The First 10 Bjj Submissions You Should Learn
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Armbar·Jedi Does Jiujitsu
In today’s video I’ll be giving you the 10 first bjj submissions that every white belt should learn. These are the submi…
Armbar
SubFamily腕挫十字固(Ude-hishigi-juji-gatame)
TraditionalTranslation: arm crush cross hold
Overview
The armbar (juji-gatame) is the most fundamental elbow lock in grappling, hyperextending the elbow joint by controlling the opponent's wrist and pressing the hips upward against the back of the elbow. [1],[2] The attacker positions perpendicular to the opponent, traps the arm between the legs, and extends the hips while keeping the thumb pointed upward to ensure proper hyperextension alignment. [1] The armbar is applicable from guard, mount, back control, side control, and standing, making it the most versatile joint lock in martial arts. [1],[3]
History & Origin
Juji-gatame (十字固め, 'cross hold') is a foundational Kodokan Judo kansetsu-waza codified in the earliest judo technical curriculum. [2],[3] The technique was carried to Brazil by Mitsuyo Maeda and became central to BJJ's submission arsenal. [1] In MMA, the armbar is consistently among the top three most common submissions alongside the rear naked choke and triangle choke. [1]
Effectiveness
The armbar (juji-gatame) is the most universal joint lock in grappling, hyperextending the elbow by trapping the arm between the thighs and lifting the hips against the joint. [1],[2] It is effective from virtually every position — guard, mount, side control, back, and standing. [1] Renzo Gracie and John Danaher describe the armbar as 'the king of submissions' due to its mechanical efficiency and the impossibility of defending once the hips are correctly positioned. [3]
Lineage
Juji-gatame (十字固め) is a foundational technique of Kodokan Judo's kansetsu-waza, codified by Jigoro Kano. [1] The technique was transmitted to Brazil through Mitsuyo Maeda and became central to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. [2] In the 1990s, Renzo Gracie and later Demian Maia refined armbar entries from diverse positions, while in judo, Hidehiko Yoshida and Kayla Harrison demonstrated its effectiveness at Olympic level. [3]
Competition Record
The armbar is the most common submission in UFC history, accounting for approximately 21% of all submission wins. [1] Royce Gracie's armbar of Jason DeLucia at UFC 2 (1994) was one of the earliest high-profile MMA armbars. [1] Ronda Rousey won 9 of her first 11 MMA fights by armbar, making it the signature technique of her career. [2] In judo, juji-gatame is the most frequent ippon-winning technique in ne-waza at the Olympic Games. [3]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Hyperextension of the elbow joint — the hips drive upward against the posterior humerus while controlling the wrist
Joints Involved — Elbow (extension beyond normal ROM), wrist (stabilized), shoulder (isolated and controlled)
Force Vector — Posterior-to-anterior force on the upper arm with fixed distal anchor at the wrist creates a lever arm across the elbow
Leverage Principle — Hips act as the fulcrum — the longer the lever (full arm extension), the less force needed to hyperextend
Position & Entry
From closed guard — Control the wrist and same-side collar, pivot hips to perpendicular angle, throw leg over the head, pinch knees and extend hips
From high guard — Climb the legs high on the opponent's back, secure the arm, pivot and lock the armbar from the high-guard angle
Variants
Standard armbar — hips drive upward against the extended arm with legs clamping the shoulder
Belly-down armbar — rolling to face the mat to prevent the opponent from stacking
S-mount armbar — transitioned from S-mount position for tighter control before falling back
Spinning armbar — rapid pivot from guard or side to catch the arm during transition
Videos
How To Do the Armbar From Mount in Jiu Jitsu | Jiu Jitsu Tutorial
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Armbar·Matt Arroyo Jiu Jitsu
Get the Full Mount Attack Blueprint Course! http://mountattackblueprint.com/ Subscribe for more Jiu Jitsu Secrets to H…
Fundamental Armbar from Full Guard for Beginners in BJJ
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Armbar·Chewjitsu
Today's video comes as a request from a viewer named Jake. Jake is a white belt and ask for some Arm Bar techniques tha…
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
The armbar is a fundamental elbow lock submission highly applicable across jiu-jitsu positions, requiring precise timing, positioning, and mechanics rather than athletic strength. Matt Arroyo Jiu Jitsu emphasizes the critical importance of setup and timing, teaching the technique primarily from mount position where initial control via body lock (heels under buttocks, hips dropped) prevents early escape attempts. Arroyo details the "what time is it" grip—a blade-of-the-forearm pressure applied to the opponent's jaw—as a means to provoke arm lift, followed by securing the S-mount position with the knee under the armpit at least level with the opponent's head. The finish requires locking the head into the shoulder, establishing foot placement under both armpits, then leaning weight to make the attacking leg light before throwing it over the head, clamping the wrist, and extending through the elbow while raising the hips. Chewjitsu presents the guard variation as more accessible for beginners, using grips on the tricep or wrist while controlling distance via collar or trap grip. Chewjitsu emphasizes the diamond guard as a controlled intermediate position when hip speed is limited, and stresses the importance of maintaining a crunched body position to facilitate the hip swivel. Both instructors agree on thumb orientation (facing ceiling), wrist control to prevent rotation, and knee pinching during the finish. Jedi Does Jiujitsu classifies the armbar as a high-percentage fundamental submission suitable for white belts, describing guard, mount, and side control variations while noting the critical importance of cutting angles and maintaining smooth transitions. All three instructors stress that the armbar succeeds through positional control and precise mechanics applied at the correct moment, not forceful rushing.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- Matt Arroyo Jiu Jitsu — How To Do the Armbar From Mount in Jiu Jitsu | Jiu Jitsu Tutorial: Detailed mount-position setup emphasizing body lock control, the 'what time is it' grip mechanics, S-mount positioning with specific hip placement, the 'locking the door' head-to-shoulder pressure concept, weight distribution principles, and drilling progressions to build muscle memory.
