Bicep Slicer
Submission · Side Control
A compression lock: your forearm or shin is a wedge in the crook of his elbow and his arm is folded over it, crushing the biceps and levering the elbow apart. It punishes the bent-arm defence of the kimura from side control, when he pulls the arm tight to his body so you cannot rotate it. Instead of forcing the turn, slide your forearm, wrist bone up, as deep as you can into the crook of his elbow, grab his wrist with your other hand and fold his forearm toward his upper arm over your wedge. Depth decides it: deep in the crease the wedge sits on the biceps, shallow it only presses the forearm. If he straightens the arm, take the armbar; if he grabs his belt or lapel, go back to the kimura. IBJJF allows it only for brown and black belts: squeeze very slowly.
How to do it
- Attack the kimura; when they bend the arm tight to their body to save it, switch to the slicer instead of forcing the rotation.
- Slide your forearm, wrist bone up, deep into the crook of their elbow. The deeper it goes, the stronger the slicer.
- Grab their wrist with your other hand, so their forearm is held on the far side of your forearm.
- Fold their forearm toward their upper arm over your forearm. Your forearm in the elbow is the wedge and their arm closes around it.
- Squeeze slowly; the pressure comes into the bicep and levers the elbow at the same time. Stop the moment they tap.
Key details
- The deeper the forearm in the elbow, the stronger the slicer. Deep in the crease, the wedge sits on the biceps tendon and not on the forearm.
- It punishes the bent-arm defense of kimura and armbar. The tighter they bend the arm, the more it closes on your wedge.
- A leg (shin) can replace the forearm in the triangle or from the back. The mechanism is the same: a wedge in the elbow and the arm folded over it.
- It crushes the biceps against the bone and levers the elbow at the same time. That is why it hurts fast and must be applied slowly.
- Instead of holding his wrist with your hand, you can clamp his wrist in your armpit, reach your slicing arm under his elbow and grab your own elbow or biceps, then lean your weight forward. Turn the bony edge of your wrist into the crook: palm flat, it only pushes.
Common mistakes
- The forearm is near their wrist, not in the elbow. — There is no pivot at the elbow and nothing compresses. — Slide it all the way into the elbow crease.
- Cranking fast. — Bicep and elbow tear before the tap. — Close slowly and wait for the tap.
- Using it below brown belt in competition. — It is a disqualification under IBJJF rules. — Check the rules and your belt before using it.
How to drill it
From the kimura grip, partner bends the arm; you insert the forearm and stop, 10 reps, no pressure. Then slow finishes.
Safety
A compression lock that can tear the bicep and the elbow: IBJJF allows it for brown and black belts only. Apply very slowly.
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