How to Do an Arm Bar in Mixed Martial Arts

The arm bar is one of the most popular submission techniques in mixed martial arts. When you get your opponent in an arm bar, he has a simple choice to make: either tap out and submit or get his arm broken. Most choose to tap out. The arm bar is a very versatile martial-arts technique. It can be performed from many different positions on the same -side arm or the opposite-side arm.

Instructions

1. Turn your opponent's head away from the arm you wish to bar. This is important regardless of how you are initiating the arm bar. Your opponent must be facing away from you for the arm bar to be effective. If you are on top of your opponent, push down on his face so he is looking away from the arm you plan to attack. If you are on the bottom, reach up and push his face away.

2. Grab the arm you wish to bar. This must be done at the same time as the face push. If your opponent's arm is already against your chest, grab the arm at the wrist. Otherwise, grab her biceps and pull the arm tight to your body. Don't worry about moving your opponent's arm yet. Just be sure she does not pull her arm away.

3. Swing your leg over your opponent's head. The position common to all arm bars of this type is your opponent's arm between your legs, with one leg over your opponent's head and the other over his body. If you are on top of your opponent, swing the leg closer to the barring arm over the front of his throat and fall on your back, holding his arm. If you are on the bottom, push against your opponent's hip with one leg. When you are at a slight angle to him, throw that leg over his head. You can either stay on your back or roll over on your stomach.

4. Straighten your body as you move perpendicular to your opponent. Keep your legs close together and extend them as you drive your hips forward and slightly arch your back. One leg should be on your opponent's neck, the other right below her arm pit. As you straighten, move both hands to your opponent's wrist and hold it tight.

5. Bar your opponent's arm on your leg. Bend it the way it is not supposed to bend. Be sure his arm hits your leg below his elbow, and that his fingers are facing away from you. You don't have to pull hard, just in the right direction. Since you have your opponent's arm trapped between your legs, he has no choice but to tap out and submit.