It’s really annoying when you’re in side control and your opponent starts digging their forearm into your neck. In today’s video lesson I explain a way to trap your opponent’s arm with the lapel and still go for the submission with a choke.
Let’s go?
Side control choke trapping the arm with the lapel
Starting the position
When you get to side control (the “100kg”) on your opponent, their forearm usually ends up digging into your neck. To relieve the pressure a bit, turn your face to the side, looking toward your opponent’s hips.
To start the choke, you need to work the lapel out little by little. Once you get it out, pass the lapel over your opponent’s forearm and feed it to the hand that’s wrapped around their head.
A very important detail is where you pass the lapel. Ideally, always place it in the middle of your opponent’s forearm, making it harder for them to free their arm.
Finishing
If you just want to hold the position, tighten the lapel well to trap your opponent’s arm. Remember that you can only go 20 seconds without trying to progress from the position, or you’ll be penalized. If you have any questions about penalties, read the article How do penalties work in Jiu-Jitsu?
After trapping the arm, bring your other hand into the same lapel, but notice that in the video lesson I go in with my palm facing up. After adjusting the grips well and keeping my hand tightly closed, I drop the weight of my shoulder onto my partner’s belly and finish by squeezing as if to bring one elbow to the other.
Questions
This is a movement I really like: on top of being very effective, it leaves your opponent with fewer ways to defend.
If you have any questions, leave them in the comments and I’ll reply as quickly as possible.
Good training!
OSSSS
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