Last week, Ed Perdomo and Trevor Boers demonstrated how to move from the failed Omoplata attempt directly into a Gogoplata choke submission. This time, MMA Gospel’s Technique of the Week completes it’s current three move arch with a basic Armbar from the guard that the evasion of the previous weeks Gogoplata sets up beautifully. This again gives the mixed martial artist following this line of attack a distinct advantage as even the most basic of submission holds is elevated to another level by using the opponent’s own escape against them.
When Ed goes to bring his foot into position for the Gogoplata, Trevor evades it by ducking his head back inside Ed’s leg and back into a high guard. Ed immediately begins to set-up the Armbar. Trevor’s momentum is already moving towards the outside as he brings his head around so Ed uses his free hand to push Trevor’s head further to the outside (LEFT). He also switches the hand he has controlling Trevor’s wrist from an overhand grip to an underhook.
Ed drops his outside foot in preparation to switch his hips as he uses the underhook to sweep Trevor’s arm up to his chest (RIGHT). He maintains pressure against Trevor’s head the entire time and hooks the extended arm inside his own elbow as he gets ready to switch his hand positions to complete the hold.
Ed then switches his hand to have his outside hand control Trevor’s head behind the neck and his inside hand reach cross body to hook his hand over Trevor’s tricep, pulling the arm across his chest as he begins to rotate on his hips moving his head away from the trapped arm (LEFT).
Having pivoted on his hips to gain the proper angle, Ed brings his outside leg around Trevor’s head to isolate the arm (RIGHT). Notice that Ed maintains his grip on Trevor’s above the elbow the entire time. The grip should never switch to the opponent’s wrist until the submission is set completely.
Ed then finished the Armbar by extending his hips and sliding his grip to Trevor’s wrist (LEFT). He traps Trevor’s arm above the elbow by squeezing his thighs together and turns Trevor’s thumb away from his chest to maximize the pressure against the joint and extends to force the tap.
Recap:
- As soon as your opponent begins to duck his head around your Gogoplata attempt, use your free hand to control his head and switch your wrist control to an underhook.
- Push your opponent’s head to the outside assisted by his own momentum and pull up with your underhook to bring your opponent’s arm to your chest.
- Switch your controlling hands, using your free hand to control the arm cross body above the elbow and your underhook hand to pull your opponent’s head further to the outside.
- Pivot on your hips to bring your leg around your opponent’s head to isolate the arm.
- Squeeze with your knees to create a fulcrum, extend your hips, and adjust your grip to wrist control with both hands, forcing the tap.
This concludes the current three technique arch in MMA Gospel’s Technique of the Week. From the past three weeks lessons, a reader should be able to chain two advanced submissions into a basic Armbar that an opponent won’t see coming should they escape the first two attacks. Next week, MMA Gospel will begin an entirely new series of techniques to help you improve your MMA Game.
*Ed Perdomo is a 4th degree black belt in the Korean grappling art of Hapkido and is head instructor of the Hapkido Institute in Morris, IL.
