You can love training and competing in the Gi or hate it, but the fact stands: with it, you have much more possibilities for controlling your opponent than without it! The grip options, with seemingly innumerable positional variations that you can create by using them, give way to a number of attacking opportunities.
In that exact spirit, Andre Galvao has prepared a breakdown of a great control to submission transition in the Gi; going from a Spider Guard Lasso control towards an Omoplata finish.

MAKE YOUR SPIDER GUARD BETTER – AND SET UP A LASSO FROM IT

Even if you already have a reasonable amount of experience under your belt, you might still have your reservations about playing Spider Guard. Most often, you’ll hear up-and-coming Jiujiteiros and Jiujiteiras complaining that they get passed all too easily.

Andre has a two-fold solution for this issue. The first point he brings up is that you need to learn how to use your grips in the Spider Guard. If you don’t practice this – in other words, if you don’t consistently give your best shot at becoming better – then your grips won’t be used to the unique type of strain you feel when playing this guard. Practice it often and your grips will get both stronger and more used to the Spider Guard.
Secondly, Andre points out that it may be best, for the most part, not to place both of your feet on the training partner’s arms. If both of your legs are up, you can be stacked easier. Therefore, place one of your feet on the partner’s bicep muscle; and have your other foot flexed behind their shoulder. This way, you’ll both control them better and have an easier way setting up the Lasso.

And the Lasso setup? Bring that behind-the-shoulder leg over their arm and lock your foot underneath their armpit for a new point of control. However, to make sure that your partner doesn’t pass you, Andre advises changing the angle of your hips to the opposite side of the Lasso. Simply Hip Escape to the side and you’re there.

TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR OMOPLATA WAY BETTER

Now, getting an Omoplata from here seems like an obvious choice, doesn’t it? That’s because it is… However, Andre has some details which will make that choice not just an obvious one; but a successful one as well.

First of all, let go of the sleeve where your Spider control’s at and grip the collar on the same side where your remaining grip is. Keep the other foot posted at their shoulder, so that you can manage distance.
Now, when shooting for the Omoplata, don’t bring your leg out. This gives your training partner ample space to pass. Instead, sort of scrape your calf muscle over their arm and then get the leg over, locking the Omoplata in place.

When you’re in a position to finish the Omoplata, Andre points out that your focus shouldn’t be so much on what you’re doing with your knees… But on trapping their forearm inside your hip. Therefore, what you need to do is focus on pinching your ribcage against your thigh muscle as much as you can; this will ensure that their arm is trapped in place.
Then, to tap them out, Andre advises first incapacitating them from rolling over by grabbing their hip (over their back). Then, post your hand on their calf muscle and shift to the side a bit. This will flatten your training partner out a bit and you’ll have an easier way finishing them.

Andre demonstrates this setup in great detail below:

Master the OMOPLATA–the submission that can be your new favorite position.

• You might not look like Clark Gracie, but your omoplatas will be the best-looking part of your game.
• SWEEP them when they’re defending the SUBMISSION and SUBMIT them when they’re defending the SWEEP.

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