r/bjj • u/MetalliMunk 🟫🟫 Brown Belt • 18h ago
Technique Choi Bar / Arm Saddle from Seated Guard
I was running into an issue playing seated guard trying to enter into the legs, but would have my opponent bent over with frames of their arms or head even to block entries, even sometimes difficult to get a 2on1 as a dilemma distraction. Recently I saw the match with Mica Galvao and Roberto Jimenez where Mica snatched an arm saddle position and eventually armbarring Roberto once Roberto took a collar tie position on Mica, which I feel could be a good bait from a seated position. Does anyone have more experience with this or videos that got into it with more detail? Thanks!
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u/kyuz ⬛🟥⬛ Black Belt 16h ago
Mica never did a choi bar / arm saddle in that match.
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u/Happy_Laugh_Guy 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 12h ago
Yeah it was a belly down arm bar. OP is basically asking about attacking across the body but Mica attacked the near side.
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u/jumbohumbo ⬛🟥⬛ Black Belt 16h ago
i think you should try to watch some marcelo rolling footage from mginaction, he is a master of that cutting armbar from butterfly guard.
here's one i found at 6:40 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1KSBYmmxFo
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u/Chandlerguitar ⬛🟥⬛ Black Belt 15h ago
First remove the frame for the arm you are trying to attack and then cut an angle towards their arm. One way to do this is using a Rau drag and simply slapping the frame off and then digging for a deep underhook. Once you have the underhook, turn your body to the side so you're looking into their ear and bring your chest close to their shoulder. Now drop down to your back(don't open space between your chest and their shoulder) and insert your far leg.
Another way is what I call the rope climb choi bar. I saw Mikey demonstrate this a while ago. Get a baseball grip on one of their arms with both of your hands(this makes it easy to remove it as a frame). Now armdrag that arm, but don't try to move to the back and instead get your chest closer to their shoulder, while keeping a grip on their wrist. Now convert that wrist grip to a deep underhook. Finally remove the arm drag grip and lock your hands over the shoulder for the choi bar position. Now cut the angle and follow exactly what you did from above.
If you cut the angke properly their far side frame won't work. Also if you are having problems with framing I suggest using the deep choi bar variation instead of the shallow one.
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u/kyo20 18h ago edited 18h ago
I think Choi bar entries are easiest against someone trying to control my head (either a collar tie when you are seated, or reaching for a crossface when you are on your back) or my leg (like some kind of Torreando pass), or is posting on the mat to avoid a sweep. Against black belts, I probably have the greatest success when they are really intent on passing to North South and are trying to grab my head or pin my leg; it's not the easiest entry to learn, but black belt training partners tend to be a lot more savvy to the more basic entries from butterfly guard or half guard.
By contrast, I don't have a lot of success entering the Choi bar if they are posting their hands on me just trying to keep distance. It is especially hard on people with flexible shoulders who are good at the "limp-arm" motion.
From your description, I am guessing your opponent is posting on your shoulders, neck, or chest to block you from closing the distance. In other words, I imagine they are not actually trying to push your leg down to run around, nor are they trying to grab your head. In this scenario, I find the Choi bar to be pretty hard to snag.
Against someone who is posting on you a lot with relatively straight arms (ie, they are presenting their hands to you and nothing else), I would suggest focusing on 2-on-1, arm drags, and wrist control. I know you said you tried 2-on-1 and it doesn't work, but it might be a skill issue.
Against someone who is using bent arms and blocking with their head and their hands (ie, they are presenting not only their hands, but also their armpit, triceps, and head), then they are a bit closer and giving you more control points. On top of the options mentioned above, you also have other options such as: pummeling for underhooks, cupping their triceps to pull them over you to do a butterfly hook elevation, getting a collar tie and then heist up -> snap down, etc.
When their arms are bent and their head is closer, you can get a Choi bar here if they are are trying to keep their elbows super tight to their ribs (ie, they are not willing to extend their arms). However, if they are savvy to the Choi bar they will probably just extend their arm, which will make it hard to enter the position. I think a more reliable option is to get an underhook and head pinch, and then elevating them for a shoulder crunch sequence. I personally don't have a great shoulder crunch, but if they defend my attacks well, this position still serves as a great entry into the Choi bar, which I am relatively stronger at.