Can Opener
Submission · Closed Guard
A neck crank: it flexes his cervical spine forward and does not touch the airway. It is used from inside his closed guard when he pulls your head down and holds it. Posture partly, then cup both hands behind his head, with the fingers stacked on the back of the skull, not on the neck. Sit back on your heels with your elbows on his chest. The elbows are the fulcrum and keep your arms out of a triangle. Pull his head slowly up toward his chest. It is mostly used to make him open the legs, and you pass the moment they open. He answers by opening the guard, or by turning his head to the side to relieve it, and you are back to breaking the guard. It is banned under IBJJF rules and in most gi events: never crank with force in training.
How to do it
- In their closed guard, they pull your head down and hold it, breaking your posture.
- Posture partly and cup both hands behind their head, fingers stacked on the back of the skull, not on the neck.
- Sit back on your heels with your elbows on their chest, so your weight stays back and your arms are not inside their legs.
- Pull the head up toward their chest slowly, using your elbows on their chest as a lever, so their neck and spine flex forward.
- They open the guard to relieve the neck, or tap; pass as soon as the legs open, before they close them again.
Key details
- A neck crank: it attacks the spine, not the airway, so the pressure must build slowly.
- Most often it is used to open the guard, not to finish: they open the legs to relieve the neck and you pass.
- Elbows on their chest and weight sitting back: the elbows are the fulcrum and they keep your arms out of a triangle.
- Banned in IBJJF and most gi events: learn it to defend it.
- Pinch their hips with your knees and keep your feet back: otherwise they scoot the hips out to the side or reach under your legs to sweep you.
Common mistakes
- Pulling with a jerk. — Neck injuries come instantly and are serious. — Pull slowly or not at all in training.
- Leaning forward into their guard. — Your arms are inside their legs and open to a triangle or armbar. — Keep the elbows on their chest and sit back.
- Using it in a gi tournament. — It is disqualification in IBJJF. — Check the rules: most allow it only in submission-only events.
- Straightening the arms to pull the head. — They push your head up, your arm extends and they catch an armbar. — Keep the elbows bent and on their chest; the lever is the elbows, not straight arms.
How to drill it
Defense first: the partner cups your head and you posture out, 10 reps. The crank itself only as a slow grip placement, no pull.
Safety
Neck cranks can injure the cervical spine. Banned in IBJJF: never apply with force in training, tap at the first pressure.