What you need to know about the Baratoplata submission

The “Baratoplata” is a submission technique in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) that was popularized by Gracie Barra BJJ black belt and MMA fighter, Rafael “Barata” Freitas.

The Baratoplata is essentially a variation of the traditional omoplata submission, where instead of using your legs to control your opponent’s arm, you use your own arm to trap their arm in place. This results in a shoulder lock, or sometimes a bicep slicer.

The Baratoplata is considered an unorthodox submission technique, and it can be difficult to execute against more experienced opponents. However, it can be a powerful addition to your arsenal of submissions, especially if you catch your opponent off guard. In short, it’s probably best that you learn this after a few years of training, rather than something on day one. It is primarily attacked from the mount and bottom guard (closed and half) positions. Below, we shall explore how to do them from start to finish.

How to do the Baratoplata from mount

Here’s one way you can set up the Baratoplata from the mount position:

1. Secure the mount position: Start by establishing the mount position on your opponent. This means straddling their torso with your knees on the ground, and your feet on the ground or hooked under their legs. Always remember, ‘position before submission’ before going for the tap!
2. Control your opponent’s arm: Once you’re in the mount position, use your hands to control your opponent’s arms. You can start by grabbing one of their wrists with one hand and placing your other hand on their chest or shoulder to maintain control. Make sure, it’s tight and pinned down properly.
3. Step over their head: Next, step your free leg over your opponent’s head so that you’re facing their legs. Your foot should be on the ground near their shoulder, and your knee should be close to their head.
4. Trap their arm with your own: As you step over their head, use your arm to trap their arm. You can do this by reaching under their arm and wrapping your own arm around it. Your elbow should be close to their shoulder, and your hand should be gripping your own wrist.
5. Apply pressure: Once you have their arm trapped, use your body weight to apply pressure to their arm by driving your elbow into their shoulder. This should create enough pressure to force your opponent to tap out or release their arm, allowing you to transition to another position if they happen to escape.

How to do the Baratoplata from the guard

1. Establish the guard position: Start by establishing the guard position on your opponent. This means wrapping your legs around their waist and controlling their posture with your arms.
2. Control your opponent’s arm: Once you’re in the guard position, use your hands to control one of your opponent’s arms. You can start by grabbing their wrist with one hand and placing your other hand on their bicep to maintain control. If you’re familiar with the ‘reverse kimura’, this is a good starting grip.
3. Move your hips and shoulders: Next, move your hips and shoulders to create space between your body and your opponent’s arm. This should allow you to thread your arm through the gap and wrap it around your opponent’s arm.
4. Trap their arm with your own: Once you have your arm wrapped around your opponent’s arm, use your other hand to grip your own wrist. This will allow you to trap your opponent’s arm in place.
5. Apply pressure: With your opponent’s arm trapped, use your hips and legs to apply pressure to their shoulder by raising your hips off the ground. This should mimic the submission from the mount, just from the bottom. Remember, closed guard is mount in reverse after all, whilst half guard is similar when attempting the submission.

How to escape the Baratoplata

Escaping the Baratoplata submission in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can be challenging, especially if your opponent has it locked in properly. However, there are a few techniques you can try to escape the submission. Here are some possible options:

1. Prevent the setup: One way to escape the Baratoplata is to prevent your opponent from setting it up in the first place. This means being aware of the submission and avoiding the positions that your opponent needs to attack it. For example, if you’re in your opponent’s guard, keep your arms close to your body to make it more difficult for your opponent to isolate one of your arms. Obviously, this is easier said than done.
2. Roll over your shoulder: If your opponent has already trapped your arm in the Baratoplata, one way to escape is to roll over your shoulder towards the trapped arm. This can relieve the pressure on your elbow joint and help you escape the submission. As you roll, you can also try to grab your opponent’s leg and use it to stabilize yourself.
3. Straighten your arm: Another way to escape the Baratoplata is to try to straighten your trapped arm. This can create some space and make it more difficult for your opponent to maintain control of your arm. Once your arm is straightened, you can work on freeing it and escaping the submission.
4. Use your free arm to defend: If you have a free arm, you can use it to defend against the Baratoplata. For example, you can use it to push your opponent’s head away from your trapped arm or to grab your own leg and defend against the submission.

It’s important to practice this technique with a training partner under who respects the tap, as it can seem fairly innocent as it starts to get applied. Additionally, remember that the Baratoplata is an unorthodox submission and may not be suitable for all situations, so be sure to also develop a strong foundation in traditional submissions and grappling techniques.