Perhaps one of the most underlooked submissions around is the Tarikoplata. This technique was developed by the Norweigan competitor and black belt, Tarik Hopstock which is where the name comes from. As you can also imagine, it is also a bit like an Omoplata shoulder lock, which is also where the name comes from.
In this article, we shall explain how to perform the Tarikoplata submission step by step. Here, we shall look at the entries into the Tarikoplata, as well as how to finish it successfully. If you learn this submission, it will definitely improve your BJJ game. Here’s how it’s done.
Table of Contents
Entries into the Tarikoplata
Primarily, there are two main ways to enter the Tarikoplata. The first way is from the top position in north/south side control. The second way is from a bottom guard position. We shall start by looking at the top entry.
Tarikoplata entry from side control
Ideally, you should have your opponent in the north/south position, as if you’re going for a Kimura. From here, you’ve almost entered the Tarikoplata even if you don’t know it yet. In other words, you should be holding a Kimura whilst sitting on your opponent’s head. Then, you’ll want to remove your grip on your own hand (whilst constantly holding their arm with your other wrist), and take this free hand under their forearm.
From here, you should thread the same hand onto the top of your thigh, above your knee. This will keep a tight connection between your leg and their arm. Next, you’ll want to shoot both legs over your opponent’s body, so they’re both behind their back. Remember, as you do this, you’ll want to cover their forearm with the leg you shoot over, so their arm cannot escape. At this point, you’ve now entered the Tarikoplata from the top position, and from here, the submission should be yours.
Tarikoplata entry from the bottom guard
Entering the Tarikoplata from the bottom position uses the same mechanics. So, just like you would from the top, this involves grabbing a Kimura and then threading your own arm under their arm and onto your leg. In other words, it’s exactly the same as you’d do from side control.
The obvious difference is doing this from a bottom position, and generally there are a couple of guards to get this from. Perhaps the most common is from a knee shield position, where you’ll have to kick your shield leg over the opponent’s head and then onto their far hip. This will require a slight inversion and should be done after you’ve grabbed a Kimura grip. This should look like an arm saddle entry, albeit you’d then change to a Kimura, to a Tarikoplata grip once you’ve attached yourself to their arm.
The other entry is from an open guard and often happens as someone is close to passing you. If they’ve almost passed but leave their farm arm open, you can do a similar inversion as mentioned before. This is almost like an attack from K-guard but you’ll primarily aim for their arm as opposed to their legs. Once you’ve sorted out your grips, you’ll now be ready to finish from the bottom position.
Finishing the Tarikoplata from the top position
Once your legs have gone to the side of your opponent’s back, you will be close to finishing the Tarikoplata. From here, you’ll want to sit on your opponent’s head for stability whilst posting on your free hand to give further base. With the leg that you’re gripping, you’ll want to kick forward as if trying to kick your leg beyond your opponent’s head.
Be careful whilst doing this, as it can feel very minimal yet it can still move the opponent’s shoulder joint to breaking point. At this point, it acts like a Kimura or Omoplata submission and if the opponent doesn’t tap, then their shoulder would break.
Finishing the Tarikoplata from the bottom position
Again, the Tarikoplata is finished in a similar fashion from the bottom position – but there are a few small differences. Instead of using your buttocks or arm to base, you won’t need to as you’ll already have your back on the floor. Instead, you can do two things. Firstly, you should keep your free leg over the opponent’s head to stop them from posturing up and escaping. Ideally, try to keep their head facing towards the ground.
Secondly, you should once again kick forward with your wrapped leg that is attacking the opponent’s shoulder. This time, you should also grab the opponent’s near leg with your free arm. In the gi, try to grip some material. This should stop them from rolling forward and potentially escaping.
Having said this, if the opponent does manage to roll forward then you can still finish them. This is because if they roll forward to alleviate pressure, as long as you keep your grip then you should land in top-side control. If the opponent manages to explode out, so long as you keep your grips then you can once again finish from the bottom position, by using the same mechanics previously mentioned. In other words, the top and bottom positions are linked together.
Key details to make the Tarikoplata work
Most of the time, if you follow the above advice, you’ll be fine and will finish most people. However, here are a few tips on how to improve your Tarikoplata. The first thing to do is to get your wrapped arm as deep as possible so that your forearm is touching your opponent’s forearm. In the heat of sparring, some people will only thread their wrist through which may not always be enough.
Firstly, the wrist could slip out, whereas the entire forearm gives better control. Secondly, you can use your forearm bone to act as a bicep slicer. If someone is incredibly strong and their shoulder won’t move, then you may have to turn it into a slicer instead. To do this, tighten your legs together and squeeze, which will put real pressure on the opponent’s arm.
By the same token, if your arm is only wrist-deep then it won’t act as a slicer and may even put pressure on your wrist, acting as a self-inflicted wrist lock. This is why it’s important to be as deep as possible.
Just remember that bicep slicers are illegal under IBJJF rules until you’re a brown belt. By its nature, the Tarikoplata can sometimes slip into slicer territory anyway, so even if you used this as a shoulder lock in a competition, the referee could always interpret it as a slicer and disqualify you. Although unlucky, this can happen.
The Tarikoplata is great against strong opponents
Despite having more details and work to set up in comparison with the Kimura, it is arguably a better submission for smaller, weaker BJJ practitioners. The reason for this is that it uses one arm, as well as your legs to finish. As we know, your legs are far more powerful than your arms, so against stronger opponents – the Tarikoplata may be the only option to finish shoulder locks with.
If you’re already very strong then you may be able to yank out your opponent’s arm using a north/south Kimura or regular Kimura from bottom half guard. However, if there’s a big size difference that goes against you, then the Tarikoplata is a good submission to explore. Keep in mind that despite its unusual name and complicated set up, it’s actually pretty easy when you get the hang of it.
Summary
Overall, the Tarikoplata is a very versatile submission that can be attacked from various positions. The beauty of this is that it finishes by using the legs as opposed to the arms which can give smaller grapplers an easier time at submitting people. By the same merit, it’s arguably even more controlled than trying an Omoplata.
In conclusion, if you’re new to it – then it’s worth exploring the Tarikoplata and trying to learn it. Undoubtedly, if you learn this then you will start getting more taps which is ultimately what BJJ is all about.
