locks in Kodokan judo as kansetsu waza, restricting competition locks to the elbow joint for safety. ^[1],[2] Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expanded the arm lock curriculum to include shoulder locks (kimura, americana) and wrist locks, creating the most comprehensive arm-attacking system in martial arts. ^[2],[3] The kimura is named after judoka Masahiko Kimura, who broke Hélio Gracie's arm with gyaku ude garami in their famous 1951 match. ^[3]

Effectiveness

Arm locks are the most commonly finished submission category in both BJJ and MMA. ^[1] The armbar is the single most successful submission in IBJJF competition history and one of the top three finishes in UFC history. ^[2] Ronda Rousey built her entire MMA career on the armbar, finishing 9 of her 12 wins by arm lock. ^[3]

Lineage

Arm locks trace from ancient pankration through judo's kansetsu waza (Kano, 1882) to BJJ's expanded arm lock curriculum (Gracie lineage). The kimura is named after Masahiko Kimura's 1951 victory over Hélio Gracie. ^[1],[2]

Competition Record

Arm locks (particularly armbars) are the most commonly finished submission in IBJJF history. In the UFC, the armbar is one of the top three most common submission finishes. Ronda Rousey finished 9/12 MMA wins by armbar. ^[1],[2]

Images

No images yet for this technique.

Biomechanical Mechanism

Primary Action — Isolating one of the opponent's arms and applying leverage to hyperextend the elbow, rotate the shoulder, or compress the wrist beyond physiological limits

Joints Involved — The target joint determines the mechanic — elbow (armbar hyperextends the elbow by trapping the wrist and driving the hips into the elbow joint), shoulder (kimura and americana rotate the shoulder using a figure-four grip on the wrist with the elbow as a fulcrum), wrist (wrist locks flex or extend the wrist using leverage from the forearm)

Force Vector — Armbar: linear extension of the elbow against its natural bend direction, Kimura: external rotation of the shoulder (arm behind the back), Americana: internal rotation of the shoulder (arm pushed toward the mat), Wrist lock: flexion or extension of the wrist

Lock Mechanic — All arm locks work on the lever principle — the attacker uses their entire body (hips, legs, body weight) against a single joint, creating an overwhelming mechanical advantage; the key to any arm lock is isolating the arm so the opponent cannot use their whole body to resist

Position & Entry

Armbar from mount — From high mount, isolate one of the opponent's arms by pinning it against your chest, swing the leg over their face, fall back while hugging the arm, squeeze the knees, and drive the hips upward into the elbow — the most fundamental submission in BJJ [1]

Kimura from closed guard — From closed guard, control the opponent's wrist with one hand, reach over their arm and grip your own wrist creating a figure-four lock, open the guard and hip out to the kimura side, and rotate their arm behind their back

Americana from side control — From side control, isolate the opponent's near arm by pressing it to the mat, establish a figure-four grip (your wrist under their wrist, your other hand gripping your own wrist), and drive the arm toward the mat in an arc while keeping their elbow pinned [2]

Videos

Roger Gracie TV

Closed Guard Arm Lock Finish Details

Arm Lock·Roger Gracie TV

🔥 FREE CONTENT 🔥 for Youtube Subscribers https://rogergracietv.com/yt/755-free-content

1 video

Learn This Technique

No instructional courses yet for this technique.

Ratings

Danger Rating

Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to

Very High8/10

Arm locks can cause severe joint injuries: armbar hyperextension can rupture the elbow ligaments and dislocate the joint; kimura and americana can dislocate or fracture the shoulder; wrist locks can damage the carpal ligaments; these injuries can require surgery and months of recovery; always tap early in training

Difficulty

Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably

Beginner

Competition Legality

Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets

— IBJJF — Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi

IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF

— kansetsu-waza

IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF

— ADCC — Legal — all submissions legal in ADCC

ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF

— Unified MMA — Legal submission technique

Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF

— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal

FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF

— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal

FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDF

Training Notes

✓The armbar from mount and guard should be the first submissions mastered — they are the most common finishes in competition and the foundation of all arm lock knowledge (Ribeiro, Jiu-Jitsu University, 2008) ^[1]

✓Arm isolation is the key — before applying any arm lock, the target arm must be isolated from the opponent's body; if both arms are free, arm locks are nearly impossible

