🔥 FFTT: 3 EPIC Closed Guard Armbars

Welcome back to Tap Nap & Snap - the only newsletter that shows you 3 different ways to break someone's arm, all in one email. Now THAT’S value … ✅ 

Let's go! 

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3 Ways To Attack Closed Guard Armbars - From Some Of The Best In The Business

This week's Freak For The Technique is mixing up the format and giving you a bit more to chew on.

Rather than film our own speedy sequence in the gym this week, we’re featuring three powerful armbars from some of the best to ever do it.

They all come from closed guard - the goal here is that you can walk away with a ‘system’ to practice over the next fortnight and really level up!

Hit reply and let us know if you like this format. 👍

Let’s get into it!

1.) Roger Gracie vs Jacare Souza (2004) - The Classic Closed Guard Armbar

Roger vs Jacare in the 2004 Mundials absolute final has to be one of the most iconic Gi matches of all time.

Jacare went on to win the match on points, but not before Roger caught him in a brutal closed guard armbar that popped and dislocated his left arm at the elbow, forcing him to tuck it into his belt to finish out the match.

Roger’s closed guard is widely known as being something special, and there are some great details in this armbar setup to pay attention to.

Key Things To Look For:

1. Roger uses feet on the hips and a knee pinch to keep Jacare at distance in the closed guard

2. He works up to a ‘high closed guard’ position to break posture and make it easy to slip the top leg over Jacare’s head.

3. As Jacare tries to stack his way out of the armbar, Roger turns over to go belly down and really extend the hips … hence the snap 🤢

Submission Sequence Timestamp:

Honestly, the whole match is worth a watch, but Roger’s closed guard armbar setup starts at 10 minutes and 15 seconds.

2.) Mikey Musumeci vs Jarred Brooks (2023) - Overhook Triangle Armbar

Mikey Musumeci is one of the best modern grapplers on the planet, and Jarred Brooks, while not a pure grappler, is definitely no slouch.

This is a fast-paced, high-intensity scrap that finishes with Mikey working to a smooth triangle entry from closed guard, and then using it to isolate the arm and attack an overhook armbar.

You’ll see some similarities to Roger’s setup, and spot some different paths you can take for the armbar finish.

Key Things To Look For:

1. Like Roger, Mikey keeps Jarred at distance and works to a high closed guard to make a seamless switch to the triangle.

2. While not able to get the triangle finish, he uses it to control posture and work on isolating an arm.

3. Mikey is relentless in the attack - constantly tightening the triangle, going for a cutting armbar first before securing the overhook and getting the finish.

Submission Sequence Timestamp:

Mikey starts working the setup here from 6 minutes and 45 seconds.

3.) Adele Fornarino vs Bianca Basilio (2024) - The ‘Mir-Lock’

In what was one of the quickest subs of ADCC 2024 and a history-making moment, Adele Fornarino took out veteran Bianca Basilio with a Mir Lock to become Australia’s first-ever ADCC champ!

She also went on to take a double gold by winning the absolute 🤯, but - back to the Mir Lock for now.

Bianca put Adele to the floor nicely with an Uchi Mata type throw, but Adele stayed calm, worked her way to the closed guard and grabbed an overhook as Bianca lifted her off the floor… and well, the rest is history.

Key Things To Look For:

1. Adele loses the standing battle and gets put to the floor - but stays calm and works her guard game

2. She keeps a tight connection to Bianca when getting lifted off the floor, using the opportunity to secure the overhook and transition from crossed ankles to a body triangle.

3. She slides the overhook down to the elbow and brings her arm to the inside to finish the Mir Lock.

Submission Sequence Timestamp:

It’s a quick sequence, and it kicks off at 2 minutes and 15 seconds.

Building A Solid Closed Guard Armbar System:

Being able to hit a range of different armbar setups is something every good closed-guard player can do.

There are many paths we can take, but if we use these three matches as inspiration, we can see a few concepts that shine through, such as:

• Using a high closed guard to break posture and get legs over the head (Roger & Mikey)

• Overhooks can lead to a few different finishing options (Mikey & Adele)

• Use a combination of feet and tight knees to keep the distance on your terms (Roger and Mikey pushing opponents away while Adele stays tight to Bianca)

These aren’t the only ways to play - but they obviously work! Go get it! 🔥

A MEME FOR GOOD MEASURE

Meme Of The Week:

Everyone’s been loving Terminator Kid this week - ‘ave a look 👀👇