Americana trap from side control - BJJ submissions from side control - Part 1 of 2
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Striking to Americana·MMA Leech
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Striking to Americana
SubFamilyStriking・To・アメリカーナ(Striking to Americana)
Translation: striking to americana
Overview
Striking to Americana uses ground-and-pound strikes to force the opponent to defend their face, then transitions to an americana shoulder lock when the opponent's arms are displaced by the strikes. [1]
GNP to AmericanaStrike Setup Americana
History & Origin
MMA-adapted submission. [1]
Effectiveness
Proven at highest levels of MMA competition. [1]
Lineage
MMA submission methodology. [1]
Competition Record
Used in UFC and professional MMA competition
Images
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Submission mechanics for Striking to Americana
Position & Entry
From MMA position — Set up and execute striking to americana
Variants
Standard Striking to Americana
Videos
Secrets to a DEADLY Americana | Jiu Jitsu Tutorial | How to do the Americana #bjj
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Striking to Americana·Matt Arroyo Jiu Jitsu
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Americana Armlock from Side Control | BJJ | Jiu-Jitsu
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Striking to Americana·Danny Fung
In this video, we take a look at the details regarding the Americana Shoulder Lock, in BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) from th…
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
Striking to Americana represents a transition from striking exchanges into a shoulder lock submission, typically executed from side control or mount position. MMA Leech emphasizes the importance of maintaining a low head position in side control to create opportunities when an opponent attempts to frame the neck or pass underneath—these defensive positioning errors become traps for the Americana entry. The technique involves cupping the opponent's shoulder, threading an arm to their far side with the elbow near their neck, then sliding the hand to trap their elbow while anchoring one's own hand near the face. Matt Arroyo Jiu Jitsu stresses that the submission fundamentally targets the shoulder's rotator cuff and requires isolating one of the opponent's arms using two-to-one body-weight advantage rather than pure arm strength. He emphasizes the monkey grip (thumb hooked over rather than around) and keeping the opponent's wrist pinned to the floor during the finish. Danny Fung teaches a similar mechanism from modified side control (kesa gatami), using a thumbless grip and the "motorcycle grip" to prevent arm extension, with the finish executed as a "paintbrush" motion bringing the knuckles and pinky finger down. All three instructors agree on core mechanics: the monkey/thumbless grip, elbow positioning tight to the body, and wrist control. Arroyo uniquely addresses anti-rollover techniques using opposite-side leg hooks and hip pressure, while MMA Leech details reactive timing based on arm positioning, and Fung emphasizes the modified base switch and body-weight alignment.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- MMA Leech — Americana trap from side control - BJJ submissions from side control - Part 1 of 2: Detailed trap mechanics from defensive head positioning, cupping shoulder control, light elbow trap technique, and timing adjustments based on opponent arm height and hand connection.
- Matt Arroyo Jiu Jitsu — Secrets to a DEADLY Americana | Jiu Jitsu Tutorial | How to do the Americana #bjj: Comprehensive setup and finish mechanics emphasizing two-to-one isolation, monkey grip details, wrist pinning, anti-rollover techniques via opposite-side grapevine hooks, troubleshooting for stronger opponents, and transitions to gift wrap and back control.
- Danny Fung — Americana Armlock from Side Control | BJJ | Jiu-Jitsu: Modified kesa gatami positioning from side control with base switching, thumbless monkey grip application, motorcycle grip hand position to prevent arm extension, and paintbrush finish mechanics.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
8
Very High8/10
Submission with fight-ending potential
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— IBJJF — Legal at all belt levels
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 RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Practise the striking-to-submission transition (Penn et al., 2007)
Common Mistakes
!Abandoning position for the submission
!Poor grip
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Position → Strikes → Striking to Americana
Sources & References
Primary Source
Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge (Penn, Cordoza & Krauss, 2007)
1Book[1] Penn, B.J., Cordoza, G. and Krauss, E. (2007). Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge. Victory Belt Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9777315-6-5.
description, historyOrigin: sourced from Penn, B
2Citation[1] Penn, B.J., Cordoza, G. and Krauss, E. (2007). Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge. Victory Belt Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9777315-6-5.
description, historyOrigin: sourced from Penn, B
Community
Athletics
Good grip strength
Submission finishing ability
Notes
Striking to Americana is an MMA combination from mount or side control — strikes force the opponent to cover their face, exposing the arm for an Americana (paint-the-wall) shoulder lock. A fundamental MMA ground-and-pound to submission chain. (MMA training manuals; competition records)
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the most common mistake people make when finishing the Americana?
Most people set up the Americana correctly but then pull the elbow back and lift too early, which causes them to get rolled. Matt Arroyo Jiu Jitsu emphasizes bringing the elbow down first and lifting only an inch to get a tight tap, and anchoring to your opponent with a grapevine to prevent being rolled.
How should I grip the wrist in an Americana to prevent escapes?
Use a monkey grip where your thumb hooks over the wrist rather than wrapping around it. Matt Arroyo Jiu Jitsu explains this prevents your opponent from straightening their arm and sliding it through your fingers, and Danny Fung calls the palm-up orientation the 'motorcycle grip' which shuts down arm extension.
Why does my opponent escape when I have their arm pinned?
You likely have too much space between your elbows and their body. Danny Fung stresses connecting your elbows snugly against their body with no gaps, and MMA Leech notes that keeping your opponent's elbow close to their body reduces their shoulder mobility compared to having it extended away.
What's the key to finishing the Americana when your opponent is resisting?
Matt Arroyo Jiu Jitsu recommends using body weight instead of just arm strength—isolate one arm, get control of the wrist, and pin it to the floor using your full body weight rather than tricep pressure alone.
How do I keep my head safe while setting up the Americana from side control?
MMA Leech emphasizes keeping your head low, never up, so if your opponent pushes on your throat you have the opportunity to catch the Americana submission rather than being caught off-guard.
How does the Striking to Americana work?
Striking to Americana uses ground-and-pound strikes to force the opponent to defend their face, then transitions to an americana shoulder lock when the opponent's arms are displaced by the strikes.
Where does the Striking to Americana come from?
MMA-adapted submission.
Is the Striking to Americana legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels; 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 Striking to Americana?
Danger rating 8/10. Submission with fight-ending potential
How do I set up the Striking to Americana?
The standard setup chain: Position → Strikes → Striking to Americana.
How do I defend against the Striking to Americana?
Standard counters include: Posture / Stack / Guard pass.
What are the variants of the Striking to Americana?
Common variants: Standard Striking to Americana.
How effective is the Striking to Americana in competition?
Used in UFC and professional MMA competition
What are common mistakes when doing the Striking to Americana?
Top errors to watch for: Abandoning position for the submission / Poor grip.
What are other names for the Striking to Americana?
The Striking to Americana is also known as Striking to Americana, GNP to Americana, Strike Setup Americana.