The armbar is the straight armlock where you trap your partner's arm between your legs and extend their elbow over your hips until they tap. Judo lists it as ude-hishigi-juji-gatame (腕挫十字固), the cross armlock, among the kansetsu-waza.
- Japanese name: ude-hishigi-juji-gatame, 腕挫十字固, usually shortened to juji gatame, "cross armlock".
- Kodokan classification: kansetsu-waza, a joint-locking technique.
- In BJJ: the bread-and-butter finish from closed guard, mount and the back, in the gi and no-gi.
What is an armbar?
The Kodokan defines ude-hishigi-juji-gatame as a technique that stretches and locks the opponent's elbow joint: you grab their wrist with both hands from the side of the opponent lying on their back and hold their upper arm between both thighs.
BJJ Heroes points out that in English the word armbar means this specific straight lock with the arm between your legs, while armlock is a wider word that also covers the kimura and the americana.
How do you do an armbar correctly?
The steps follow the Kodokan definition, applied from mount.
- Isolate the arm. From mount, pin the wrist you want with both hands, their thumb pointing up and their elbow pointing at the ceiling.
- Move to the side. Post a hand on the mat, swing your far leg over their head and sit down close to their shoulder.
- Pinch the upper arm. Squeeze your knees together so their upper arm is held between both thighs, as the definition says.
- Lie back with tight hips. Keep your hips touching their shoulder and your heels pulling down on their chest and head.
- Extend slowly. Pull the wrist to your chest with their thumb up and raise your hips until they tap.
The most common mistake is a gap between your hips and their shoulder. That space lets them bend the elbow, turn in and stack you. Keep the knees pinched and the hips close, and apply the finish slowly so your partner has time to tap.
Video: KODOKAN official channel
Is the armbar legal in BJJ and judo?
In BJJ the armbar does not appear on the IBJJF Rules Book's table of illegal moves for any age or belt. In judo the IJF Sport and Organisation Rules allow joint locks on the elbow only, and the armbar is one; a tap scores ippon.
Where does the armbar fit in BJJ?
BJJ Heroes records the armbar as the main attack of the closed guard group around Sergio Penha, Pascoal Duarte and Otavio Peixotinho in the early 1980s, and Royce Gracie's finish over Jason DeLucia at UFC 2 as the first armbar inside the octagon.
Drill the leg swing and the hip lift separately before you put them together at speed. A mat and a willing partner are enough; our BJJ training gear covers the rest.
Sources
- Kodokan defines ude-hishigi-juji-gatame, Kodokan Judo Institute
- BJJ Heroes points out, BJJ Heroes
- IBJJF Rules Book, IBJJF
- IJF Sport and Organisation Rules, International Judo Federation
Related terms
Closed guard, Mount, Triangle choke, Kimura, Joint locks, Tap / tapping out.