Most BJJ students learn the same “basic” arm locks from side control within their first weeks or months of Jiu-Jitsu –– e.g., Americana, straight cross body arm lock, and Kimura.
But with the exception of the Kimura, most find that once their training partners know how to keep their arms in on bottom, these techniques quickly fall into the bucket of perceived “low percentage” techniques.
I felt the same way, but am here to tell you that this is all about the execution (how they are understood and taught) relative to positional control, isolation of the limb, and finishing mechanics, not the submissions themselves.
As always, it comes down to first principles.
And I’ve seen even GREAT Jiu-Jitsu coaches who have worked out the first principles of other areas of Jiu-Jitsu claim that, for example, the Americana is a low percentage technique. In order to conclude that, however, we need to look at the assumptions upon which that conclusion is based.
And could those assumptions change if we changed how we are applying weight distribution, angle, and torque to the technique?
When I showed this technique and adapted principle to my good friend, the exceptional Henry Akins, last year and his response was: “Holy f***! That’s amazing!”
That was great validation, but point here isn’t reasoning from authority; the point was what he instantly recognized BY FEEL in terms of the control and mechanics.
In this clip from my section at the recent SBG International Spring 2022 training camp, I had the privilege of taking about 160 practitioners from white belt to high level competitive black belts through the theory and application of how to make cross body Americanas and straight arm locks incredibly effective weapons in their arsenal.
To get the complete system, be sure to check out my 7 volume The Pillars: Side Control Mastery Course here: https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/all/products/the-pillars-side-control-mastery-by-stephen-whittier
