The most fundamental BJJ submission. Isolate and hyperextend the elbow joint from countless positions.
The armbar (juji-gatame in Japanese) is the most foundational joint lock in BJJ. You isolate your opponent's arm, align it with your hips, and apply pressure against the elbow joint to force a submission or risk hyperextension.
The armbar can be attacked from virtually every BJJ position — guard, mount, side control, back mount, and even standing. Its versatility makes it the first submission most white belts drill extensively.
Mastering the armbar requires understanding grip fighting, hip movement, and angle control. It is both a fundamental white-belt technique and a high-level black-belt tool.
Follow these steps to execute the Armbar correctly. Every step matters — skipping one leads to a failed attempt.
Secure a position where the armbar is available — closed guard, mount, or side control work well. Control your opponent's posture and grips before committing.
Isolate the target arm with two-on-one grip or a figure-four. Do not let go until the submission is locked.
Create the angle by shifting your hips perpendicular to your opponent. This is where most beginners fail — the armbar requires hip movement, not arm strength.
Lock your hands around the wrist. Thumb up, elbow tight to the opponent's centerline, his arm immobilized against your chest.
Squeeze your knees, extend your hips, and slowly raise your pelvis. Never jerk — controlled pressure gives your opponent time to tap safely.
Release immediately on the tap. Respect your training partner. In competition, full extension is the finishing point.
These are the most common errors people make when attempting the Armbar. Recognize them in your own game and fix them systematically.
Most failed armbars happen because you try to finish before establishing the angle. Your hips must be perpendicular to the opponent.
Fix: Hip out first, then squeeze. Angle before pressure.
Knees flying apart breaks your control and lets the opponent escape their arm or stack you.
Fix: Keep knees pinched tight around the opponent's shoulder at all times.
If their thumb rotates down, you lose the bone alignment and the armbar becomes a rotational shoulder lock instead.
Fix: Control the wrist actively — keep the thumb pointed to the ceiling.
If the opponent can sit up, they will defend by stacking or posturing out of the submission.
Fix: Flare your near leg across their face or chest to prevent them from sitting up.
The Armbar is a beginner-level technique that is tested and refined at different stages of belt progression. White belts learn the mechanics, blue belts refine the setups, and purple belts integrate it into complex chains.
Mastery of core techniques like the Armbar is one of the things professors evaluate when considering a promotion. Beyond time in grade, your practical application of fundamentals matters.
Open the BJJ belt calculator to see where you stand against IBJJF minimums.
Open CalculatorThe armbar is typically introduced in your first 10 classes. It is considered the most fundamental submission and a white-belt essential.
Yes. The armbar is one of the most frequently hit submissions at every level of IBJJF and ADCC competition.
Armbars can be attacked from closed guard, mount, side control, back mount, north-south, and even from standing.
When applied correctly, the armbar hyperextends the elbow which can result in serious injury. Always apply slowly and release on the tap.
Most failed armbars come from rushing the angle. Hip out first, control the arm, then apply pressure gradually.