Countering The Arm Drag | Hop Over

Defending against the seated guard arm drag involves a combination of weight distribution and movement to counter the opponent's attempt to control your arm. When the opponent reaches for an arm drag, you must be prepared to shift your weight to the same side they are targeting. This movement resembles a cartwheel, where you release your weight and use their momentum to land across their body, avoiding being caught in a D'Arce choke.

1. As the opponent initiates the arm drag, be ready to cartwheel your body to the side they are dragging towards, effectively using their momentum against them.
2. Ensure that you do not throw yourself into a D'Arce choke as you perform this movement.
3. If you anticipate the arm drag, you can step up with one leg to get ahead of the opponent's action. Place this leg either on the outside, which is less preferable, or on the inside, closer to the opponent.
4. Feign vulnerability by offering the arm for the drag. As the opponent commits to the drag, drive your knee over their thigh and perform a windshield wiper motion with your legs.
5. This technique is a smaller version of the cartwheel defense, with the added setup of posting your leg up to bait the opponent into the arm drag.
6. By stepping inside and presenting the arm, you can lure the opponent into the drag. As they pull, shift your weight over and windshield wiper your legs to counter the drag and potentially gain a more dominant position.