Isolate First
pins
Grapplers Collective, Isolate First. 5-6 min rounds.
Problem
Methodical arm isolation and submission sequencing from mount.
Tell the room
Top player isolates an arm from mount or takes the back. Bottom player escapes, reverses, or blocks every isolation. The bottom player also scores by preventing any isolation for 60 seconds.
Setup
Start in mount. Top player in full mount, hips on hips, or high mount with knees in armpits. Bottom player flat or slightly bridged. Grips free.
Score
Isolate the arm, or survive 60 seconds.
- Top player — kimura, americana, or armbar control with the arm past 90 degrees
- Top player — back control with the seatbelt established
- Bottom player — escapes to guard, reverses to top, or blocks isolation for 60 seconds
Rules
- The setup scores, not the tap. No finishing submissions; the score is the control position.
- No collar chokes. Offense stays on arm attacks and back takes.
- A full escape resets to mount. Guard recovery or a reversal restarts the position.
Adjust
Easier
Start in high mount with knees in armpits and let the top player attack one predetermined arm.
Harder
Allow finishes, cut the survival time to 45 seconds, and remove the collar choke restriction.
If it stalls
If the top player gets reversed before any isolation, check the base — cue low hips and chest pressure before reaching.
TOP PLAYER
POSITION
Top player in full mount, hips on hips, or high mount with knees in armpits. Bottom player flat or slightly bridged. Grips free.
OBJECTIVE
Top player isolates an arm from mount or takes the back. Bottom player escapes, reverses, or blocks every isolation. The bottom player also scores by preventing any isolation for 60 seconds.
CONSTRAINTS
The setup scores, not the tap. No finishing submissions; the score is the control position. No collar chokes. Offense stays on arm attacks and back takes. A full escape resets to mount. Guard recovery or a reversal restarts the position.
WIN CONDITION
kimura, americana, or armbar control with the arm past 90 degrees; back control with the seatbelt established
BOTTOM PLAYER
POSITION
Top player in full mount, hips on hips, or high mount with knees in armpits. Bottom player flat or slightly bridged. Grips free.
OBJECTIVE
Top player isolates an arm from mount or takes the back. Bottom player escapes, reverses, or blocks every isolation. The bottom player also scores by preventing any isolation for 60 seconds.
CONSTRAINTS
The setup scores, not the tap. No finishing submissions; the score is the control position. No collar chokes. Offense stays on arm attacks and back takes. A full escape resets to mount. Guard recovery or a reversal restarts the position.
WIN CONDITION
escapes to guard, reverses to top, or blocks isolation for 60 seconds