Let’s talk omoplata. If you have watched a BJJ match and seen a shoulder lock that shifts the balance of the fight, it’s probably the omoplata. Omoplata isn’t just a submission move. It offers you a full system, including a trap, a sweep, and a control position, and often involves transitions through the triangle position. The omoplata originated in Judo, where it's referred to as ashi sankaku garami (“leg triangle entanglement”). It was later adapted and refined in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where it evolved into a more strategic submission..

We’ll cover the omoplata, Brazilian jiu-jitsu style. The word 'omoplata' means scapula in Portuguese, a reference to the move's focus on the shoulder blade. This article is just like the omoplata: straight to the point, pure technique, with insights that are easy to action.

What Is the Omoplata and Its Relevance to BJJ?

If we review the basics, the omoplata is a shoulder lock that uses your legs to apply the force. To perform the move, you must isolate one arm and shoulder by controlling posture and breaking base before swinging your leg over. Understanding the normal range of motion of the shoulder joint helps you apply the submission safely and effectively.

In Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the omoplata is your entry to sweeps, breaking your opponent’s posture and positional dominance. Use your body weight and proper weight distribution to control your opponent's body and stop them from escaping.

The omoplata relies on establishing strong grips, grabbing, and pulling the opponent's arm to set up the submission. It offers you a powerful option from the closed guard and the open guard, demonstrating the importance of ground fighting skills in BJJ. When you have mastered maintaining control of your opponent's waist and opponent's arms, it can force even the most explosive grapplers into playing your game strategy. A push to your chest from your opponent can be a cue to transition from an armbar to the omoplata.

As leg lock-heavy games become more popular in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the omoplata can be overlooked. But, as all smart grapplers know, when you make your opponent defend a shoulder lock and sweep simultaneously, you’re in control of the match.

How to Perform the Omoplata

Omoplata from Closed Guard Position

Enter the omoplata from closed guard, and when your opponent puts an arm on the mat or your body, underhook their wrist to establish grip. Grab their wrist or sleeve before opening your guard. Shrimp your hips to the side, thread your leg under their armpit, and bring it over their back, placing your thigh across their shoulder.

Use your knees for positioning and leverage as you set up the technique. From this position, flatten your opponent’s trapped arm against the mat by angling your body sideways, pushing to keep them flat. Leaning slightly away from their head helps angle your hips for more torque and prevents them from rolling out.

Then, lock your legs so your opponent’s shoulder is trapped. Sit up, while still angling your body out, which puts pressure on your opponent's shoulder joint.

Omoplata from Triangle

Begin in the triangle position. If your opponent postures up or your attempt at a triangle fails, transition to the omoplata by pulling their arm to break their posture and set up the submission. This is one of the most common competitive transitions and should be drilled frequently.

Unlock the triangle, rotate your hips, and guide your leg across your opponent’s trapped arm, using your other leg to help secure the omoplata. Following this flow keeps you on the offensive and your opponent on the back foot.

Cross Grip Omoplata Sweep

Use a cross grip and grab your opponent’s sleeve. Pull them forward so you break their posture. Use the opportunity to swing your leg over to trap their shoulder with your thigh, making sure to control your opponent's arms.

Drive forward into mount or side control to score under IBJJF rules, driving forward to complete the sweep. Doing this creates space, putting you in a dominant top position.

The Roll Escape

If your opponent anticipates your omoplata early on, they might try to escape with a forward roll. The forward roll escape is legal and common; maintain control by rolling with them and recovering position. You can counter this by tightening your grip and keeping control of your opponent's waist. Roll with their momentum, using a re-roll if necessary to get back into the omoplata position.

For this move, timing is what makes you successful. If you roll too late, you will lose control.

Finishing the Omoplata

To achieve a submission finish, you need excellent hip angle and shoulder control. When your opponent has been flattened out and can’t posture up, push your hips forward so that your opponent’s arm is pinned down.

Angle your body and lean towards your opponent so you trap their shoulder. Control their triceps or wrist while keeping both legs angled over their shoulder. 

Important: make sure you keep control of your opponent’s hips, because this is how many fighters escape.

Maintaining Dominant Position

Maintaining a dominant position during the omoplata submission separates a successful finish from a missed opportunity. Once you’ve trapped your opponent’s arm and set up the omoplata, control their body and restrict their movement.

Keep your knees tight together to control their posture and prevent rolling escapes. This will make it difficult for your opponent to turn or roll out of the position. When you keep a strong grip, you can anchor their upper body, which can keep them flat on the mat and prevent an escape.

