Americana
Perpendicular shoulder lock from mount and side control — punishes arms pinned flat on the mat.
shoulder lock
Overview
The americana isolates an arm bent at 90 degrees and rotates the shoulder by lifting the elbow while pinning the wrist. It is a fundamental mount submission that teaches how top pressure and limb isolation create joint locks.
#Setup
- From mount or side control, pin the opponent’s wrist to the mat near their hip.
- Slide your chest over the trapped arm and grip your own wrist in a figure-four.
- Keep their elbow on the ground and remove space under the shoulder.
#Execution
- Lift the elbow toward their head while keeping the wrist pinned.
- Apply slow, steady pressure — the tap comes from shoulder rotation, not speed.
- Maintain hip pressure so they cannot turn away.
#Finishing
- If they lift the elbow, switch to a kimura by changing the rotation direction.
- Transition to mount if finishing from side control with partial control.
Key Concepts
- Pin the wrist before attempting rotation.
- Chest weight over the shoulder prevents escape.
- Americana and kimura are two directions of the same shoulder attack.
Primary Entries
- Mount when the opponent frames with a flat arm.
- Side control after clearing the near-side underhook.
- Gift wrap setups that expose the far arm.
Follow-Ups
- Kimura when the opponent turns toward you.
- Armbar when they extend the arm to escape.
- Mount stabilization when they bridge during the lock attempt.
Training Drills
- Mount americana entries with partner posting different arms.
- Side control pin-to-lock flow with timed resistance.
- Americana-to-kimura switch drill when partner turns.
Related Techniques
Deepen your study with complementary positions and attacks.
Summary
The americana is simple but unforgiving when the arm stays flat. Pin the wrist, cover the shoulder, and rotate with patience from dominant top positions.