Here’s a simple, but still very effective, method to escape from the Armbar
Stephan is caught in an armbar. He protects his arm by gripping his hands together (see next photo for details on the grip).
Using the linked hands he pushes his opponent’s leg off of his face. Note that he does not release his grip.
Stephan then drives his whole body backwards using his legs. He puts his head on the floor to trap his opponent’s thigh, so that that leg can’t come back over his face.
Still keeping his hands gripped together Stephan spins towards his opponent.
He ends up in his opponent’s guard, completing the escape from the armbar submission. Most opponents will now immediately try for an armbar from the guard, so Stephan is protecting his arm and controlling his opponent’s hips!