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(MMA) Americana Submission🤼

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1. Objective and Purpose

The Americana, also known as the Keylock, is a shoulder lock submission that involves isolating the opponent’s arm and applying pressure to their shoulder joint. The goal is to rotate the arm at the shoulder joint in a painful and potentially injurious manner, often causing the opponent to tap out. This submission is commonly used in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA and is usually executed from top positions like side control or mount.

2. Steps for Execution of the Americana

  1. Positioning
    • The Americana is most commonly applied from side control or mount. From side control, start by securing good control of your opponent’s torso and head. Make sure you’re controlling their body to prevent escapes.
  2. Isolate the Arm
    • Control the Wrist: With your closest hand, grab your opponent’s wrist on the arm you want to submit. You need to isolate their arm to make it difficult for them to defend or escape.
    • Elbow Position: With your other arm, slide under your opponent’s arm (the arm you are attacking) and position your elbow just under their elbow, with your hand in position near their shoulder or tricep.
  3. Set Up the Americana
    • Drive the Arm Across: Begin pulling the wrist of your opponent’s arm towards their head and simultaneously push their elbow down toward their body, creating a bent arm at a 90-degree angle.
    • Place Pressure on the Shoulder Joint: Keep the wrist in your grip, and use your body to assist in pushing the opponent’s elbow down while pulling their wrist up. This creates pressure on the shoulder joint.
  4. Apply the Submission
    • Maximize the Angle: The key to the Americana is leveraging the arm in a direction it wasn’t meant to go. Continue applying force by driving your chest into their body to maintain control while you increase pressure on the shoulder.
    • Finish the Submission: Once the pressure becomes too much for your opponent, they may tap out. If held too long, the Americana can cause shoulder injury or even dislocation.

3. Defensive Techniques Against the Americana

  1. Posture and Control
    • Tight Elbows: The primary defense against the Americana is to avoid exposing the arm. Keep your elbows tucked close to your body, especially when in side control, to prevent your opponent from isolating your arm.
    • Control the Opponent’s Hips: When in side control or mount, maintaining control of your opponent’s hips prevents them from moving and makes it difficult for them to get into position to lock in the Americana.
  2. Hand Fighting
    • Break the Grip: If your opponent has already established the Americana grip, the most important defense is to break their grip on your wrist. You can use both hands to peel their fingers away or pry their hands open, especially when your wrist is still close to your body.
    • Redirect the Arm: Another defense is to move your arm to a more neutral position, such as extending it out rather than keeping it bent, which makes it harder for your opponent to finish the lock.
  3. Move Your Arm
    • Move the Arm in the Opposite Direction: To defend against the Americana, you can attempt to rotate your arm outward or backward, so that your elbow is no longer trapped. If you do this quickly, you can break free before the submission is fully locked in.
    • Elbow Down: Keeping your elbow down and close to your torso minimizes the angle at which your opponent can attack, making it harder for them to isolate your arm and complete the submission.

4. Counter-Defense for the Americana

  1. Americana Escape by Rolling
    • Roll Toward the Lock: If caught in the Americana, a common escape is to roll toward your opponent’s body, into the direction of the arm lock. This can change the angle and relieve some of the pressure from your shoulder joint. This motion can also create an opportunity to reverse the position.
  2. Turn Toward the Lock
    • Turn Into the Lock: Turning toward the direction of the lock can relieve the tension on your shoulder. This not only reduces the pain but also makes it harder for your opponent to maintain control, giving you an opportunity to escape.
  3. Stacking to Break Control
    • Stack the Opponent: If you’re caught in the Americana from side control, you can try to stack your opponent by driving your weight forward toward their upper body. This movement decreases the pressure on your arm, forcing your opponent to either adjust their position or risk losing control.

5. Keys to Success

  • Control the Arm: The key to executing a successful Americana is having proper control of your opponent’s wrist and elbow. If your opponent has a strong grip or is able to escape, it will be difficult to complete the submission.
  • Leverage with Your Body: Use your body and hips to apply pressure when performing the Americana. Your chest, torso, and legs help create the leverage needed to force the shoulder joint into an uncomfortable position.
  • Pressure Application: The Americana submission works by applying controlled pressure on the shoulder joint. Applying pressure slowly and consistently will increase the chances of your opponent tapping out without causing injury.

6. Common Mistakes

  • Overcommitting Without Control: Attempting the Americana without securing a good wrist control or a strong base can result in your opponent escaping or defending. It’s important to establish good control of the wrist and upper arm before going for the submission.
  • Lack of Hip Engagement: Relying only on your arms to finish the submission can make the Americana weak. Using your body and hips for leverage makes the lock more effective.
  • Incorrect Elbow Position: Failing to maintain the proper angle on the opponent’s arm can cause the Americana to be less effective. The elbow must be pressed down toward the body, while the wrist is pulled upward in the opposite direction to create maximum pressure on the shoulder.

The Americana is a powerful and versatile submission that can be applied in multiple positions, particularly in top control. With proper technique, it can be used effectively to submit an opponent or to gain dominant control in grappling exchanges. Understanding both the offensive and defensive aspects of the Americana is crucial for success in MMA or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.