Flying armbar in a real situation

[ShotokanKid]

What's your opinion of the flying armbar? If you know that you can get it and you're sure no one else is going to attack you, would you go for it?

I was at the beach with my dojo today (a special training that we do there once a year). Afterwards, I was practicing the flying armbar with a friend. I've always had trouble with this before, but I figured it out today.

I like this technique because you can get it from standing/clinch- no grappling for a position.

Would you ever use this in a real situation (provided the ground is something like grass)?

[bushido_man96]

I don't know. It is always risky to leave your feet in a situation. I would think that this is a move you would have to think about doing, instead of just reacting and doing it. If that is the case, I would lean away from it.

[KamasandSais]

It depends, does this guy have a gun or a knife. Becuase I wouldnt want to try a flying arm bar then get stabbed in the neck with a knife

[ShotokanKid]

If you know that the guy is unarmed, has nobody backing him up, and you think you can pull it off, would you risk using it?

[bushido_man96]

I am a TKD guy, so I will take this analogy to the extreme. When I think about self-defense, do I think:

a. roundhouse kick to the knee, or

b. flying 720 degree side kick to the head.

My answer, and probably that of most, would be a. Simple techniques get the job done and keep you safer.

This is kind of how I view this flying armbar. It looks really cool, but I don't think I would try it if I was defending myself, much like I would leave the 720 kick at home, too.

Incidentally, I can't do the 720 jump kick anyway!

[KamasandSais]

no i would give him a nice kick to the stumach (sp?)

then prevent him from getting up.

[ShotokanKid]

I tried it tonight when I was sparring with another BB at the dojo. I pulled it off, but I didn't have good enough control of his arm so he pulled out. I grabbed his legs but he started dropping elbows and knees on me (not actually hitting though)

I learned my lesson. Looks cool but it's too risky. If he had been smaller than me, the flying armbar would have brought him to the ground. But he was bigger than me.

He could have slammed me or ground-and-pound.

I've decided that in a real situation, if I get into a clinch, a collar and elbow position (which you need to be in for the flying armbar), a simple knee to the groin will decrease the potential that they will follow me when I run away and decrease potential risk.

[Jiffy]

Just remember, under stress, the minds ability to process complex motor actions are greatly reduced. You would be better served sticking with something more simple.

[TigerDude]

It depends, does this guy have a gun or a knife. Becuase I wouldnt want to try a flying arm bar then get stabbed in the neck with a knife

There is no good solution to fighting someone with a gun or knife.

[Belasko]

What's a flying armbar? Sounds fishy to me. All the armbars I know you had better be solidly on the ground.