One of the most frustrating challenges in Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is dealing with opponents who stiff-arm and lock up their upper body. These types of training partners don’t necessarily have great offensive attacks, but they make it extremely difficult to engage by using sheer strength and stiff arms to keep you at bay. Breaking through this kind of defense requires technical solutions rather than just brute force.

Understanding the Stiff Arm Defense

A stiff-arm opponent will often extend their arms to keep distance, preventing any real engagement. In Judo, this is common among bigger, stronger opponents who use their upper body strength to neutralize grips. In Jiu-Jitsu, you’ll frequently encounter opponents who don’t want to engage in stand-up grappling but also don’t want to risk getting thrown.

To break this structure, you need to disrupt their arm position, control the grip, and use body positioning to create openings.

Watch the full video here ↓

Breaking the Grip

One effective method is to use a grip break that bends the opponent’s arm. Rather than trying to peel their fingers off directly, you can use a technique similar to a Roman salute—bringing the hand back while applying tension to the jacket. By rotating the elbow and breaking the grip conservatively, you can create an angle for an attack.

"Very conservative, the hand is like this, and now we can use this pinky almost like a karate chop to chop here across the center line."

Once the grip is broken, several follow-up attacks are available:

Reaching for the belt or lat to establish control.
Moving behind the opponent to take their back.
Creating openings for throws by forcing their balance to shift.

Using Positional Adjustments

Rather than fighting directly against a stiff arm, you can adjust your body positioning to force a reaction. A key concept here is using misdirection—making an opponent react to one attack while setting up another.

For example, when facing an opponent with a stiff arm, one option is to fake pulling guard or pretend to attack underneath. This often causes them to bend their arms slightly, reducing their frame and opening up throwing opportunities.

"When the arm is closed distance up top, there's definitely this space underneath, you know? So you pretend to attack the space for this attack, and now there's a little bit of a bend in the elbows."

Another approach is to adjust the gi and bring their hand down, which alters the angle of their arm. This allows you to place your head on top of their arm, preventing them from stiff-arming effectively. Once their posture is compromised, attacking becomes much easier.

Combining Techniques for Maximum Effect

No single technique will always work, so it’s important to combine methods. Some effective combinations include:

Breaking the grip + attacking the belt or lat to take the back.
Using a fake guard pull + transitioning to a throw when the opponent reacts.
Attacking one side of the grip + immediately switching to the other for an unexpected setup.

"Sometimes when you string these two things together, you may be able to bend the arm. Sometimes you may be able to bend the wrist using your shoulder. Even this way might be an issue."

By layering different grip-breaking methods with positional changes and fakes, you can force your opponent into vulnerable positions, making them easier to throw or control.

The Right Mentality for Grip Fighting

When dealing with stiff-arm opponents, frustration can lead to bad decision-making. Rather than fighting directly against their strength, think of grip fighting as a series of small adjustments. Each movement should create a little bit of advantage, which builds up until the opponent’s structure collapses.

Sometimes, even subtle movements can change the game:

"You know, maybe let them think that this hand's coming, and then attack this side here. And now all of a sudden, yeah, we're playing a different game here."

And if all else fails?

"If it all fails—pull guard. Just pull guard. Just sit down."

Conclusion

Breaking stiff arms in Judo and BJJ requires a mix of technique, timing, and strategic positioning. Whether it’s grip breaking, positional adjustments, or faking attacks, these methods help dismantle stubborn opponents who rely on static defense. Rather than trying to overpower them, use technical adjustments to take control and set up high-percentage attacks.

For a full breakdown of these concepts, watch the complete video on YouTube and check out HigashiBrand.com for more in-depth instructionals!