Omoplata
Omoplata
Literally: shoulder blade
Shoulder lock from Brazilian jiu-jitsu, set up with a leg wrapped around the opponent's arm, which also works as a sweep.
Quick Facts
About
Omoplata is the Portuguese word for shoulder blade, and the name refers to the area the technique targets. It is a lock on the shoulder joint: the attacker uses the legs and hips to push the opponent's arm to the extreme range of shoulder motion. It is usually set up from the guard, where the attacker wraps a leg around the opponent's arm and forces them, by turning the hips, either to submit or to roll. The technique reached Brazil through judo or catch wrestling in the 1930s to 1940s and was initially seen as ineffective in competition. Early Brazilian jiu-jitsu rules counted it only as a submission, which is why even Rickson and Rolls Gracie avoided it before 1994. It gained value when the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Confederation started scoring sweeps as well in 1994. In the 1990s it was decisively developed by Antonio "Nino" Schembri, who showed that it works both as a submission and as a sweep. Recognized specialists include Mario Reis, Andre Galvao, Eddie Bravo, Ryan Hall, and Rubens "Cobrinha". According to the IBJJF rules overview it is banned in the children's categories from 4 to 15 and permitted from the 16-to-17 category; adults are allowed it from white belt.