The Best Omoplata Defense

17 Dec, 2021

Let’s look at the low angle cartwheel, one of my very favorite counters to the omoplata armlock submission, which is a very powerful upper body attack used extensively in gi and no gi jiu-jitsu these days.

First we’ll go through the counter step-by-step including the training methods and drills to make the move smooth and instinctive.

Then we’ll go further and examine 4 very specific ways to prevent, dismantle, counter and recover from the low angle cartwheel if someone tries it on you!

For a breakdown of both the low angle cartwheel defense and the 4 recounters check out the video below…

If you’re trying to master a submission like the omoplata you need to know how to do it efficiently and effectively; you need to know the entries, how to improve the position, and how to finish it.

But you ALSO need to know the most common counters to that technique, AND the counters to those counters (aka recounters).

You’ve got to know the the defenses, escapes and counters because it’s always embarrassing to get caught in a move that you’re working on.

And there’s an even more fundamental reason for learning those counters.

That’s because people aren’t just going to let you do a move to them. Inevitably they’ll fight, resist, struggle, and try to turn the tables on you.

If you already know the reactions you’re likely to get from people then you can have pre-programmed answers waiting for them. Having a plan for how to deal with their resistance will make a mockery out of all their hopes and dreams (or at least tap them out).

The omoplata is one of my favorite submissions and highest percentage sweeps.

And through long experience I’ve learned the 14 or so most common responses, defenses, escapes, and counters that people will use when you’re attacking them with the omoplata.

And for each of those defenses I’ve developed two to seven recounters to make sure that those defenses won’t work as intended.

All these counters and recounters ended up in my latest instructional, The Omoplata 2.0.

Some of the defenses people will use are pretty basic, but still frustrating if you don’t know the answer.

Others are more sopisticated and rely on movement, rolling, spinning and jumping.

Of all these defenses the low angle cartwheel I showed in the video at the top of this article is my favorite.

That’s because many of the other omoplata escapes may get you out of the submission itself but you’ll still end up on the bottom or in your opponent’s guard (where the trouble likely began in the first place).

But if you do the low angle cartwheel correctly you’ll end up in a great position; you’ll be out of the omoplata AND on top with the other guy squished in side control.

The low angle cartwheel is a powerful escape you’ll often see in high level competition. And therefore you absolutely need to know how to shut it down so that someone doesn’t smash you with it!

Cheers,
Stephan