The straight arm bar from mount or guard are the first arm bars that we learn in Fundamentals class and are very powerful techniques but there are many different variations of the basic technique. As important as the technique is the setup for the submission. How do we get our opponents in the position where we can attack the arm bar when they are experienced enough to not make simple mistakes?

5 Gracie Barra instructors teach us how they like to attack the arm bar with some creative setups from different positions.

1) Arm bar from mount
When I first saw this trick from Prof. Draculino on how to get the arm bar from mount against a strongly defending opponent I did a face palm and asked myself “Why didn’t I think of that before?!”
And it worked the 1st time I tried it in rolling!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXGkXkQbExc

2) 180 degree arm bar from knee on belly
Prof. Phillipe Della Monica is the head instructor at GB HQ in Irvine, California. Prof. Phillipe teaches how he uses pressure to set up the spinning arm bar & triangle from knee on belly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2KwqPLS3W8

3) Double attack from the closed guard to arm bar / Estrangulamento + Arm lock partindo da Guarda Fechada
The arm bar from the guard is difficult to get if we directly attack the arm. A direct attack is the easiest for the opponent to defend. Check out how threatening the first attack exposes the arm for the arm bar.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMhWxalKImo

4) Arm bar switch sides from mount / Variação do Armlock partindo da montada
How often when you try to attack the arm bar from mount does your opponent counter by the “lion kill” arm defense? All the time!
In this setup, when the opponent protects their right arm, you switch sides to attack the opposite side arm. A great solution to a difficult problem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmyBZ38IRcY

5) Near side arm bar from side control
When most of us think of attacking arm bar from side control we think of the 180 degrees arm lock (see video #2). Most opponent’s do not expect a near side attack on the arm.
Professor Marcelo Rezende from GB Australia shows a sneaky way to setup the arm bar from side control.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR3T8y5N-pQ

See also on Gracie Barra : Take And Attack The Back
https://graciebarra.com/gb-news/gb-learning/take-and-attack-the-back/

Credits: Mark Mullen
Gracie Barra Black belt based in Saigon, Vietnam
Instagram: @markmullen.bjj