Omoplata
Chain finish · Closed Guard
A shoulder lock with the legs: the arm is pinned behind their back and the shoulder rotated forward and outward. It comes from closed guard with a leg over their shoulder and the arm trapped, when they stay down and try to pull the arm out. Hip out, swing the leg over the shoulder so the arm is caught between your legs, turn to face their feet and sit up at once. Reach over their back to the belt or far hip so they cannot roll, scoot your hips forward and finish by leaning your chest toward their head over 4 to 6 seconds: the lock is the sit-up and the lean, not pulling the arm. If they roll forward, follow with the omoplata sweep; if they turn in, take the baratoplata; if they drive forward, the monoplata; if they bend the arm and post, the tarikoplata.
How to do it
- From a failed triangle, or with their arm trapped outside your leg, hip out and swing your leg over their shoulder so the arm is caught between your legs.
- Turn to face their feet and sit up at once, trapping the arm under your legs and keeping the legs heavy on the shoulder.
- Reach over their back and hold the belt or hug the far hip so they cannot roll forward out of it.
- Scoot your hips forward along the mat, staying seated, to tighten the angle on the trapped shoulder.
- Finish by leaning your chest forward slowly toward their head over 4 to 6 seconds: the shoulder turns and locks.
Key details
- Sit up fast: flat on your back you only hold the arm and they posture out.
- Control the hip before the finish, or they roll forward.
- The finish is sitting up and driving the chest forward, not pulling the arm.
- Apply the pressure over 4 to 6 seconds: the shoulder gives way suddenly.
- The omoplata is also a sweep: if they posture up, the triangle is there; if they roll, follow to the top or take the back.
- Keep a leg on top of their arm and a hand under the elbow: if the elbow is loose, they pull the arm out or bring the hand across your body.
Common mistakes
- Staying on your back. — They posture and pull the arm out. — Sit up at once and face their feet.
- No control of the hip. — They roll forward over the trapped shoulder and the lock is gone. — Hug the far hip or grip the belt first.
- Leaning too fast. — A fast lean cranks their shoulder before they can tap. — Walk the hips forward and lean slowly.
- Sitting flat on the buttocks with both feet in front. — No base behind you: they post a hand, posture up and tip you back, and the seesaw starts again. — Curl the inside foot back under you into a hurdler's position and drive your hips higher than their shoulder: the battle for height is your hips against their shoulder, not head against head.
If they defend
- They roll forward over the shoulder. → Follow the roll and end on top in side control or mount.
- They posture and pull the arm. → Go back to the triangle as the arm slides.
How to drill it
Triangle to omoplata and back, 8 reps; the partner rolls on the last 3 so you practise the sweep.
Safety
Lean slowly and watch for the tap; the shoulder lock can come on late and then very fast.
What comes next
Where it comes from