The best submissions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are those that your opponents don’t see coming. However, as you become more experienced and climb through the belt ranks, so do your opponents; and therefore, they become much harder to surprise in the first place.
Nevertheless, there will always be some techniques that you can still set up out of “nowhere”. For instance, this unexpected Americana from Side Control – as explained by Robert Drysdale.
UNEXPECTED AMERICANA SUBMISSION FROM SIDE CONTROL
Starting from Side Control, Robert Drysdale explains that the goal is to allow your opponent to move – but on your own terms. In this case, you need to first free up some space on the opponent’s far side.
Do so by lifting your arm and placing the palm of your hand over their bicep. This will give them space to dig for an underhook. Allow them to do that and to turn a bit to the side; but not too much.
From there, you will dig the hand you have on their bicep muscle a bit deeper (so that you can touch your chest with your palm) and start turning around them. As you do, make sure that you’re sliding your other elbow across their ribcage and that your first arm’s elbow is staying “in”. Also, keep the pressure on top of them.
Then, once your second arm’s elbow drops on the mat, you will turn with their trapped arm – to get the unexpected Americana tap. Check out how to do it in more detail on the video below:
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