Arm Drag to Back
Transition · Closed Guard
Trap the wrist, pull the arm across and open your guard as you slide to their back.
How to do it
- As they post a hand on your chest or reach for your collar, grab their wrist with your same-side hand; first push their hand into their belly, then pull it across your body.
- With the other hand grab behind their triceps and pull the arm further across, holding the triceps tight to your chest.
- At the same moment open the guard and shrimp so your hips move to the side of the pulled arm, sitting up toward their back.
- Once the arm is across, hug their lat so the arm cannot come back, and climb to the side of their back.
- As soon as your chest is behind their shoulder, put the first hook in and take the seatbelt grip.
Key details
- Pull the arm across and move your hips at the same time: the drag without the hip movement just gets pulled back.
- Hold the triceps tight to your chest, like a door that stays shut; once the arm is across, hug their lat so it cannot come back.
- Your first hook goes in as soon as your chest is behind their shoulder.
- First punch their hand to their belly: an anchored arm cannot be pulled back.
- Their hand on your collar during a choke attempt is a ready arm drag.
- Grip the triceps high, near the armpit: a low grip slips off as soon as they straighten the arm.
Common mistakes
- Pulling the arm but not moving the hips. — They pull the arm back and you are where you started. — Shrimp as you drag so the hips go to the side of the pulled arm.
- Letting go of the triceps. — The arm swings back and blocks your way to the back. — Keep the triceps until your chest touches their back.
- Climbing up without a hook. — They sit back on you and slip away. — Insert the first hook the moment you are behind the shoulder.
- Dragging with your chest facing the ceiling. — Nothing weighs on the arm: they posture up and yank it back out. — Turn your chest toward the mat, tuck your elbow behind their triceps as a wedge and hang your weight off their body.
How to drill it
Arm drag to the back, 10 each side with a still partner; then 5 each side where the partner turns in.
What comes next
Where it comes from