The Arm Drag

The arm drag, is what it sounds like – you drag your opponent’s arm past you.  It can be off of a punch, it can be off of a grab.  It can be from stand up, a clinch of the ground.  We looked at the technique tonight from the perspective of an incoming straight punch to the body.

Given an over-extended punch that is easily spotted, you can parry or brush the shot with one arm and then inside hook with the other arm.  Try to hook behind the elbow, so you’ve got a hold of the upper arm.  From there, yank yourself past your partner and take their back.  If you want to clinch, get tight, secure their hip with your free hand and protect your head by burying your ear to their scapulae.  If you want to throw, secure the clinch and then use the free hand to push the head back while you reap out a leg.  If you want to submit, go all the way around to the back (keeping tight all the way) and wrap up for a rear naked choke.  If you want to strike, think knee strikes and foot stomps (again keeping tight so as to maintain your positional advantage).  The options go on and on.

No doubt I’ve over explained the move itself – the interesting part of the technique (or any technique in which you go to the void) is what you do after you achieve a better position.  I say on the training floor, experiment and in the fight, go with what you’re best at.

See the student’s thoughts here.