The armdrag is one of the most important attacks in BJJ and submission grappling. Not only does hitting the armdrag give you a route to your opponent’s back, it’s also a great probing attack that sets up a whole host of other techniques.
The armdrag can be performed in both gi-based BJJ and no gi submission grappling. It was popularised in BJJ when Marcelo Garcia burst onto the scene in 2003, dramatically choking out legend Vitor Shaolin in the São Paulo ADCC semifinals.
Marcelo Garcia armdrag to RNC on Vitor Shaolin, ADCC 2003
This technique is probably easiest to learn standing, but once you’ve mastered it on your feet it’s easy to adapt it to the ground.
To get you started, here are the four most fundamental ways of hitting the armdrag that you need to know…
Now let’s look at each one of these four attacks in a little more detail…
1, Armdrag from Wrist Control
Armdrag from Wrist Control
The first and simplest armdrag attack starts with you controlling your opponent’s same-side hand or wrist (e.g. his left hand with your right hand).
From this control you push his arm across his body while simultaneously cupping his triceps area with your other hand (e.g. your left hand on his left triceps).
Now pull his arm across his body with your triceps grip and shoot forward to take the back. If you’re on your feet then you’ll typically end up in the bodylock, and on the ground you’ll have a route to taking his back. Starting on your feet and ending up on the ground and on his back is also a possibility
There are many advanced details that you can use to make this technique even more effective, like controlling the back of his hand, bending his wrist to make it weaker, and internally rotating his shoulder (covered extensively in the Armdrag Formula).
Once you’ve mastered the armdrag from wrist control it’s time to move on to some other common variations…
2, Armdrag vs Wrist Control
2, Armdrag vs Wrist Control
Unlike the previous technique, in this variation your opponent is controlling YOUR wrist. This can be the result of him winning the handfight or you baiting him to take your wrist so you can counter him.
Either way, if you know this technique then it’s easy to turn the tables on him.
If he’s controlling your right wrist with his left hand then shoot your arm across your own body; this changes the angle of his hand and weakens his grip. Simultaneously cup the back of his triceps with your free (left) hand and drag it across.
This dual motion is a powerful gripbreak, and puts you right into the armdrag. Now move to his back or continue with some other followup.
3, Wax-off Armdrag
3, Wax-off Armdrag
In the wax-off variation we use a circular motion to redirect your opponent’s arm as it posts on you and feed it right into the armdrag.
This is easiest to train with a partner who is stiff-arming your chest. Say he’s pushing your chest with his left hand; knock his hand outwards with your right arm and then circle it down in a clockwise motion. When it reaches the bottom of the circle use your other arm to cup his triceps and continue with the armdrag as before.
This move may look fancy, but with a few reps it’ll become smooth and natural.
By the way, the name of this move comes from the famous scene in the Karate Kid movie where Pat Morita teaches Ralph Macchio how to block punches by waxing cars.
Wax on, Wax Off in the Karate Kid
4, Slap-down armdrag
4, Slap-down armdrag
This fourth variation requires a little more timing than the previous techniques, but it’s eminently doable with a bit of practice.
Here you wait until your opponent reaches forward to touch you, then you intercept his reaching arm by slapping it down. Once you’ve made contact your other hand is already in motion to catch his arm just as you’ve done so many times before.
It’s important to note that these armdrag variations are just the beginning. There’s an entire gripfighting system based around the armdrag, and many, many followups you can use to put your opponent into a difficult position. Start with these four attacks however and everything else will feel much easier!
Scroll down for more armdrag resources…
MORE ARMDRAG MATERIAL ON THIS SITE
Standing Armdrag to Rear Naked Choke
The standing armdrag to rear naked choke is one of the most powerful combos in jiu-jitsu, used with great success by GOAT Marcelo Garcia.
Click here for a step-by-step breakdown on hitting the standing armdrag to rear naked choke.
The Arm Drag and 2 on 1 Formula
The Armdrag and 2 on 1 Formula
The Arm Drag and 2 on 1 Formula gives you the exact step-by-step gameplan to dominate your opponent from guard using two different forms of elbow and wrist control.
Click here to find out more about this comprehensive gripfighting and attack system.
Armdrag from Butterfly Guard
Armdrag from butterfly guard
The arm drag is one of the main attacks from the butterfly guard (aka seated guard). Some of the greatest jiu-jitsu competitors of all time have regularly used it in the highest levels of the sport, so you know it’s going to work for you too.
Click here for the armdrag from butterfly guard with a lot of advanced details.
An Easy Armdrag Defense
Getting caught in an arm drag is bad, and you need a solution that works for you.
Click here for a simple armdrag defense you can add to your arsenal today.