Straight Jacket

The Straight Jacket Control is a highly effective positional control system, primarily used from Back Control, to immobilize your opponent and systematically attack their defenses. This method involves controlling both of your opponent’s arms, typically one with each of your hands, leaving them defenseless against submissions like the Rear Naked Choke or Bow and Arrow Choke.

The term "straight jacket" comes from the idea of trapping the opponent’s arms in a way that mirrors a physical straight jacket, making their escape or resistance extremely difficult.

Purpose of Straight Jacket Control

Arm Isolation

  • Neutralizes the opponent’s ability to defend their neck or create frames to escape.

Submission Setup

  • Creates a clear path to high-percentage submissions like the Rear Naked Choke.

Control and Dominance

  • Provides an exceptionally tight control system from Back Control that minimizes the opponent's movement.

Escape Prevention

  • Immobilizes their ability to defend effectively, drastically reducing their options for escape.

Step-by-Step Execution

Establish Back Control

Trap the First Arm

  • Use one of your legs to pin your opponent’s bottom-side arm.
  • Your shin or foot should trap their wrist or forearm against their torso, rendering that arm useless.

Control the Second Arm

  • Use your free hand to grab their top-side wrist and pull it across their body.
  • Pin their wrist with your own hand or grip their gi (if available) to keep it securely in place.

Reinforce the Trap

  • Use your second hand to secure control over their top-side arm. You can:
  • Grab the wrist or forearm for tight control.
  • Weave your hand under their arm to increase leverage.

Attack the Neck

  • With both of their arms immobilized, their neck is fully exposed for attacks.
  • Transition into submissions like:
  • Rear Naked Choke: Slide your arm under their chin and lock the choke.
  • Bow and Arrow Choke: Use their gi collar to apply the choke while maintaining arm control.

Maintain Position

  • Keep your chest tight against their back and your hooks engaged to prevent escapes.
  • Adjust your grips and hooks as necessary to maintain control during transitions.

Key Principles

Connection

  • Maintain a strong connection to your opponent's back to prevent their movement.

Leverage

  • Use your legs and grips to amplify control over their arms.

Angles

  • Adjust your position to keep their body misaligned and their defenses compromised.

Pressure

  • Apply constant downward and forward pressure to immobilize their upper body.

Common Uses of Straight Jacket Control

Submission Setup

Control in Competition

  • Provides tight control to maintain positional dominance and score points while looking for submission opportunities.

Defense Neutralization

  • Prevents opponents from framing or grip-fighting effectively by isolating their arms.

Transition Control

Drilling Tips for Straight Jacket Control

Partner Drills

  • Practice trapping both arms with a partner providing light resistance.
  • Focus on smooth transitions between trapping the arms and attacking the neck.

Live Sparring

  • Use Straight Jacket Control during live sparring to test its effectiveness under resistance.
  • Prioritize maintaining control over their arms while setting up submissions.

Positional Drills

  • Start in Back Control and focus solely on establishing the straight jacket system.
  • Gradually increase resistance to improve timing and adaptability.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Loose Arm Control

  • Allowing the opponent to free their arms compromises the system and allows them to defend.

Poor Leg Positioning

  • Improper trapping of the bottom arm reduces control and may lead to escape opportunities.

Neglecting Chest-to-Back Connection

  • Losing tight connection to their back gives them space to rotate and escape.

Overcommitting to Control

  • Focusing too much on trapping the arms can make you miss submission opportunities.
Tip

The Straight Jacket Control is a game-changing system for Back Control that provides unmatched dominance and submission opportunities. Practice it regularly to develop the precision and fluidity needed to neutralize your opponent and finish the fight effectively.