Armlock

An armlock in grappling is a single or double joint lock that hyperextends, hyperflexes or hyperrotates the elbow joint or shoulder joint. An armpit lock can be useful; it will immobilize an opponent and pin them on the ground. An armlock that hyperextends the elbow is known as an armbar, and it includes the traditional armbar (pressing the elbow against the thigh or hips), the shoulder triangle armbar (where a figure-four is locked with the legs), and the shotgun armbar (where the opponent's wrist is placed in the armpit, using the forearm as a fulcrum). An armlock that hyper-rotates the arm is known as an armcoil, and includes the Americana, kimura, and omaplata. Depending on the joint flexibility of a person, armcoils can either hyperrotate only the shoulder joint, only the elbow joint, or both the elbow joint and shoulder joint.

Obtaining an armlock requires effective use of full-body leverage in order to initiate and secure a lock on the targeted arm, while preventing the opponent from escaping the lock. Therefore, performing an armlock is less problematic on the ground, from positions such as the mount, side control, or guard. Armlocks are more difficult to perform when both combatants are standing up, though the stand-up variants are a focus in certain systems such as Chin Na.