Top Lock

Position · Closed Guard

A control from the bottom of closed guard, between the closed guard and the armbar: your legs lock high on one side — one leg high across his back, the other over his shoulder — trapping his arm with the elbow inside your hip, almost like a triangle with the arm inside. Break his posture first: in the gi a cross cuff grip, then a deep cross collar grip behind his neck; in no-gi a two-on-one that brings his elbow to your belly button, then a collar tie. Turn onto your side, cut a small angle with a foot on his hip and lock up; the ideal is his head right over his own elbow. Raise your hips to engage the lock: with the hips down he simply pulls the arm out. When he stands and yanks back, pull the knees in and the lock gets tighter. It is a stage, not a home: as soon as it is locked, go to the armbar; if he pulls the arm out, he puts himself in the triangle. The common error is a two-on-one on the arm with no control of the head: he postures up and the elbow leaves your hip.

How to do it

  1. Break his posture: in the gi a cross cuff grip over the top, then a deep cross collar grip behind his neck; in no-gi a two-on-one (behind the elbow and on the wrist), pop the hips to bring his elbow to your belly button, then switch the wrist grip to a collar tie.
  2. Turn onto your side, not square to him, so his stiff arm cannot push you away.
  3. Cut a small angle: a foot on his hip, head shifted slightly to the side.
  4. Lock up: one leg high across his back, the other over his shoulder, his elbow inside your hip.
  5. Raise your hips to engage the lock, then go to the armbar without waiting.

Key details

  • Minimum: his elbow inside your hip; ideal: his head over his own elbow.
  • Control the head, not only the arm.
  • Hips up: with the hips down he pulls the arm out.
  • A stage, not a place to stay: lock it, then attack.

Common mistakes

  • A two-on-one on the arm with no head control. — His head rises and the elbow moves away from your hip. — Take the collar grip or collar tie and bring his head down over the elbow.
  • Dragging his arm all the way across. — A big pull gets a big reaction and he pulls back. — Bring the elbow only to your belly button.
  • Staying square to him. — His stiff arm pushes you away and straightens your arm. — Turn onto your side.

How to drill it

Lock the top lock and let the partner try to pull the arm out; if he can, raise the hips more. 5 reps per side.

What comes next

  • Armbar from Top Lock
  • Triangle Choke
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