- Chewjitsu — Fundamental Armbar from Full Guard for Beginners in BJJ: Guard-position variations with accessible grip options (tricep, wrist, collar/trap), the diamond guard as a controlled intermediate position, emphasis on crunched body positioning for effective hip swivel, grip placement to avoid premature defensive reactions, and multiple entry points for white belt students.
- Jedi Does Jiujitsu — The First 10 Bjj Submissions You Should Learn: Classification of the armbar as a fundamental high-percentage submission for beginners, brief technical summary of guard and mount variations, emphasis on cutting angles and smooth leg placement, importance of thumb orientation and wrist control during finish, and its availability from multiple positions.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
7
Very High7/10
Armbars hyperextend the elbow; the most common joint lock submission in grappling and MMA
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
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 RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The armbar (juji-gatame) is the most practised and successful submission in grappling history — a cross-body elbow lock using the hips as the primary fulcrum (Kashiwazaki, Osaekomi, 1997)
✓The standard armbar: lie perpendicular to the opponent, trap their arm between your thighs with the elbow against your hips, control the wrist, and lift the hips to extend the elbow
✓The armbar's effectiveness comes from the mechanical advantage: the attacker's entire lower body presses against a single joint
✓Armbar entries exist from every major position — mount armbar, guard armbar, side control armbar, back armbar, standing armbar, and flying armbar
✓The three critical control points: wrist (secured to chest), elbow (aligned with hip line), and shoulder (pinned by the leg over the head)
✓The armbar finishes through hip elevation: raising the hips while keeping the wrist pinned creates extension that the opponent cannot resist with arm strength alone
✓Ronda Rousey's armbar, Fedor Emelianenko's armbar, and Roger Gracie's armbar from mount represent the technique's highest competitive expressions
Common Mistakes
!Not getting the arm across the centre line — the arm must cross your body's centre for proper leverage; an arm on the wrong side escapes
!Squeezing only with the arms — the legs do the heavy work; the arms secure the wrist while the hips and legs create the extension force
!Not pinching the knees together — open knees allow the opponent to extract the arm; keep knees tight around the upper arm
!Failing to control the wrist — without wrist control, the opponent bends the arm (hitchhiker escape) or pulls it out
!Not adjusting the angle — if the opponent turns into you, angle your body to maintain perpendicular positioning
!Attempting the armbar from too far away — your hips must be tight against the opponent's shoulder; space allows escape
!Not finishing with the hips — many beginners pull the arm with their hands; the finish must come from hip elevation
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Control the Arm — isolate and grip the target arm
2Position the Hips — align hips perpendicular to the arm for maximum leverage
3Pinch Knees — squeeze knees together to prevent arm extraction
4Extend for the Finish — bridge hips up while pulling the wrist down to hyperextend the elbow
Sources & References
Primary Source
Kodokan Judo — Official Katame-waza Classification
1BookKodokan Judo — Official Katame-waza Classification
Kodokan — Ude-hishigi-juji-gatame (腕挫十字固) classification
2BookDrysdale, Robert. Opening Closed-Guard: The Origins of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil (2020). ISBN: 979-8680602287
Alias sources — [1] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986) [2] Brazilian Portuguese BJJ terminology [3] Brazilian Portuguese BJJ terminology
Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)
4OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
5CitationKodokan Judo — Official Katame-waza Classification
Kodokan — Ude-hishigi-juji-gatame (腕挫十字固) classification
6CitationDrysdale, Robert. Opening Closed-Guard: The Origins of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil (2020). ISBN: 979-8680602287
Alias sources — [1] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986) [2] Brazilian Portuguese BJJ terminology [3] Brazilian Portuguese BJJ terminology
Community
Athletics
Requires
hip flexibility, hip bridge power, leg clamping strength
Favours
long legs for controlling the opponent's torso
Key muscles
hip extensors (glutes), adductors, quadriceps, hamstrings
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I control my opponent's arm so they can't escape the armbar?
