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BJJ Fanatics Instructionals
BJJ Fanatics Instructionals

Americana Lock

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Gordon Ryan Guard Passing Instructional

The americana lock, also known as the bent armlock, keylock, top wristlock and figure four armlock in catch wrestling, or ude garami in judo, is a common grappling submission consisting of the attacker controlling his opponent’s arm (bent in an “L” shape), by using a clever double wrist control which leaves the adversary’s elbow and shoulder joints vulnerable to the submission. The position is commonly associated with the side mount (side control), being applied by the grappler on top, although it can be successfully utilized from many other positions. The difference between the americana and the kimura lock relies on which way the forearm is pointing, if the forearm is pointing downwards (towards the hip) the position is called a kimura, when the forearm is pointing up it is called an americana.

The name: americana lock
The name “americana” is often referred to Rolls Gracie and his friendship with the american wrestler Bob Anderson in the mid 1970s. The fable goes that Anderson showed the position to Rolls who labeled it as the “americana” in Anderson’s honor. Although this story is heavily publicized, showing in books such as “Jiu-Jitsu in the South Zone, 1997-2008”, or even Bob Anderson’s wikipedia page, it is 100% false.

This lock was utilized in Brazilian jiu jitsu before the birth of Bob Anderson. The terminology “americana” was also used in Rio de Janeiro for the “figure four” type submissions (ude garami) since the early beginnings of the martial art. In fact the name is mentioned in 1951 to describe Masahiko Kimura’s victory over Helio Gracie. The newspaper Diário de Noticias wrote at the time:

He [Kimura] inflicted severe punishment, even drawing blood. The decisive technique was the Americana Lock (…) – Diário de Noticias 24-10-1951

The technique utilized was in fact the reverse americana, now called kimura. But it perfectly illustrates that the term “americana” already circulated within the Rio de Janeiro jiu jitsu community during the 1950s.

The History of the Americana Lock in Jiu Jitsu

BJJ Heroes tried to ascertain the origin of the americana submission, however, the senior masters interviewed for this piece could not provide any information regarding this matter, only that the position was already part of the jiu jitsu curriculum during the 1950s and 1960s. Much like the kimura lock, the americana seems to have originated from either judo or catch as catch can wrestling in the early 20th century, making it’s way to jiu jitsu in Brazil by way of japanese judoka’s and foreign catch wrestlers who traveled through the country in pro wrestling tours. The latter could prove to be at the origin of the name, since a few of these touring pro-wrestlers were american, and could have very well taught the locals the technique, which was common practice at the time. The point that this particular position was passed on by Americans to the jiu jitsu community is mere speculation at this moment, as there is no concrete evidence to accredit our statement.

Notable Americana Lock Jiu Jitsu Specialists
Americana Video Techniques

Frederico de Almeida Americana position (by BJJ Club)

Jeff Monson vs Sergey Shemetov

Gabrielle Garcia vs Venla Luukkonen

Bernardo Faria BJJ Foundations

3 Comments

  • jay jay says:

    Marcio stambowsky said he learned the move in his third class before Bob Anderson came to brazil.

  • Rachel says:

    Regardless to the kimura being practiced before bob Anderson, Bob was there in Brazil with rolles practicing sambo and jiu jitsu . Rolles named it after bob as the Americana in the Gracie jiu jitsu style. The story is not 100% false .

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