The arm drag is a key movement that is used in BJJ from many different positions. The arm drag is used to get to the back and can be used both in standing and whilst on the ground. An effective tool to counter takedowns, the arm drag was also utilized by Marcelo Garcia who implemented it into his Butterfly guard. Other arm drag positions include both closed and half guard. Below we will analyze the mechanics of the arm drag as well as its entries and counters.
Table of Contents
Setting up the Arm Drag
The arm drag is when you grip your opponent’s wrist with your own wrist on the same side. For instance, you should grip your opponent’s left and with your right or their right with your left. When the grip is made, you then pull the opponent forwards and to their side by cupping their elbow with your free hand. This brings the opponent forwards and exposes their back.
Whilst the arm drag is often used to expose the back it can also set up submissions and take downs which will be discussed later. It should also be noted that variations of the arm drag can be used in the Gi by getting a sleeve grip. Typically Roger Gracie is known for this in his closed guard which can lead to back takes but also sweeps and arm attacks.
Entries into the Arm Drag
The arm drag also has roots in wrestling. For instance, it is a good method of entering into a single leg take down. Here you can create an arm drag whilst tied up to your opponent. In Nogi stand up especially, grip fighting is common so the arm drag is not completely obvious. When the setup is generated, you then pull your opponent’s back and step to the side.
You can then attack the leg as their body is out of the way and their arm has been temporarily moved from the drag. This creates an entry to the leg where you can then finish the single leg or transition into other take downs if preferred.
From standing, the arm drag has other opportunities. Using the same set up you can move towards the back instead of the single leg. From here you can either valley drop take down or chose to jump on the opponent’s back.
The valley drop involves getting a body lock around the opponent’s waist. The next step is to fall back whilst kicking the opponent’s far heel, resulting in side control after the take down. Alternatively, you can arm drag to the side and then enter suplex-type take downs, again by using the body lock as control.
Using the Arm Drag from guard
The guard also has arm drag options which can be used to enter the back or even start submitting. For instance, from Butterfly guard the arm drag is commonly used. Here you can kick the opponent’s knee whilst attempting the arm drag. This should flatten your opponent’s body down and give you the opportunity to scramble upwards and attack the back.
Another option from Butterfly is to use it to attack the Guillotine choke. Using the same technique, whilst the opponent is downed you can opt to attack the neck. This differs from chasing the back and is viable as their posture will be broken with the neck exposed. You can then finish the Guillotine from a Butterfly position with one leg entangled and the other wrapped around their back to stop them from escaping.
Another guard option of the arm drag is from the bottom Turtle position. Again this has its roots in wrestling and is useful for escaping problematic situations. For instance, if the top player leaves their hand out you can quickly do an arm drag from the bottom. This can move your opponent forwards and create a scramble to escape the Turtle and improve your position.
Final thoughts on the Arm Drag
The arm drag is a key move which is great for both Gi and Nogi. It can also be seen in MMA so it also has practical implications from a self defense aspect.
Overall, the arm drag is a fundamentally strong move that can enhance your position on the ground and whilst standing. Because of this, it’s recommended for all to learn this position as it has many benefits and is risk-free if it fails.