Defending Against Omoplata

Defending yourself against the omoplata requires body awareness, sharp timing, and effective use of your hips. When you expect your opponent to attempt the omoplata, quick thinking can put you a step ahead. As a general rule, rolling forward can relieve the pressure on your shoulder so you can escape. Rolling forward is the standard defense, but ensure you clear your opponent’s legs first to avoid being re-trapped

Use your hips and legs to get momentum. Remember to roll if your arm is isolated. Then, use your arms to protect your shoulder to make it harder for your opponent to lock in the submission.

To achieve a good defense, focus on keeping your body compact. That also means avoiding positions where your opponent can flatten you out or extend your arm. Combining defensive techniques protects your shoulder and restricts your opponent from applying the omoplata fully. This can create opportunities to re-establish a safer position or counterattack.

Gi and No-Gi Omoplata

You can perform the omoplata in gi and no gi, but your set-ups will be slightly different.

In the gi, gripping collars and sleeves gives you tighter control. Use this advantage to slow the movements down and break your opponent’s posture before you set up for the omoplata position. Check out our men’s kimonos and women’s kimonos, which give you tighter control in the omoplata.

No gi means a more slippery and faster momentum. Your best bet is to stay focused on leg strength and wrist control. With no-gi you’ve got to be more focused on timing and chaining submissions. Sweat makes it more difficult to establish shoulder control, so you should focus more on your body angle than your grip.

Paying attention to every detail can still bring you success in no-gi, as small adjustments can make the difference between finishing the submission or losing control. A rubber guard is helpful for the omoplata in no-gi. Advanced practitioners often use rubber guard setups to trap the arm before transitioning into omoplata. It provides strong control and facilitates transitions to submissions and sweeps.

Training and Drills for Omoplata

Committed training and focused drilling will help you master the omoplata. Work with a partner and pay attention to your body positioning, grip, and applied pressure.

Practice the omoplata from different positions, such as closed guard, open guard, and lasso guard. This will help you develop confidence and adaptability on the mat.

Include omoplata drills in your BJJ training to improve your guard attacks and learn to apply it in live rolling and competition.

Common Mistakes to Avoid with Omoplata

Making mistakes can cost you the finish or even put you in danger. Ensure you control your opponent’s arm and body. If you loosen your grip on their arm, your opponent can escape or counterattack.

Another common mistake is applying too much pressure before you have control. This can make your opponent tense up, which may give them a better defense. Pressure must come from hip extension only once your opponent’s posture is broken and the arm is secured.

Don’t forget to protect your own position. When you leave your posture open, your opponent could reverse the position or attack your exposed arm.

Omoplata in Competition

The omoplata is a powerful technique in Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition. It can give you the advantage of a surprise attack, which is a reliable way to control and finish your opponent. In a match, try chaining the omoplata with other guard attacks like triangles or armbars. In IBJJF rules, omoplata attempts can lead to advantages even if not finished.

To use the omoplata in competition, you need to adapt to your opponent’s reactions. High-level competitors use the omoplata for submissions, sweeps, and transitions to dominant positions. They also use it to force their opponents to defend and make mistakes.

Pro Tips: Maintain Control and Advance Your Skill with Omoplata

1. Don’t Rush the Finish: Remember to control first and then submit. Always flatten your opponent sideways, stop them from rolling, and lock your hips.
2. Train with Resistance: Static drilling has its benefits, but actual rolling shows you how opponents react on the mat. Training with resistance will teach you to expect an aggressive posture from your opponent.
3. Chain Attacks: Use omoplata in sequence with triangle, armbar, and sweeps so that it’s part of a bigger game plan. After an omoplata sweep, transition to side control for dominant positional control.
4. Drill Recovery Positions: Practice how to retain dominance with the omoplata position if your opponent postures out or rolls. If your omoplata fails, recover to half guard. This will help you maintain a strong, attacking position and prevent your opponent from passing.
5. Focus on Angles: Straight-on movements won’t work with the omoplata. You must work those angles and shift your hips out to target your opponent’s shoulder.
6. Study Videos: Advance your skill level by watching how high-level Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitors use the omoplata. Follow how they set it up, not just how they finish.

Conclusion

It might not be new or overly complex, but when your opponent's posture is broken or their arm is trapped, you'll be glad you learned it.

Train it, refine it, and add it to your game. Always apply pressure slowly and safely to protect training partners. Once you start hitting omoplatas, you’ll wonder why you waited so long.