The arm drag is one of the techniques I often see online and try to replicate during rolls but have never actually learned. Today, I had the pleasure of learning the basics of the arm drag and how to maneuver with it.

How to perform an Arm Drag

Start with your partner placing their hand on your shoulder. With your same-side hand, perform an inside circling motion (wax-on-wax-off), catching their wrist and moving their hand off your shoulder. Following the circling motion, control the wrist, direct their hand inside diagonally. Once their elbow crosses their centerline, use your other hand to catch their tricep and pull them into you diagonally. Step in with your near-side foot to their side (your body should now be perpendicular to theirs), connect your hand around their hip with a gavel grip, lift them up with your hips, and perform a takedown.

Should You Step with the Far-Side Leg (Cross Step)?

Making a cross step would be quicker, but your stance is less balanced than stepping in with your near-side foot. Your partner can counter more easily by pushing into you.

Countering the Arm Drag

Make a habit of grabbing their tricep as soon as they grab yours. Circle and don’t let them catch your far-side hip by either peeling that hand off or circling your inside hand out of the arm drag to create an over-under position.

Reflections from Today’s Class

What a super fun class today! I had some good rolls with great people. I’m feeling more calm when passing guard, making it my priority to control their head so they can’t extend their body, and switching my hip to get the inside position. I got swept by the same butterfly twice today as my partner pulled me into his sit-up guard, then switched to butterfly, and swept me quite effortlessly. I need to look into that—it’s super fascinating and applicable to those who are aggressive passers who just charge in (which is me).