What can you do if your opponent is positioning his hands well in a defensive manner to prevent your armlock attacks? Typically, jiu jitsu and judo students are taught to capitalize on training partners making mistakes. The strategy is that the person is giving you the submission by having his arm out of place. The natural issue that occurs quickly is your training partners will begin learning where to place their arms for a successful defensive posture. One example is the cross side position when your opponent makes an arm frame under your neck.
In this form of defense, one of my favorite techniques is to apply a wristlock. I will even do this to a white belt slowly and say, “Everyone gets one.” This wristlock attack will only work effectively from the frame under the chin defensive posture if I can move the training partner’s elbow straight forward pointing away from my direction. Having the person’s elbow straight and pressuring down of the wrist with my chin create a wrist-trap. All that is left to finalize is the shoulder pressure and hold of the elbow with one of my hands or both hands. The submission comes on fast. Many times, the failed wrist lock creates the opportunity to execute the bent armlock: ude grarami (Americana). This little sequence works well. However, both attacks rely on getting the opponent’s elbow straight. Wise practitioners will keep the elbow alignment close to their body while maintaining a powerful frame harm configuration. For this problem, Prof. James “300” Foster (2011), filmed a technique I call the frame popper.
This technique works sometimes. Even in the instructional, Foster says that the opponent’s grip with his hand controlling the gi does not always happen. Therefore, since I learned about this move in 2011, I have experienced poor success in making it work. I needed more Fire Power.
Recently, I developed a situation for this frame defense from the cross side position as an entry into the Americana. I have named it the FP (Fire Power or Frame Post) Americana. The percentage of success for everyone that I taught this move to is high. Below is the first look of the FP Americana to counter the frame position of your opponent.
Now we have the FP Americana (Ude Garami). Add this great technique to your game when your opponent is positioning his or her hands correctly in a defensive posture from the bottom cross.
‘Teachers have three loves: love of learning, love of learners, and the love of bringing the first two loves together.’–Scott Hayden
To The Reader
The author will be most happy to receive your comments, including criticisms and suggestions. Noteworthy comments may be included in future editions or books on this series.
Citations for Educational Purpose:
A detailed look at the Americana Arm Lock from Side Control with James Foster,
(2011), Youtube.com.
My best,
– Prof. “little” Tony Pacenski
Yokota Air Base – Tokyo Japan
www.tonypacenski.com
