I am amazed at how many times so-called internet experts try a technique, show it not working, and proudly declare that "it does not work!" They then dismiss what other people are teaching. The problem is that most of them are doing it wrong, while acting as if they are doing it right and the technique is at fault. In this video lesson I use the arm bar to show what you need to look for in your own techniques, so you can self-analyse, work out why something is not working and correct it.

It is for anyone who has tried a technique, found it did not work, and wants to know whether the problem is the technique or the way they are doing it.

Technique or Execution?

Some techniques genuinely are poor. But far more often, a good technique fails because of a small detail. The angle is wrong, the balance has not been taken, the joint is not being controlled, or the person is trying to use strength instead of structure.

If you decide too quickly that a technique does not work, you never find that detail. You throw away something useful and you learn nothing.

What to Look For

When an arm bar, or anything else, is not working, check these things:

  • Is the joint being moved in the direction it does not want to go?
  • Are you controlling the joint, or just holding the hand or wrist?
  • Have you taken the balance, or is the person standing strong?
  • Are you using your body, or only your arms?
  • Is there space between you that lets the person escape?

Go through them one at a time. Usually one of them is the culprit, and fixing it makes the technique work.

Self-Analysis Is a Skill

The best students I have are the ones who can watch their own technique and spot what is wrong. That is a skill you can train. Film yourself, slow it down, and compare what you are doing with what you were shown. Ask your partner what they felt. Be honest about the result, rather than defending it.

Train Locks Safely

Arm bars can damage the elbow very quickly. Work slowly, with control and a cooperative partner, agree a tap and release immediately. In self-defence, use only reasonable force.

Take It Further

Locks made easier with balance points and pressure points are a key part of the Pressure Point Fighting Course. If you want me to look at your technique personally, Private Mentoring is the way to do it.