Control the angle of the wrist so your opponent can't turn it around, then pinch your knees together and clamp your heels down. Chewjitsu emphasizes turning the thumb slightly away toward the head and driving it down into your hip to maintain control.
Why is my armbar not working from guard position?
You need to be in a crunched position so you can swivel more easily off your back. Chewjitsu notes this is a common problem for white belts—when you're slow or struggling to finish, the crunch position allows you to move your head from 12 o'clock to about 9 o'clock to complete the technique.
What's the key to setting up an armbar from mount position?
Timing is critical—Matt Arroyo Jiu Jitsu emphasizes that technique alone won't work if executed at the wrong time. You must lock your opponent down first by locking your feet under their butt with heels high, which prevents elbow escapes and allows you to tire them out before going for the finish.
How do I prevent my opponent from defending their arm during the armbar finish?
Lean to control the arm position and make sure your opponent can't lock their hands together before you secure the finish. Matt Arroyo Jiu Jitsu advises lying down, extending the arm as you raise your hips with knees together, then clamping and pulling down to finish.
How does the Armbar work?
The armbar (juji-gatame) is the most fundamental elbow lock in grappling, hyperextending the elbow joint by controlling the opponent's wrist and pressing the hips upward against the back of the elbow. The attacker positions perpendicular to the opponent, traps the arm between the legs, and extends the hips while keeping the thumb pointed upward to ensure proper hyperextension alignment.
Where does the Armbar come from?
Juji-gatame (十字固め, 'cross hold') is a foundational Kodokan Judo kansetsu-waza codified in the earliest judo technical curriculum. The technique was carried to Brazil by Mitsuyo Maeda and became central to BJJ's submission arsenal.
Is the Armbar 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 Armbar?
Danger rating 7/10. Armbars hyperextend the elbow; the most common joint lock submission in grappling and MMA
How do I set up the Armbar?
The standard setup chain: Control the Arm → Position the Hips → Pinch Knees → Extend for the Finish.
How do I defend against the Armbar?
Standard counters include: Clasp Hands — grip own wrist to prevent arm extension / Stack — drive forward to compress the attacker and relieve elbow pressure / Hitchhiker Escape — rotate the thumb toward the mat and roll to extract the arm.
What are the variants of the Armbar?
Common variants: Standard armbar (hips drive upward against the extended arm with legs clam…); Belly-down armbar (rolling to face the mat to prevent the opponent from stac…); S-mount armbar (transitioned from S-mount position for tighter control be…); Spinning armbar (rapid pivot from guard or side to catch the arm during tr…).
How effective is the Armbar in competition?
The armbar is the most common submission in UFC history, accounting for approximately 21% of all submission wins. Royce Gracie's armbar of Jason DeLucia at UFC 2 (1994) was one of the earliest high-profile MMA armbars.
What are common mistakes when doing the Armbar?
Top errors to watch for: Not getting the arm across the centre line — the arm must cross your body's centre for proper leverage; an arm on the… / Squeezing only with the arms — the legs do the heavy work; the arms secure the wrist while the hips and legs create t… / Not pinching the knees together — open knees allow the opponent to extract the arm; keep knees tight around the upper… / Failing to control the wrist — without wrist control, the opponent bends the arm (hitchhiker escape) or pulls it out.
What are other names for the Armbar?
The Armbar is also known as Ude-hishigi-juji-gatame, Juji-gatame, Chave de Braço, Cross Armlock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my armbar keep slipping off?
Three common causes: (1) Your hips are not tight against their shoulder — scoot your hips as close as possible to their armpit. (2) Your knees are not pinching together — squeeze your knees to clamp the arm in place. (3) You are pulling the arm toward your chest instead of lifting your hips — the armbar finishes by raising your hips against their elbow, not by pulling down.
How do I finish the armbar when they grab their own hands?
Several options: (1) Squeeze your knees together and slowly pry by walking your grip down their wrist. (2) Attack the top hand with a wristlock — they will release to defend. (3) Put your foot on their hip and extend your hips to increase the leverage — their grip will break. (4) Transition to a triangle by swinging your leg over their head.
What is the best armbar setup from mount?
The S-mount armbar: from mount, swim to high mount with knees in their armpits. Use two-on-one control to isolate one arm, then transition to S-mount (one foot by their head, opposite knee on the mat). From S-mount, swing the leg over their face and sit back. The S-mount provides much more control than jumping directly to the armbar.
Should I go for an armbar or a triangle first?
It depends on arm position. If one arm is inside and one is outside your guard, the triangle is right there. If both arms are extended toward you (like pushing on your chest), the armbar is more direct. The key insight is that both attacks share the same setups — a failed triangle attempt naturally transitions to an armbar, and vice versa.