Omoplata Everyone With These Techniques From Bernardo Faria
Learn One Of The Most Effective Submissions In BJJ - The Omoplata - From 5 Time World Champion Bernardo Faria!
The omoplata submission has a long history in martial arts. Also known as the ashi sankaku in judo, the omoplata is a shoulder joint lock technique that utilizes your legs and hips to bend your opponent’s shoulder joint to a maximal degree of motion. It became popular in the mid 1990’s thanks to a competitor named Nino Schembri. The omoplata is a great submission technique that can be hit from a variety of positions. When it comes to the omoplata, 5 Time World Champion Bernardo Faria understands just how powerful it can be. Bernardo is a multiple time Black Belt World Champion and has even won the most prestigious title in all of Jiu Jitsu, that being, the Open Class World Title at Black Belt. Bernardo Faria has long been one of the most dominant fighters in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
The Omoplata is one of the most versatile attacking "control positions" that open up TONS of sweeps and submissions.
Bernardo has a great instructional series called “Omoplata Everyone” available exclusively on BJJFanatics.com. In this series, Bernarda shares many of his tips and techniques that have made him a successful 5 time world champion, choosing to use the omoplata as one of his number one submissions to submit all of the hardest opponents. His techniques are battle tested and proven work. Not only is Bernardo a great competitor, he is also a great instructor as you will see. So let’s get to it, here are some of Bernardo’s best omoplata techniques.
Omoplata Against Double Leg
If you have any experience live rolling with a wrestler, you will know they can have very good double leg take downs. In a case where your training partner shoots for a double leg, you can utilize Bernardo’s omoplata technique. Faria actually likes it when his opponent controls his hips, because he knows the omoplata is always available to him. That makes the omoplata highly effective against the double leg take down. Faria knows that he can’t really defend the double leg, especially against a wrestler or someone who is very good at it. So he will try to defend the double leg but anticipate that his partner will be able to continue through and dump him on his side. You will notice that when Bernardo gets dumped he will immediately move to put himself at a greater advantage. He places his leg across his training partner’s back as soon as he hits the ground. Then, he blocks his opponent’s tricep with both his hands. This will cause your training partner to be completely stuck. Now what you want to do is grab your own shin and pass it over your training partner’s head. It helps to hip escape a bit if you are not very flexible. Continue to control your opponent’s arms as you switch your hips and move into the omoplata position.
Omoplata From Closed Guard
No matter where you start the omoplata from, you end up in the same finishing position, so the details here are very important. In this case, Bernardo starts by breaking down the cross sleeve grip. He prefers a pistol grip on his opponent’s sleeve in order to control the arm better. Now he controls the same leg, again fishing his arm under to hook behind his opponent’s thigh. Notice here he anticipates his opponent posturing up. To help make the leg switch possible, Faria puts his right foot on his opponent’s shoulder. Now he lifts his hips up as much as he can; way, way up, breaking down his opponent’s posture allowing for him to get his leg over the shoulder. Bernardo pauses in the movement right here to really emphasize how high up his hips are. His leg is entirely straight across his opponent’s back. From here he closes up the omoplata.
Old School Omoplata
There are a few key details to take away from this video. The first thing you want to do is set up the over hook. There are a couple of different ways you can do this, which Bernardo Faria demonstrates. You can either swim both hands in to catch your opponent or you can break the grip on one side and swim for the over hook. The next important detail is to grab your opponent’s lapel. This will keep their shoulder secure with a tight grip, setting you up for a highly effective omoplata. From here, you need to open your guard and escape your hips. You will notice that in this position you already have a number of arm lock submissions you can go for. But let us continue through to the omoplata. The next think Faria does it bring his leg up and over the shoulder of his training partner, further blocking his face and locking his feet together. Once he has that leg lock he pulls himself up into a sitting position by grabbing his training partner’s belt. Finally it is time to submit your opponent. Switch your legs out to the side facing away from your opponent and use your hips to push in.
Omoplata Escape
Part of being good at the omoplata is also knowing how to prevent it with an effective escape. As demonstrated in the video, like many others, Bernardo Faria also rolls his way out of the omoplatas. Notice the first thing Bernardo does before rolling is to create distance from his opponent. This will prevent your opponent from stopping your roll. You will notice that Bernardo continues through on his roll until he gets back on his feet. This will allow you to secure top position by way of controlling your opponent’s legs.
Talk about some amazing techniques! If you like the omoplata then be sure to give these techniques a try the next time you are on the mat. They will help to improve your level of efficiency as you go for omoplatas from every position. If you would like to learn more about omoplatas then be sure to check out Bernardo Faria’s “Omoplata Everyone” instructional series available exclusively on BJJFanatics.com!
Did you know that The Omaplata is the easiest move in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to get?
Most guys don't know how to get the move and even more don't even know how to finish it. Bernardo Faria does.He gets it from every where, closed guard, half guard, side control, mount, transitions.
There is only one requirement for you to get it: your opponent has to have an arm.. As long as he has one, he can and will be caught. Is there a secret to getting the Omaplata? Yes, there are many and that is the topic of his 4 disc DVD set:
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