Look
for an opportunity to throw a guillotine. Many times an opponent will
offer it to you when he tries to take you down. It is necessary to
reach around your opponent's neck from above to do the guillotine.
Wrap
your forearm across your opponent's throat. Keep your thumb facing up
so the sharp radius bone is pressed against his Adam's Apple.
Reach
over and grab the wrist or hand of your choking arm with your other
hand. Pull both hands tight to your body. This locks in the guillotine
and traps your opponent's head. You must hold your opponent's head
tight so it does not slip out. This can be difficult if your opponent
is especially strong or is slippery with sweat.
Drop
your weight down to the ground taking your opponent with you. If you
are squeezing his neck tight enough, he will be too concerned with that
to maintain his balance. Make sure to control your drop or your
opponent could roll over the top of you.
Wrap
your legs around your opponent's body and lock your ankles together.
This traps your opponent in the guillotine. He will not be able to turn
or roll out of it if you control his body.
Force
your opponent's head down by arching backward and pressing your forearm
into his throat. At the same time tighten your legs and stretch them
out. This will immediately cut off your opponent's air supply. He will
either submit or pass out within seconds.
Seize
your opponent's lapel with a cross hand grab. Your right hand should
grab his right lapel. Your clenched fist should be high on the lapel so
that it is next to his Adam's Apple.
Cross
your hands and seize the other lapel with your other hand. This hand
can be slightly lower on the lapel but still tight against your
opponent's neck.
Move
to a position of superior leverage. The lapel choke works best when you
are on top of your opponent with his back to the ground. It is possible
to use the lapel choke when you are on the bottom. Put your knee on his
chest and get a little distance. The lapel choke also works while
standing. Press your opponent against a wall and drive forward with
your legs.
Position
yourself at a slight angle to your opponent. The lapel choke works best
when you press against the side of your opponent's Adam's Apple.
Drive
the fist closest to your opponent's throat into the side of his Adam's
Apple. At the same time, pull your other hand away from your opponent
in the opposite direction. This simultaneous push and pull inflicts
tremendous force on your opponent's neck. The pain is instantaneous and
submission is immediate.
Rear Naked Choke
The rear naked choke is one of the most recognized finish off moves in mixed martial arts. Nothing gets the crowd screaming like a mixed martial artist choking out another MMA fighter from behind. The rear naked choke is a momentum changer. A fighter could be losing badly then suddenly win the match by trapping his opponent in a rear naked choke.
Get your hooks in. The rear naked choke must be performed from behind your opponent. You can be on top, on the bottom or on your side, but your must always be behind. Reach your legs around his body and hook your feet inside his thighs. Your pelvis should be pressed against your opponent's lower back.
Slide your arm around your opponent's neck. This can be difficult if your opponent realizes that you are trying to get him in a rear naked choke. He will be pressing his chin against his chest to prevent you from getting your arm around his neck. Counter this by sliding the top of your forearm into the crease of his neck. Since the radius bone in your forearm is somewhat sharp, you should be able to pry your way under his chin.
Wrap your arm all the way around your opponent's neck. Create a "V" with your arm with the lower point at your elbow located beneath your opponent's chin. Your hand should be up by your opposite shoulder.
Reach behind your opponent's head with your other arm. Place your hand on the base of his skull. This arm should be farther away from your body than the arm choking your opponent.
Grab your own biceps. Use the hand on the arm that is choking your opponent. It should already be under the arm that is holding the back of your opponent's head. Turn it outward and grab onto the muscles on your upper arm. You now have your opponent's head completely locked up.
Squeeze your elbows together while you arch your back and pull on your leg hooks. Your choking arm is putting pressure on the carotid arteries supplying blood to the brain. It does not take much pressure to cut off that supply. Since you have hooks in between your opponent's legs he cannot roll away from your choke. He will either tap out or pass out in a matter of seconds.
The rear naked choke is a very dangerous martial arts technique. If you squeeze someone too hard you can seriously injure or kill them. Exercise extreme caution and always stop immediately when someone taps out.
Omoplata Shoulder Lock
In mixed martial arts, a shoulder lock performed with your legs is called an "Omoplata." It is a spectacular technique that can end a fight very quickly. It is usually done on an opponent trapped in your full guard. You are on your back with your opponent wrapped between your legs. He is on top working to improve his position. If he leaves an arm available you can trap it in an Omoplata. Since your legs are working against your opponent's shoulder, you can subdue a much larger and stronger opponent with this technique.
Place both hands on your opponent's biceps. This prevents him from striking you while you set up the shoulder lock with your legs.
Release your guard by unhooking your feet. Plant one foot on the ground and push with it. Scoot your body to the side. Your goal is to get to a right angle to your opponent. Push on his far biceps with your hand to help you move over.
