Technique question: best defense against armlocks

[GuardMaster]

What would you aspiring juijitsu blackbelts recommend as the best defense against armlocks (kimuras, hammer locks, arm bars etc).

I feel that against bigger stronger technical guys that they can overpower submissions too easily even if i'm prepared to counter. For example stacking against an armbar may be worthless when the guy knows he can sweep you too and then overpower you. I feel that there must be more solid methods to prevent an armlock if one is defensive.

My own suggestion would be to grab ones belt at stomach level , pressing the elbows right against the obliques. There should be NO space between the arm and body (this prevents against kimuras). Staying defensive this way will at least prevent an armlock (unless someone cares to advise me otherwise) and one can frustrate an offensive tough guy long enough to capitalize on the smaller mans endurance to later take it to him.

What do you think? Any suggestions?

[dan downard]

Keep training,eat beef,and lift weights.Put on some bulk and muscle.And just keep training.

[Famine]

The key is not getting caught in the first place -- especially against bigger guys. Once you've been caught, you've already made a big mistake somewhere. It's better to correct that mistake now than to learn 50 counters because once you've corrected the mistake, you won't need the counters. I don't know where or with whom you train, but the next time you get caught, stop immediately and figure out where you made your mistake. Ask your instructor/partner what happened and correct it. If you're getting caught in armlocks, then i'll bet you're leaving a hole where your buddies are fishing that arm. Close the hole.



--you can run, but you'll only die tired--

[Americana]

Famine is right. The best counter is not to get caught in the first place. I've been told many times not to extend my arm out. I get caught up in the moment, leave the arm and boom I'm tapping to an arm bar.

[Mako]

uhh hmmmm (clearing my throat):


"Make showwwwwww you take good cayuh for yo ahhhhm.... da guy gonna make you tap for showwwwuh if you leave it out!"

Actually, I found I was getting caught alot inside the guys guard because my arms were at the belt level... it gave the guy full range to sit up, move his hips, pull my elbows out and attack my base. I changed my posture to one hand in his lapels (to keep him from sitting up) and the other near his belt knot. This locks him down tighter. The other problem I had personally (which might help you as well) is that I was too slow.. I just sat in the guard and thought about what to do... a good figher will attack you while you are thinking.. then you're in trouble.

Just my thoughts!

[Mr. Miyagi]

If a guy gets a side mount or full mount on you then you have to really keep busy: keep bridging, pushing his hips, grab one of his wrists and hold it close, etc. If the person is that much bigger or stronger than you they will probably get you anyway and the biggest mistake you made was letting them get past your guard. I usually turle if I'm sure my guard is getting past, threaten a takedown even if the guy is bigger and stronger and sprawls, and then just pivot back to guard. As you get tired, I get slower at turtling, pivoting, attempting sweeps, so conditioning is something that is key too.

[Lacrymosa]

First try:

"Oops, I extended my arm and got caught with an armbar."

Second try:

"Oops, I extended my arm again and got caught with an armbar."

Third try:

"Oops, I got caught in an armbar, but it took him longer to set it up."

Fourth try:

"Hey! He didn't armbar me.....but I got caught in a choke."

etc., etc., etc.

It takes time, my friend, but eventually even the simplest of Jiu Jitsu minds will discover what they're doing wrong.

[MikeJKD]

Armbar defenses

All of these guys have good answers, and you should follw their advice. Of course, if that doesn't work, you can try furiously urinating into the guy's eye, or call stusskilla and have him whack the guy over the head with a case of twinkies until he lets you go.
Mike

[MikeJKD]

Okay, seriously

Sorry...I just read Stusskilla's tirade about punks in Arizona and I am still teary eyed with laughter. Didn't mean to bring that in here. Defending an arm bar, like any other submission requires that you get your base first, and prevent the set-up second. Lots of great moves that would normally work fail under pressure because the base isn't there to support them. After that, remember to keep the elbows hidden as best you can. A great drill that's totally frustrating for the first month or so, but will teach you all kinds of useful information about how to protect your arms is this:
Wrestle at a slow pace with a tennis ball pinched under your arms between your upper arm and your body. Try to wrestle the whole match without dropping the ball out from under either arm. You'd be surprised at how much you can still do without letting the elbows drift out too far, and you'll be equally surprised by how often you let it happen. It's not the magic bullet to solve all armbars, but it's a cool drill with some strong benefits. Just keep it all in perspective, and put in the mat time.
Mike

[dan downard]

Didnt you say you were really skinny and weak?I wasnt kidding when I made the suggestion to bulk up and lift weights.
Being in better shape and athletic will help more than you think.
To beat bigger stronger guys,you have to do what you can to be able to deal with them.