The omoplata stands among the most versatile – and underrated – tools in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu arsenal. To execute this shoulder lock, you use your legs and hips to isolate and rotate your opponent’s arm and hyperextend the shoulder joint to force a tap. But calling the omoplata just a submission doesn’t quite do it justice because it’s really a multi-purpose weapon that can flip the script in any fight.
You can use it to submit or sweep an opponent, control their posture, transition to dominant positions, or chain into other attacks like armbars and triangles. It’s also one of the best tools for building out an aggressive, technical guard game, particularly for grapplers who like to stay active from their back.
Strength is always useful in a fight, but this move rewards timing, leverage, and smooth movement. If you’re competing in gi or no-gi, the omoplata has a place in your game.
Mechanics of the Omoplata: Set Up to Finish
1. Basic Setup: Start from a guard position, such as closed, open, or rubber guard, and break your opponent’s posture to create space.
2. Initiate the Omoplata: Thread your leg under their armpit and bring it over their back, locking their arm in place.
3. The Lock: Triangle your legs or clamp your top leg over their back to secure control and prevent posture.
4. Shoulder Pressure: Shift your hips away from the opponent and drive their trapped arm forward to crank the shoulder.
5. Immobilize Opponent: Sit up, control the far hip or waist, and keep their posture broken to stop them from rolling out.
6. Use Legs and Hips for Leverage: Engage your core, pull with your legs, and apply pressure using your hips to force the tap.
7. Angle to Isolate Shoulder: Adjust to a 90° angle relative to their torso for maximum isolation and torque.
8. Transition to Submission: Maintain tight control and slowly raise your hips to finish the shoulder lock.
Variations to Omoplata
The omoplata adapts to the grips, pace, and positioning of both gi and no-gi, and it flows naturally into sweeps, submissions, and transitions. The more you drill it, the more you’ll start seeing it everywhere.
Omoplata in No-Gi vs. Gi
The sleeve and collar grips in gi make it easier to break posture and control your opponent through every phase of the omoplata. In No-Gi, you’ve got to rely more on underhooks, wrist control, and sharp angles, although the movement stays the same. Without fabric grips, keeping control is trickier, but it opens up faster transitions and leg entanglement opportunities.
Omoplata Transitions
One of the best parts of the omoplata is what it leads to. If your opponent defends the lock or postures up, you can try the following to keep the pressure on:
Omoplata Sweep
If the submission isn’t there, sweep them to break their posture and compromise their base. Then, roll up and over to end in side control or mount. Just make sure to control their body for a full three seconds if you want those NAGA sweep points.
Omoplata to Triangle Choke
A classic combination: if your opponent pulls their arm free or postures into you, swing the leg across and lock up the triangle. This switch is fast, tight, and particularly effective in a no-g match.
Omoplata to Armbar
If you flatten them and they defend the omoplata by locking arms or hunkering down, you can transition into an armbar by rotating your hips, isolating the elbow, and sliding into position. Try this out and you’ll notice many opponents will give up the arm trying to defend the omoplata.
Entries into Omoplata
Classic Guard Setup
Start from closed or open guard, break your opponent’s posture, swim an arm under their armpit, and pivot your hips to shoot the leg over their back.
Spider guard
From spider guard, use your foot on the bicep to stretch their arm, then loop your leg over the shoulder to start the omoplata. This entry works especially well in gi when your opponent is standing and defending collar drags.
Half guard
When your opponent overcommits an underhook or leaves their arm posted, you can scoot out, trap the arm with your legs, and spin underneath for a sneaky omoplata.
Lasso guard
In gi, the lasso hook gives you tight arm control. Once you secure the grip, you can twist into position, free the sleeve, and drop into the omoplata. The lasso also sets up sweeps and back takes if the submission doesn’t land.
When to Use the Omoplata
The omoplata is a strategic tool you can deploy at key moments in a match, such as reversing position, slowing down an aggressive opponent, or chasing the tap.
Executing Sweep
When your opponent is focused on breaking your guard or standing to pass, use the omoplata to break their base and roll them over. If you land on top and maintain control for three seconds, you’ll earn sweep points under NAGA rules and likely land in side control or mount.
Transition to Another Position
If the submission isn’t there, no problem. The omoplata naturally opens up transitions to mount, back takes, or, as we discussed above, other submissions like triangles and armbars when your opponent starts to posture or turn out.
Facing an Aggressive Guard Player
If you’re on top and dealing with an opponent who’s constantly throwing up attacks, a standing omoplata can be the perfect counter. Use it to shut down their guard, break grips, and swing the momentum in your favor.
Countering an Opponent’s Defense
When an opponent hides their arm, postures up, or locks their hands to defend other submissions (like a triangle or armbar), the omoplata is a great pivot. It capitalizes on defensive frames and gives you a strong angle to isolate the shoulder.
Submission Finish
And, of course, if the setup is clean and you’ve broken their posture, it’s time to finish things. Apply pressure, angle off, and lift the hips to hyperextend the shoulder. Few things feel better than landing a clean omoplata finish after a slick setup.
Why the Omoplata Matters
With its blend of leverage, pressure, and positional dominance, the omoplata rewards technical execution and creativity. The omoplata deserves a permanent spot in your BJJ playbook because once you master this technique, you can build a game that keeps your opponents guessing and reacting.