✓The hips are the engine of the armbar — the hip thrust into the elbow creates the hyperextension; arm-only armbars are weak

✓Kimura grip is one of the most powerful controls in grappling — the figure-four grip on the wrist can be used as a control position even when the submission itself isn't available

✓Chain arm locks with chokes — armbar defence (pulling the arm in) exposes the neck for chokes; choke defence (pushing arms out) exposes the arms for arm locks; this is the fundamental submission chain ^[2]

✓Train the transition from armbar to triangle to omoplata — these three submissions flow together from guard as the opponent defends each one

✓Tap early to arm locks in training — elbow and shoulder injuries are career-threatening; no training submission is worth a torn ligament

✓Wrist locks are the 'hidden' arm lock — many practitioners overlook wrist locks, but they are available from virtually every grip exchange and position

Common Mistakes

!Not isolating the arm before applying the lock — attempting an armbar or kimura while the opponent's arm is connected to their body allows them to use their whole body to resist

!Crossing the feet during the armbar — in many situations, crossed feet allow the opponent to roll and escape; keep feet uncrossed with knees squeezing tight

!Americana with the elbow off the mat — the americana requires the opponent's elbow to be pinned to the mat as the fulcrum; if the elbow is free, the submission has no leverage

!Kimura with hips too far away — the kimura requires the attacker's body to be close to the opponent's shoulder; too much distance allows the opponent to straighten the arm and escape

!Forcing arm locks against a fully defended arm — if the opponent has a death grip (hands clasped together), try to break the grip first or transition to a different attack

!Not controlling the thumb direction during armbar — the opponent's thumb must point upward (toward the ceiling) for the armbar to hyperextend correctly; if the thumb is sideways, the arm rotates and escapes

!Attempting wrist locks without proper control — wrist locks require controlling the forearm while attacking the wrist; without forearm control, the opponent simply pulls their hand free

Related Techniques

Choke — the complementary submission category that chains with arm locks Triangle Choke — often chained with armbars from guard Leg Lock — lower-body joint lock counterpart Guard — the primary position for arm lock attacks Mount — high-percentage arm lock position Omoplata — leg-based arm lock from guard

Counter Techniques

Clasping Hands (Gable Grip) — grabbing the attacked hand with the free hand to prevent arm isolation Hitchhiker Escape — rotating the body in the direction of the trapped thumb to relieve armbar pressure Stack Defence — driving forward to stack the opponent during the armbar, compressing their body and reducing leverage Elbow-In — keeping elbows tight to the body to prevent arm isolation Standing Up — standing up to escape armbars from guard; posture and standing breaks the armbar angle

Setup Chain

1Achieve Position — establish mount, guard, side control, or back control

2Identify the Target Arm — recognise which arm is available for attack

3Isolate the Arm — separate the target arm from the opponent's body using grips, positioning, or secondary attacks

4Secure the Lock — apply the specific arm lock grip (armbar hips, kimura figure-four, americana figure-four)

5Apply Pressure — use body mechanics (hip thrust for armbar, rotation for kimura) to stress the joint

6Finish — maintain controlled pressure until the opponent taps

Sources & References

Primary Source

Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008)

1BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)

Description sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) on armbar fundamentals [2] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003) on submission hierarchy [3] Kimura vs Gracie 1951 historical match

2BookMastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)

History sources — [1] Ancient arm lock traditions [2] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986) on kansetsu waza [3] Kimura-Gracie match

3BookKodokan Judo (Kano, 1986)

4BookEnter the System: Armbars (Danaher, BJJ Fanatics)

5SyllabusKodokan Judo — Official Katame-waza Classification

Official Kodokan ground technique classification system

6CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)

7CitationMastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)

History sources — [1] Ancient arm lock traditions [2] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986) on kansetsu waza [3] Kimura-Gracie match

8CitationKodokan Judo (Kano, 1986)

9CitationEnter the System: Armbars (Danaher, BJJ Fanatics)

Community

Athletics

Requires

hip dexterity (the hips are the engine of the armbar), grip strength (controlling the wrist for kimura and americana), leg control (squeezing to maintain armbar position)

Favours

long legs (easier to reach across the opponent's face for armbar), strong hips (hyperextension power), flexible hips (angle creation for arm locks from various positions)

Juji-gatame (cross arm lock) is the most common armlock submission in MMA history and the second most common submission overall after the rear naked choke. (UFC Stats; Ribeiro, Jiu-Jitsu University)

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the first thing I should do when setting up an arm lock from closed guard?

