BJJ Beginners
Lesson 28 – Americana Defence – Mount & Side Control
Warm Up (10min)
- Line Drill (3-min)
- Any
- Partner Drill (7min)
- Americana Arm Lock – Mount
- Essential Detail: Effective hand positioning and solid wrist curvature
- Most Common Mistake: All lift without any slide
- Safety Tip: Squeeze very slowly and remember to tap out when slight discomfort is felt
- Drill Orders: 2 rep on each arm, reverse roles
- Americana Arm Lock – Mount
Lesson (30-min)
Americana Arm Lock Defence – Mount
- Bump and Recover
- Indicator: Opponent successfully pins your arm down for the Americana Armlock.
- Essential Detail: Super heavy elbow initially and an explosive bridge during the recovery.
- Most Common Mistake: Failure to get the elbow down fast enough.
- Drill Orders: 2 repetitions on each side, reverse roles.
- Emergency Escape
- Indicator: Opponent successfully establishes the double wrist grab Americana lockup.
- Essential Detail: Immediate hip lift to shift opponent’s weight towards the lockup.
- Most Common Mistake: Forgetting to remove the back hook.
- Bad Guy Reminder: Do not apply pressure; just try to maintain the position.
- Drill Orders: 2 repetitions on each side, reverse roles.
- Crossover Tuck
- Indicator: Opponent secures your wrist behind the neck for the Neck-hug Americana.
- Essential Detail: Prevent the initial loop around by holding the bicep.
- Most Common Mistake: Leaving the arm north for too long instead of pulling it to your chest.
- Bad Guy Reminder: Try to loop around to confirm their bicep control.
- Drill Orders: 2 repetitions on each side, reverse roles.
Americana Arm Lock Defence – Side Control
- Safe Hands
- Indicator: Opponent obtains side mount.
- Essential Detail: Keep your elbows close and hand fight to stay on the inside
- Most Common Mistake: Allowing your hands or elbows to be caught on the outside
- Bad Guy Reminder: Slowly increase your attempts to catch an elbow or hand
- Drill Orders: 30 seconds of defence each arm
- Wrist Recovery
- Indicator: Opponent attempts to catch you with the Americana from side mount.
- Essential Detail: Heavy elbow and immediate counter strategies.
- Most Common Mistake: Resisting too long – if you’re caught, tap.
- Bad Guy Reminder: Hold tighter with each successful rep (but don’t squeeze).
- Drill Orders: Three reps – reverse roles.
- Roll & Recover
- Indicator: Opponent catches your hand but not under your elbow.
- Essential Detail: Heavy elbow and immediate counter strategies.
- Most Common Mistake: Resisting too long – if you’re caught, tap.
- Bad Guy Reminder: Hold tighter with each successful rep (but don’t squeeze).
- Drill Orders: Three reps – reverse roles.
- Bridge & Recover
- Indicator: Opponent catches you in the Americana.
- Essential Detail: This is a last ditch effort and is risky, you MUST roll the opposite way to “Roll & Recover”
- Most Common Mistake: Injury due to not enough shoulder flexibility – if you’re caught, tap.
- Bad Guy Reminder: Hold tighter with each successful rep (but don’t squeeze).
- Drill Orders: Three reps – reverse roles.



