Helicopter Armbar

Submission · Side Control

An elbow lock taken from the bottom of side control with a spin: you swing under his posted arm, wrap it with your legs and straighten it as he falls. The moment is when he posts a straight arm on the mat near your head and his weight lifts off your chest onto that arm. Grab the wrist with both hands and glue it to your chest, then swing your legs up hard and spin on your back and shoulders under him toward his head. One leg goes over his head, the other across his chest, his arm between your knees, knees squeezed. Keep the wrist the whole way: without it the spin is only an escape. Once he has fallen and you are both settled, turn his thumb up and lift your hips slowly against the elbow. If he pulls the arm back, recover guard; if he stacks you, switch to the belly-down armbar.

How to do it

  1. Under side control, they post a straight arm on the mat near your head; their weight lifts off your chest onto that arm.
  2. Grab the posted arm at the wrist with both hands and pull it tight to your chest so it cannot be withdrawn.
  3. Swing your legs up hard and spin on your back and shoulders under them toward their head, keeping the wrist glued to your chest.
  4. Wrap one leg over their head and the other across their chest, arm between your legs, knees squeezed together.
  5. They fall over; with their thumb pointing up, lift the hips slowly against their elbow to finish the armbar.

Key details

  • The post gives you the arm: only use it when they post.
  • Spin on your shoulders, fast and tight: a slow spin gives them time to pull the arm back.
  • Hold the wrist all the way: without it the spin is only an escape.

Common mistakes

  • Spinning too slowly. — They see it and pull the arm back. — Swing the legs hard to start the spin.
  • Letting go of the wrist. — The arm comes out between your legs. — Pull the wrist to your chest as you spin.
  • Trying it on a flat, heavy opponent. — Your hips cannot move under their weight. — Wait for the post that lifts their weight.

How to drill it

Partner in side control posts a hand on a signal; you spin to the armbar, 5 each side, slowly. Then at speed without the finish.

Safety

Momentum and your weight fall onto the elbow at once: finish only after both of you are settled, slowly.

What comes next

  • Belly-Down Armbar

Where it comes from

  • Bottom of Side Control
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  • PositionA mat with two athletes on it: where you are, before anything moves.
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