Title: Americana from Side Control: Steps & Key Details | DARCE

Canonical: https://darce.app/techniques/bjj/americana-side

> Americana from Side Control. From side control, trap the far arm bent on the mat and figure-four it to attack the shoulder.

# Americana from Side Control

- BJJ
- Side Control Attacks
- fundamental
- Side control
- 3 steps

From side control, trap the far arm bent on the mat and figure-four it to attack the shoulder. Also known as the Keylock from side or the Figure-four armlock. Here is the exact breakdown from the DARCE app: 3 steps, the details that make it work, and the mistakes to avoid.

## When to use it

Use the americana from side control when the opponent frames on your neck or shoulder and their far arm bends back toward the mat. Pin the wrist flat beside their head before you thread the figure-four. It works best while your chest is heavy on theirs, so they cannot turn in.

## Step by step

1. 01

   ### Side control

   Chest-to-chest with a cross-face and underhook, weight heavy.

2. 02

   ### Pin & figure-four the arm

   Pin their far wrist to the mat and thread your other arm under the elbow to grip your own wrist.

3. 03

   ### Lift the elbow

   Keep the wrist pinned, drag the hand toward the hip and lift the elbow to crank the shoulder.

## Key details

- Keep the wrist flat on the mat as you figure-four.
- Drag the hand toward their hip before lifting.
- Keep your weight on their chest so they cannot turn in.

## Common mistakes

- Letting the wrist lift off the mat.
- Losing chest pressure and letting them escape.
- Lifting the elbow before painting the hand down.

## Common counters

Opponents straighten the arm, turn toward you to relieve the shoulder, or grab their own collar or belt to lock the arm in place. If you lift your chest to reach the arm, they shrimp out. Keep your weight on them and paint the hand toward the hip before you lift.

## How to drill it

From side control, pin the far wrist, figure-four and finish slowly, ten reps on each side. Then do three rounds of one minute where your partner frames and you switch to the kimura on the same arm when they drive the hand down toward their hip.

## Related techniques

- [Kimura from Side Control BJJ Isolate the far arm from side control, figure-four it and rotate the shoulder behind their back.](https://darce.app/techniques/bjj/kimura-side)
- [Knee on Belly BJJ A mobile, high-pressure control: drive a knee onto the belly and post up to attack or transition.](https://darce.app/techniques/bjj/knee-on-belly)

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