The Omoplata
The omoplata is the guard's most elegant weapon — a shoulder lock you apply with your legs. It is the mirror of the kimura done from the bottom, and it doubles as a sweep and a control position, which is why it anchors the modern guard game. Here is how it works.
Where it fits: The omoplata lives in the same guard-attack web as the triangle and the armbar — when one is defended, the next is there. See how the finishes rank in our submission data study.
What is the omoplata?
The omoplata (ashi-sankaku-garami) is a shoulder lock from the guard. You trap one of your opponent's arms, swing your leg over their shoulder, and rotate the shoulder joint with your hips and legs — the same rotation as a kimura, powered by your lower body. Control the far hip to stop them rolling out, sit up, and the tap comes from the shoulder. It is also a devastating sweep and a launching pad to the back.
See it on The BJJ Project
Our primary video source is The BJJ Project — the channel of Rickson-lineage black belt Chris “Bones” Burns. Here he teaches the kimura and omoplata together with our podcast guest Chris Haueter:
▶ “Kimura and Omoplata” — Chris “Bones” Burns with Chris Haueter, on The BJJ Project.
The details that make it finish
- Control the arm and the wrist — the shoulder cannot rotate if the arm slips free.
- Cut the angle. Swing perpendicular to your opponent so your leg sits over the shoulder, not across their back.
- Kill the roll. Control their far hip or belt — the standard escape is a forward roll, so take it away first.
- Sit up and rotate slowly. Come up onto your hip and lift; a smooth rotation taps the shoulder without a scramble.
Common mistakes
- Letting them posture and roll before you control the hip.
- No angle, so the leg never traps the shoulder.
- Losing the arm and turning the lock into a scramble.
How to defend the omoplata
The classic escape is to posture up and roll forward over the trapped shoulder before they control your hips — or to step your trapped-side leg over and free the shoulder early. As always, react before the lock is set.
Frequently asked questions
What is an omoplata in BJJ?
A shoulder lock applied from the guard using your legs. You trap the arm, swing a leg over the shoulder, control the hips, and rotate the shoulder to force the tap. It is also a sweep and a control position.
What is the difference between an omoplata and a kimura?
They lock the same shoulder rotation, but the kimura uses your arms and the omoplata uses your legs from the guard.
How do you stop the omoplata roll?
Control the far hip or belt before you finish — the forward roll is the main escape, so take it away, then sit up and rotate.
Learn from the source: the Rickson lineage
The breakdown above pairs Chris “Bones” Burns of The BJJ Project with our guest Chris Haueter — read his encyclopedia profile. Hear more Rickson-lineage philosophy on our podcast with Scott Burr and James Driskill, and go deeper with Henry Akins' Hidden Jiu-Jitsu.
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