BJJ Mental Models Ep. 352: Arm Drag Concepts, feat. Niamh Bryn
Aug 25, 2025
Join Niamh Bryn, the owner of Snowblind BJJ in Seattle, with over 20 years of jiu-jitsu experience, as she dives into the art of the arm drag. Discover why this technique is not just for beginners, but a strategic tool for creating openings and off-balancing opponents. Niamh emphasizes mastering grip control and the importance of understanding the ‘why’ behind techniques. She also highlights the balance between teaching and personal exploration, making jiu-jitsu accessible and community-driven for all skill levels.
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Arm Drag As A Multi-Path Tool
- The arm drag is valuable because it creates multiple branching outcomes rather than a single all-or-nothing result.
- Treat it as a low-investment probing tool that forces reactions and opens several follow-up paths.
Timing Beats Strength
- If you must use brute force to finish an arm drag, the setup is wrong or you've telegraphed it.
- Good arm drags rely on timing and surprise, not strength, especially against braced opponents.
Attack By Crossing The Center
- Aim to cross the opponent's center or force an angle so they briefly can't face you directly.
- Use that split second of misalignment to attack the back, change levels, or chain other techniques.