After Marcelo Garcia arm-dragged his way to ADCC glory back in 2003 the arm drag became one of the most powerful attacks from the guard in BJJ overnight.
The arm drag is so successful nowadays at every level of competition that I’d go so far as to say it’s a mandatory technique, especially if you train without the gi sometimes.
A well-executed armdrag from the guard teleports you directly onto your opponent’s back. Unfortunately many people sabotage this move with some easily avoidable mistakes which we’re going to fix right now…
Chapters
00:33 Mistake 1 – pulling opponent toward yourself instead of to one side
01:12 Mistake 2 – blocking the route to the back by leaving a hook in
01:49 Mistake 3 – delaying pulling the trigger as soon as you get a grip
02:44 Mistake 4 – applying the arm drag at the wrong range
03:25 Mistake 5 – no backup plan for the most common armdrag counters
4:30 Bonus – the arm drag vs the 2-on-1 grip position
Good luck with your arm drags. Time spent on this area of your game is never wasted!
Relevant Arm Drag Resources
How to Train Your Armdrag (Drill)
This drill from the BJJ Games instructional is the single-best way to develop that hair trigger reflex of attacking with the armdrag the moment the opportunity presents itself.
How the Lapel Drag Can Save Your Guard From Being Passed
Nothing good happens if your opponent controls both of your feet, ankles or legs in jiu-jitsu. Here are three simple options (including the lapel drag) to stop his inevitable guard pass attempt.
And if you really want to have an impassable guard then check out 12 Concepts, Principles and Ideas To Stop Your Opponent from Passing Your Guard.
BJJ Training Drills and Games
BJJ Games uses a system of ground-breaking games and live drills to make your techniques smooth and instinctive. With this play-based method you’ll get more out of each training session, waste less time, and get better at jiu-jitsu much faster.
Click here for more info about BJJ Games.
The Arm Drag and 2-on-1 Positions for BJJ
The arm drag and the 2 on 1 grips are one of best ways to control your opponent in no gi BJJ. It allows you to take your opponent’s back, sweep him and submit him at will.
Click here to find out more about The Arm Drag and 2-on-1 Formula.
Good luck with your training!
Stephan Kesting