Armbar
Also known as juji gatame, straight armlock, arm lock
A straight armlock that controls the shoulder and wrist while using the hips as the fulcrum against the elbow.
At a glance
- Family
- Submission
- Format
- Gi & no-gi
- Level
- Fundamental
- Connections
- 4 techniques
Concept
What it is
The armbar is a core submission across jiu-jitsu and judo. The attacker controls the opponent's shoulder line, traps the arm between the legs, and aligns the wrist and elbow with the hips.
Armbars appear from guard, mount, side control, back control, and scrambles. The position can be used to sweep or transition even when the finish is unavailable, making elbow-line control more important than immediately extending the arm.
Core mechanics
Key principles
- Control the shoulder so the opponent cannot freely rotate the elbow.
- Keep the knees connected around the trapped arm and upper body.
- Maintain wrist orientation and elbow alignment.
- Apply pressure gradually and release immediately on a tap.
System map
How it connects
Jiu-jitsu techniques work in sequences. These are common conceptual routes in, productive next steps, and the defensive priorities that shape the exchange.
Common entries
Closed guard
Break posture, isolate an arm, and rotate the hips across the shoulder.
Mount
Climb above the elbows and move through high or S-mount.
Back control
Move over a defensive arm while preserving control of the shoulder line.
Next actions
Triangle
Reconfigure the legs when the opponent drives the trapped arm across.
Omoplata
Rotate around the shoulder if the opponent turns and retracts the elbow.
Top position
Follow a stack or roll and settle the sweep before re-attacking.
Defensive priorities
Elbow-line recovery
Pull the elbow beyond the attacker's hip line before trying to stand or turn.
Hand connection
Use a temporary grip to prevent extension while changing the shoulder angle.
Stack with alignment
Drive only while protecting the trapped elbow and avoiding uncontrolled neck pressure.
Context
History and naming
Judo classifies the cross-body armbar as ude-hishigi-juji-gatame; related straight armlocks are foundational across submission grappling traditions.
Competition connections
Athletes associated with Armbar
Keep exploring
Related techniques
Guard
Closed Guard
A foundational guard in which the bottom player closes their legs around the opponent to control posture and build sweeps or submissions.
Position
Mount
A dominant top position in which the attacker straddles the opponent's torso to control movement and isolate the arms or neck.
Submission
Triangle Choke
A leg strangle that traps the neck and one arm inside a triangular leg configuration.
Submission
Omoplata
A shoulder lock and sweeping position that wraps the legs around an isolated arm while the attacker rotates beside the opponent.
Rules and reference sources
Rules evolve. The official organizer documents below are the source of truth for competition legality; the guide above explains the technique conceptually.