## Omoplata: A Step-by-Step Guide ### Japanese Name: Omoplata [オモプラタ] – Note: The term 'Omoplata' itself is adopted into modern martial arts and may not have a traditional Japanese equivalent. ### Positions: - **Closed Guard** - **Open Guard** - **Butterfly Guard** - **Non-dominant Positions (such as transition from Half Guard) ** ### Technique Classification: - **Submission** The Omoplata is a shoulder lock submission technique predominantly applied from guard positions. It is highly effective in both Gi and No-Gi grappling and demands proper hip movement and shoulder control. ### Detailed Steps: #### From Closed Guard Position: 1. **Set Up the Control**: - Begin in a standard closed guard position, with your opponent kneeling or in posture. - Break your opponent's posture by pulling their collar or head downwards. 2. **Establish Wrist Control**: - Secure a grip on one of your opponent's wrists, keeping it close to your body. - Utilize your free hand to reach under and secure their tricep, creating tension and control over their arm. 3. **Creating the Angle**: - Using the grip on your opponent's arm and tricep, shift your hip to the side opposite of the controlled arm. - **Optional**: Use a foot on their hip for proper leverage if needed. 4. **Leg Over the Shoulder**: - With your hips angled, swing your leg on the arm's side over your opponent's shoulder. - Simultaneously, bring your opposite leg under as if you are positioning for a triangle. - Ensure that your opponent's arm is trapped tightly across your hip. 5. **Complete the Rotation**: - Release your opponent's wrist control and with the same hand, secure their back or belt for anchoring. - With the other leg swinging over, rotate your body towards your opponent in a 90-degree angle. - Keep your knees pinched, ensuring your opponent cannot extract their arm. 6. **Locking in the Submission**: - Sit up and move your body forward towards your opponent's head. - Cross your legs, engaging your opponent's shoulder tightly within your hip structure. 7. **Finish and Control**: - Apply pressure by driving your top hip downwards. - Pull infusing upward shoulder pressure by using your hand that's controlling their waist. - Maintain a forward body tilt, increasing the leverage against their shoulder to achieve submission. ### Key Points to Remember: - The success of the Omoplata heavily relies on controlling the opponent's posture and wrist. - Ensure adequate hip movement to create the correct angle. - Pinch the knees firmly to limit the opponent's ability to escape. - Keep calm and maintain constant shoulder pressure until submission is achieved. With continuous practice and precise execution, the Omoplata becomes a formidable submission technique in your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu arsenal, effective across various forms of grappling sparring and competitions.