Arm-Bar Application

Arm-Bar Application

  This is commonly the second “Application” technique that we teach to our student's. This is a simple, but often miss-applied technique. This motion teaches the student the correct manor of application and enactment of it's use. Although many students have seen the technique (and may very well have utilized forms of it) this will describe the details of it's application. In this explanation, we will use the uke's Right arm for the (following) example of it's application.

   

Establishing Initial Placement

  We will start with the tori holding the uke's Right wrist, while standing slightly behind, and to the Right of the uke, using the hand furthest from the uke's body (in this example, the tori's Right hand). It needs to be mentioned, that when the tori takes hold of the uke's wrist, the tori should make note of the 2 bones of the uke's forearm (the ulnar, and radius). Using the grip of those two bones, allows for the tori to rotate the arm and then be conscious of the possible directions that the uke can/can't bend that arm's elbow (additionally, the tori will then be aware of which direction is against the elbow). 

    

 The tori's (closer) Left arm, will lay the side/back of that wrist, against the lower triceps tendon of the held arm (by placing it slightly above the elbow, on the dorsal side of the arm). In addition to the forearm's placement, the elbow of that same arm (the tori's Left arm), will lay against the uke's back to provide additional feed-back (on any resistive motions the uke may attempt) and/or to apply any required pressure there.

    

Enacting the “Break-over”

  After taking hold of the uke's wrist, the Tori will begin with motioning that wrist in a circular action. The motion will first move the uke's arm forward (to the front of the uke), then motion it towards the opposite side of the uke, and then back (in a small circular motion).

    

 During this circular action, when the arm begins to motion back (towards the uke's side), the tori's Left arm, will roll the uke's triceps muscle tendon towards the front of the uke. As this begins to cause the uke to lean forward, the tori will lift the hand being held with their own Right hand, straight up, in front of the tori. This lifting action, is pivoted off of the tori's Left forearm (acting as it's pivot point).

   

 The motion should NOT be attempted to only be accomplished by forcing/striking with the Tori's Left arm (in this example) down/forward (nor ever, from striking the back of the uke's arm). The pivot point/fulcrum, is only to act for that purpose, and not utilized in an attempt to initially force the person down. Once the uke has been bent-over (at the waist), then, the tori's Left forearm can be used to apply additional pressure to the uke's triceps tendon (which will create a knee-buckle).

   

Take-Down Methods

  Once the uke “breaks-over”, it will be necessary to take them to the ground. There are several methods to accomplish this. The “first” (and most obvious) is to apply pressure to the back of the uke's arm(slightly above the elbow (this is actually applying pressure to the tendon of the triceps muscle). By varying the angle of that pressure, it's possible to direct the uke's direction of break down.

   

  If the situation necessitates it (if the Tori is experiencing difficulties), Tori can knee spear the uke, in order to attain a knee-buckle response (from the uke). Once that is done, the tori can apply pressure to the upper back of the uke's arm while dragging the uke sideways (to force them off-balance). 

     

  It's also possible to direct the uke upward (initially) from rolling the uke's triceps muscle towards the uke's back, and continue circling this pressure around the uke's arm, until the uke is raising up (to stand on the "ball's" of their feet in order to comply with the applied pressure), this should only be maintained for a (very) short period of time, before reversing the applied pressure, forcing the uke to the ground.

     

  In extreme circumstances, the arm-bar's pressure can be reversed (using the “held” hand as the fulcrum point and applying pressure to the upper arm to accomplish a take-down. This method tends to be dependent upon physical strength, so should ONLY be attempted for comparison reasons (preferably, only in a class environment).

    

  I'm aware that numerous systems utilize similar (if not the same technique), and was curious if anyone taught any additional principles or methods of application. If you are familiar with any simpler methods or useful “hint's” to it's instruction, or application, feel free to share them.