Today’s lesson I’m going to go over how to do an Americana Armlock From Mount position. You can also do the Americana from side control, so I’ll be going over that with you as well.
The Americana is known by many other names such as the figure four armlock, keylock, V1 armlock, Americana keylock and the ude-garami.
To apply this technique you are basically going to isolate one of your opponent’s arm, locking it into the Americana, and twist the arm into submission by using minimum force.
Jiu Jitsu is great for the smaller man/woman because nearly all the moves learned when training can use your opponents strength as leverage to submit them.
Crucifix Choke From Turtle Position
How To Apply The Americana From Mount
To apply the Americana choke from mount, you’re going to start in mount position. The thing to keep in mind while in mount is not to sit down on your opponent.
If you do your opponent can simply do a pelvis thrust upward and shake you out of position and attack you from the botton.
Instead of sitting down on your opponent while in mount, you want to float up and use your knees for balance. This is basic mount control
So you want to have your kneed firmly planted on the ground, your toes are active posturing up your feet, and you’re postured up over your opponent, not sitting down on them in mount position.
The next step is to get him to raise his hands up so you can actually attempt to put the submission on him. To do this you would simply start striking him in the face.
** A key thing to remember is that you are not allowed to punch or hit someone closed fist while in a jiu jitsu competition. you will get disqualified. Those are the rules. Instead you can strike your opponent open hand slaps.
Completing The Americana
Once you get your opponent to raise his arms up to defend against your open hand slaps you want to then make your move. Once you see an open take both of your hands and push down his forearm to the ground
A key thing to remember is that you want to extend your arms fully and lock it out. You don’t want your arms to be bent trying to force his arm down with your whole body.
You want to make sure you clip your elbow snugged against his neck. This is to have more control of his forearm and the submission lock.
Then you want to apply a leg hook using your rare leg while your front foot is opened up and flat, just like a frog.
The next move is to slide your hand under his elbow and grab on to the wrist of your other hand and roll both of them. You do this while simultaneously pulling your opponents arm towards you.
This will make him tap out immediately. And that’s how you complete the Americana armlock from mount position.
Americana Armlock From Mount Step-by-Step
Americana Armlock From Side Control
When in side control the first thing you want to do is take your left elbow and place it on the side your opponent’s neck so that his head is locked between your elbow and knee. This is don’t to control his head.
now, you should be in a position where both your arms are in front of you, If you have your free hand locking your opponent’s hip, release it.
Your opponent should be resisting and using their arm to push you off. You want to take your left hand to create space so you can apply the armlock.
You want to use your shoulder and shrug forward while pulling your opponent’s arm down and away from you.
Next, you want to secure a thumbless wrist grip with your left hand, and pull your right arm through and connect it to your left hand. This is called a figure four armlock.
Once you’ve secured the figure four armlock you want to roll his outward and to towards the ground. When you do this you want to use your forehead as extra leverage to push his arm down to the ground.
Many fighters who try the Americana armlock have trouble getting their opponent’s arm to the ground to complete the submission. They try to use their arm strength against their opponent’s arm strength.
If you opponent is stronger than you then you will have a hard time completing the move. But if you use your head as extra force to bring his arm down, you’ll have an easier time.
High Crotch Double Leg Takedown
Detailed Americana From Side Control
Americana From Closed Guard
To execute the Americana Armlock from guard you have to be on your back and have your opponent in your guard.
From here you secure an underhook and lock your hands with a gable grip. Be sure to execute a gable grip as far up on his deltoids as you possibly can.
Once you have your gable grip locked you want to use all of your body weight to pull your opponent to the ground. From here you want to scoot and position yourself on your side.
One thing your opponent may try to do is pull back his arm and hide it behind your leg while stepping his leg up. He’s trying to ease the pressure you’re applying to his arm.
If he does this you just simply take your rear arm and do a thumbless grip onto his wrist and apply a reverse Kimura. He’ll immediately tap from the pressure of the submission.
If you’re attempting to complete the Americana Armlock and your opponent straightens out his arm, then immediately apply the straight armlock.
To apply the Americana armlock from this position you would have to take your free hand and hammer his elbow in so it can fold, and then rotate to finish the move.
Common Mistakes – Americana Armlock
When attempting to apply the Americana Armlock some fighters make several mistakes. These mistakes will let their opponent defend against the armlock, and get themselves out of danger.
One of the first mistakes is that some fighters try to apply the Americana too high. They try to apply it in line with their opponents chest, neck, or head.
Instead what you should do once you have the arm lock secured is slide your opponents elbow down toward his hip, and once their rotate the arm up. He will tap.
Another mistake that’s made is securing the wrist lock with your thumb and all four fingers. This is not how you do the technique. Instead you should secure the wrist with a thumbless grip.
The reason for this is that you can rotate the arm better. Another reason is that if your opponent draws back his arm quick, it can snap your thumb back and potentially break it.
He can also break from your wrist lock through your thumb, because your thumb would be the weakest part of the grip.
Lastly be sure to put all your weight on your opponent. Never attempt to do the Americana with your body bent half way or crotched over. It’s best to put all your weight onto your opponent and execute the move.
The Difference Between A Kimura And Americana
This is a great question and very easy to answer. Many mixed martial arts or straight jiut jitsu practitioners often think that the Kimura and Americana are the same submission move.
This is not true. Although the setup for both moves are similar there is a slight difference between the two moves.
Whether you’re applying a Kimura or and Americana armlock depends on which way the forearm is pointing. If the forearm is pointing toward the hip, which is downward this is called a Kimura.
If the forearm is pointing upward it’s called an Americana. it all depends on which position you are in and which way you rotate you opponent’s arm.
In conclusion the Americana Armlock choke is an amazing submission to use against your opponent from mount, side control, or in guard.
- The Americana Armlock will only work if done properly. Key things to remember is to do a thumbless grip, don’t apply the armlock too high, and use all your body weight on your opponent.
- Just like any move in martial arts the Americana can be defended against so look out for that and always be prepared to be in a fight, and not think the move will work as soon as you try to apply it.
- An Americana is not the same as a Kimura the difference lies within which way you rotate your opponent’s arm during the application of the move.