Raise your other leg high over your opponent's back while you hold onto the elbow you are turning toward. Trap his arm in your arm pit so he can't pull it out. If your opponent tries to retrieve his arm, pull him down with your leg.
Bend the knee of your raised leg over the front of your opponent's shoulder. Do this when you are at a 90 degree angle to your opponent. Move your hand to the wrist of you opponent's arm that you are controlling. Bend his elbow at a 90 degree angle. You have now secured your opponent in a shoulder lock.
Place your hand on your opponent's lower back and push down. This helps you to sit up and prevents your opponent from doing a forward roll and escaping your shoulder lock.
Turn the shoulder lock. Sit forward and pull the foot of your locking leg back toward you. Keep applying downward pressure to your opponent's lower back so he can't roll away. When you crank the Omoplata your opponent will suffer extreme pain and will likely tap out within seconds. Meanwhile you look like you are not even breaking a sweat since your legs are doing all the work and your hands are free.
Kimura
The Kimura lock is one of the most popular techniques in mixed martial arts. It is an elegantly simple yet devastatingly effective way to submit an opponent and end a fight. The Kimura lock is actually a double joint lock that puts pressure on both the shoulder and elbow. It is a reverse key lock. Instead of the arm being cranked up and back, it is cranked down and back. The technique is named after Masahiko Kimura who used the move to defeat Helio Gracie who was one of the founders of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The Kimura lock can be done from multiple positions but is most often performed on fighters trapped in a full guard.
Lock your opponent in a full guard. Lay on your back with both legs wrapped tightly around your opponent and your ankles hooked together. Your opponent is facing you on his knees.
Grab the wrist of the arm you wish to place in the Kimura lock. Do this with your hand that is on the same side. For example, if you wish to Kimura lock your opponent's right arm, grab his right wrist with your left hand.
Release your full guard. Unhook your feet and twist your body toward the arm you wish to place in a Kimura lock. Do not sit up or your opponent will slam you back down. Instead turn your torso.
Reach your free arm over your opponent's arm you wish to place in a Kimura lock. Loop it over his elbow then grab your own wrist that is next to the hand holding your opponent's wrist.
Crank the Kimura lock. Use both hands to push your opponent's arm backward and up. This strains the elbow and the shoulder at the same time. Be careful to keep your opponent's arm at a 90 degree angle while you crank it.
Press your hips into your opponent and wrap your legs around his back. Attempt to regain your full guard. If you can't get both legs around him then use one leg. This will help you get more leverage and prevent your opponent's escape. The Kimura lock is incredibly painful and will likely force a submission within a few seconds. If you opponent refuses to submit he could suffer a broken arm, torn rotator cuff or dislocated shoulder.
Front Figure Four Choke
The front figure four choke is an effective way to submit an opponent while in front of him. It involves reaching over your opponent's head to lock in a figure four choke. If you get it in tight enough you can submit an opponent before he can do anything about it. The front figure four choke is more difficult to hold onto than the rear naked choke. That is why you don't see it as often in professional mixed martial arts fights.
Bait your opponent into dropping his head. You can do this by presenting your legs as a take down opportunity. When your opponent shoots for your legs, sprawl back. Be sure that you are ready for his take down attempt. If your opponent gets a hold of your legs the front figure four choke wont work.
Grab your opponent's head. If you sprawled back effectively, your opponent's head should be near your stomach. Reach down and wrap your arm around his neck from above.
Lock your opponent's head into your arm pit. Turn your thumb up so that the sharp edge of your radius bone in your forearm cuts into your opponent's throat. Squeeze your arm tight.
Place the hand of your other arm on the shoulder of your opponent. Grab that wrist with the hand of the arm that is choking your opponent. Take a look at your arms. The are now in the shape of a "4." Your opponent's neck is now in a front figure four choke.
Sink your hips down while you sprawl your legs back. Allow your weight to come down on top of your opponent. You want to drop him to the ground.
Squeeze your elbows toward your body while pushing with the hand on your opponent's shoulder. This will pinch your opponent's neck inside your figure 4. If you do this correctly he will tap out within a few seconds. It is important to lock your opponent's head in tight. Since it is the only part of his body you are holding onto, if he slips out of your figure 4 you will be exposed to a counter attack.
Flatten out. The flatter your body the less your opponent will have to press against. He will try to pull his head out by pushing on your body. If you are flat then all he will have to push on is your arm or shoulders. That will sink in the choke even harder.
Arm Triangle
An arm triangle is a devastating mixed martial arts technique. It can be applied lightning fast to choke out an opponent in a matter of seconds. All that is needed is your opponent's head and arm. The arm triangle can be performed while on top of an opponent but is more commonly used when a mixed martial artist is on his back with his opponent wrapped between his legs in a full guard. If your opponent is swinging elbows at your head, he may get careless and open himself to an arm triangle.