According to Roger Gracie, the most important first step is to secure and hold the arm firmly before anything else. This creates immediate tension that prevents your opponent from pulling their arm back or escaping, making the rest of the technique much more effective.

How do I prevent my opponent from pulling their arm free during an arm lock?

Roger Gracie emphasizes that you must secure the arm first and create tension on it—if they try to push up, you move with them, but keep the arm locked securely against your chest. As you shift your position, angle your elbow so it's difficult for them to extract their arm.

What adjustment should I make to prevent my opponent from going inside my legs?

Roger Gracie teaches that you should pull the elbow back and adjust your position by climbing and holding before raising your hips to finish. This positioning keeps their arm on the outside of your legs where you maintain control.

How does the Arm Lock work?

Where does the Arm Lock come from?

Arm locks have existed in combat systems since ancient times — Greek pankration and Indian wrestling traditions both included elbow hyperextension techniques. Jigoro Kano formalised arm locks in Kodokan judo as kansetsu waza, restricting competition locks to the elbow joint for safety.

Is the Arm Lock legal in competition?

IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi; IJF: legal — Legal — elbow joint lock (kansetsu-waza), one of the permitted submission cat…; ADCC: legal — Legal — all submissions legal in ADCC; Unified MMA: legal — Legal submission technique; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal

How dangerous is the Arm Lock?

Danger rating 8/10. High — arm locks can cause severe joint injuries: armbar hyperextension can rupture the elbow ligaments and dislocate the joint; kimura and americana can dislocate or fracture the shoulder; wrist locks can damage the carpal ligaments; these injuries can require surgery and months of recovery; always tap early in training

How do I set up the Arm Lock?

The standard setup chain: Achieve Position → Identify the Target Arm → Isolate the Arm → Secure the Lock → Apply Pressure → Finish.

How do I defend against the Arm Lock?

Standard counters include: Clasping Hands (Gable Grip) — grabbing the attacked hand with the free hand to prevent arm isolation / Hitchhiker Escape — rotating the body in the direction of the trapped thumb to relieve armbar pressure / Stack Defence — driving forward to stack the opponent during the armbar, compressing their body and reducing leverage / Elbow-In — keeping elbows tight to the body to prevent arm isolation.

What are the variants of the Arm Lock?

Common variants: Armbar (juji gatame) (the most fundamental arm lock; hyperextending the elbow u…); Kimura (gyaku ude garami / double wristlock) (figure-four shoulder lock rotating the arm behind the bac…); Americana (ude garami) (figure-four shoulder lock pushing the arm toward the mat;…); Omoplata (shoulder lock using the legs; entered from guard positions); Straight armbar (armbar applied by gripping the wrist and driving the elbo…); Baratoplata (hybrid between armbar and omoplata); Wrist lock (various) (flexion, extension, or rotation attacks on the wrist); Monoplata (shoulder lock variation using a single leg).

How effective is the Arm Lock in competition?

Arm locks (particularly armbars) are the most commonly finished submission in IBJJF history. In the UFC, the armbar is one of the top three most common submission finishes.

What are common mistakes when doing the Arm Lock?

Top errors to watch for: Not isolating the arm before applying the lock — attempting an armbar or kimura while the opponent's arm is connected… / Crossing the feet during the armbar — in many situations, crossed feet allow the opponent to roll and escape; keep fe… / Americana with the elbow off the mat — the americana requires the opponent's elbow to be pinned to the mat as the ful… / Kimura with hips too far away — the kimura requires the attacker's body to be close to the opponent's shoulder; too m….

What are other names for the Arm Lock?

The Arm Lock is also known as Armlock, Arm Joint Lock, Upper Limb Lock, Ude Kansetsu Waza.

arm lock armbar juji gatame kimura gyaku ude garami americana ude garami omoplata wrist lock double wristlock shoulder lock elbow lock kansetsu waza submission joint lock