Raindrops on roses and submitting someone just as they think they’re about to submit me. These are a few of my favorite things.
That’s how the song goes, right?
My Grammy-worthy lyricism aside, it actually is a ton of fun to nail someone with a submission when you’re stuck in a position that would normally be considered disadvantageous.
Take, for example, that moment when somebody manages to climb to your back and get hooks in. Not only do they get points if you’re competing, but then you suddenly have to worry about all the stuff they can do to your neck.
Most of the time, your only options in sight are tapping, napping, or escaping. But if you’re kind of a jerk like I am, you’ll be pleased to know that there are a few ways to catch your opponent by surprise and submit them instead. If they make the mistake of using a body triangle on a crafty trickster like you, you can use this handy (footy?) ankle lock. If they put you in a seat belt, however, you don’t have to worry about what’s going on with their legs at all.
In this video, black belt Piet Wilhelm of Triton Fight Center in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma shows a simple technique to armbar someone when they have you in a seat belt grip from the back. It’s not foolproof, and if you’re not quick enough, your opponent might be able to pull their arm out before you can finish the submission. But it does give you a fighting chance at either submitting them or forcing them to release their grip and let you escape. Either way, this submission is a useful one to have waiting in your bag of tricks.
Try it out and see how it works for you!
