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The "Armbar", also known as the "Armlock", is a one of the most basic submissions of the grappling arts. It involves deploying the strength of your hips against your opponents elbow joint, which is very weak in comparison.

This submission is extremely popular in both MMA and grappling tournaments, becoming quite popular in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Therefore, understanding the basic mechanics of what makes this submission work will enable you to both defend against it better, as well as set it up better.

For the Armbar to be successful, the opponent's head must be controlled (usually by blocking their face with your leg), the opponents' shoulder must be blocked (so they cannot rip their arm free from the lock), and the opponents thumb must be controlled, with the thumb pointing away from your chest in order to hyperextend the elbow (otherwise they can bend their arm and defeat the move).

Here is a short video from National Geographic "Fight Science" program, which visualizes how the armbar physically hyperextends the elbow joint and ligaments:

BASIC ARMBAR SETUPS

The armbar can be setup from many positions. The most popular positions are from inside the closed guard, from the top of the mount position, and as an attack from standing.

Closed Guard "Swinging" Setup

Here, Frank Benn of IFAacademy in Austin, Texas (http://www.ifaacademy.com/) demonstrates a very common armbar setup from closed guard. This involves underhooking your opponents leg, and swinging your body underneath to side. Note that Frank pushes on his opponents face with his leg, and controls the thumb of the arm he is attacking. Also, Frank is able to swing his body out to a good angle by taking his hips and shoulders off the mat, using the center of his back as the pivot point:

Armbar from the Mount position

Here, Dean Lister of Throwdown San Diego (http://www.throwdownsandiego.com/) demonstrates a technique for finishing the armbar from the mount position. This technique uses simple forearm pressure (not strength) to break the grip of a defending opponent:

Armbar from Standing

Shinya Aoki, BJJ and MMA fighter, here with one of the best explanations of the Flying Armbar, for both Gi and No Gi:

Rumina Sato with an amazing Flying Armbar that ends an MMA match in about 5 seconds:

ARMBAR ESCAPES

Dave Camarillo, BJJ Black Belt and author of Position Impossible dvd, demonstrates a very simple and highly effective armbar defense. This defense can counter an armbar from most positions, although your opponent may attempt to counter this defense using a bicep cutter submission:

Dave Camarillo armbar escape from guard

Dean Lister of Throwdown San Diego (http://www.throwdownsandiego.com/) demonstrates an armbar escape. This type of escape, sometimes known as "The Hitchhiker", is a risky escape since it must be done with perfect timing and technique:

Erik Paulson (UFC veteran, Shooto Champion, http://www.erikpaulson.com/) demonstrates an armlock defense which ends in your choice of an ankle lock or a kneebar:

A street-effective armbar escape, shown by Bruce Lee in one of his films. Lee was a very practical martial artist who only used what works. He cross-trained in several martial arts, and is known to have studied grappling with the legendary "Judo" Gene LeBell.

Bruce Lee "Biting" Escape from the Armbar