Get outside of your opponent's elbow. This can be done by pushing his elbow to the outside of your head or waiting for him to put it there. If your opponent is swinging elbows at your face, he will eventually miss and over swing. This position, where your opponent's arm and elbow is in front of his own face, is what you are looking for.
Move your head to the outside your opponent's upper arm. Place your head half way between his shoulder and his elbow. Press your head toward his.
Reach around his arm and neck. Use your arm that is closest to your opponent. Extend it all the way around so your hand is in front of your face. Your arm and head together should have a firm hold of your opponent's head and arm.
Grab the biceps on your free arm with the hand wrapped around your opponent's head and arm. Bend the arm you are grabbing so your biceps flex. This makes your arm easier to hold on to and puts your arms in the proper position for the arm triangle.
Place your free hand on your own head. Since you are flexing the biceps on this arm it is already next to your head anyway. When you grab your own head it locks in the arm triangle and makes your opponent's escape very unlikely.
Squeeze the arm triangle. Tighten your arms together while you move your head toward your opponent's head. This will force your opponent's arm into his own throat cutting off his air supply is an extremely uncomfortable way. He will either submit immediately or pass out trying to resist.
Always release an arm triangle as soon as your opponent taps out. You can severely injure an opponent by squeezing an arm triangle too hard or for too long.
Arm Bar
The arm bar is one of the most popular submission techniques in mixed martial arts. When you get your opponent in an arm bar they have a simple choice to make. Either they can tap out and submit or get their arm broken. Most choose to tap out. The arm bar is a very versatile martial arts technique. It can be done from many different positions on the same side arm or opposite side arm.
Turn your opponent's head away from the arm you wish to bar. This is important regardless of how you are initiating the arm bar. Your opponent must be facing away from you for the arm bar to be effective. If you are on top of your opponent, push down on his face so he is looking away from the arm you plan to attack. If you are on the bottom, reach up and push his face away.
Grab the arm you wish to bar. This must be done at the same time as the face push. If your opponent's arm is already against your chest, grab the arm at the wrist. Otherwise, grab his biceps and pull the arm tight to your body. Don't worry about moving your opponent's arm yet. Just be sure he does not pull his arm away.
Swing your leg over your opponent's head. The position common to all arm bars of this type is your opponent's arm between your legs with one leg over your opponent's head and the other over his body. If you are on top of your opponent, swing the leg closer to the barring arm over the front of his throat and fall on your back holding his arm. If you are on the bottom, push against your opponent's hip with one leg. When you are at a slight angle to him, throw that leg over his head. You can either stay on your back or roll over on your stomach.
Straighten your body as you move perpendicular to your opponent. Keep your legs close together and extend them as you drive your hips forward and slightly arch your back. One leg should be on your opponent's neck while the other is right below his arm pit. As you straighten, move both hands to your opponent's wrist and hold it tight.
Bar your opponent's arm on your leg. Bend it the way it is not supposed to bend. Be sure his arm hits your leg below his elbow and that his fingers are facing away from you. You don't have to pull hard, just the right direction. Since you have your opponent's arm trapped between your legs, he has no choice but to tap out and submit.
Ankle Lock
The ankle lock is a rarely seen submission technique in mixed martial arts. When it is used it makes for an amusing tap out. The defeated fighter is flailing around in pain while his opponent is merely holding on to his ankle. To the uneducated observer it appears that nothing is causing the reaction. The rarity of the ankle lock is a reason to learn it. Since it is not often used, many fighters do not defend against it. The ankle lock can turn the tide of a fight in an instant.
Clench your opponent's leg between your legs. This can be done from many positions. To perform a basic ankle lock, the bottom of your opponent's foot must face you and his toes must point up. This can be achieved when you are both sitting with legs stretched out toward each other. Fighters often find themselves in this position while grappling or after a failed take down. Press your knees together on your opponent's leg.
Place the foot of your outside leg on your opponent's hip. Turn your toes outward so that your Achilles tendon is protected. This is important so your opponent can't perform an ankle lock on you. Push on his hip with your foot. This prevents your opponent from moving toward you.
Reach around the outside of your opponent's ankle and bring your hand up between his feet. Use your foot on the opponent's hip to push you back so your arm is as low on his ankle as possible. His foot should prevent you from moving any further down.
Reach across your body with your other hand and place it on your opponent's shin. Slide it down toward his foot until your body stops you from moving it any further down.
Grab your own wrist. Use the hand on the arm wrapped around your opponent's ankle to grab the wrist next to the hand on your opponent's shin. You have now locked your arms for the ankle lock.
Turn the ankle lock. Do this by squeezing your knees together, pressing your elbows to your sides and arching your back. This makes your forearm cut into your opponent's Achilles tendon. He will experience extreme pain instantly. Most fighters will submit right away rather than endure this pain.
