Near Side Armbar
Submission · Side Control
An elbow lock on his near arm: the straight arm is bent backward over your hips. From side control with the crossface he pushes your hip with his near arm to make space, and that arm is already straight. Catch it right then and hug it to your chest, pinning the elbow first, keep the crossface driving his face away and bring your foot up near his back. Step your head-side leg (the one next to his head) over his head quickly, before he bends the arm, sit close to his shoulder with your knees tight on the arm, check that his thumb points up and extend your hips into the elbow. Speed decides it: every pause lets him pull the elbow back to his body. If he bends the arm, switch to the kimura. Extend slowly.
How to do it
- From side control with the crossface, keep your shoulder driving their face away. When they push your hip with the near arm, catch that arm while it is straight.
- Hug the arm to your chest, pinning the elbow to your chest first. Then bring your foot up near their back, so your leg is ready to step over.
- Keep the crossface pressure and step your head-side leg (the one next to their head) over their head quickly, before they can bend the arm.
- Sit back close to their shoulder and keep your knees tight on the arm, so the elbow stays in line with your hips.
- Check that their thumb points up, then extend your hips into the elbow while you hold the wrist to your chest. The elbow bends backward over your hips.
Key details
- The arm is already straight when they push. You do not need to fight to straighten it, only to keep it straight.
- Step over the head quickly, before they bend the arm. Every moment of delay lets them pull the elbow back to their body.
- Keep the knees tight on the arm. Tight knees hold the elbow on your hips, where it can be locked.
- Pin the elbow to your chest first, then bring your foot up near their back. Securing the elbow before moving the legs means the arm cannot escape during the step.
- Check the thumb points up before you finish. With the thumb up the elbow faces your hips and locks; turned sideways it only bends.
- As you sit back, the knee of the leg at his back pops up, with the laces of that foot lifting his shoulder. If that knee stays pinned under his weight, he has room to turn out; the higher his shoulder, the tighter the lock.
- Against a strong arm, post your free hand and turn him onto his side first, his elbow tucked on your ribs, then walk around the head. Flat on his back he can bridge; on his side he cannot.
Common mistakes
- Losing the crossface before the step. — Their head turns back to you, they turn in and hide the arm. — Keep the crossface pressure until the leg is over the head.
- Sitting far away from the shoulder. — The elbow escapes through the gap. — Sit close to their shoulder.
- Their thumb points sideways at the finish. — The elbow bends instead of locking. — Turn the thumb up before lifting the hips.
If they defend
- They bridge into you. → Widen your base, stay heavy, then try again.
How to drill it
Side control, partner pushes the hip, you armbar, 6 each side.
Safety
Extend slowly.
What comes next
Where it comes from