Key Takeaways
- A No-Gi DVD that explores arm submissions from angles most opponents never expect.
- Magid Hage shows how to hunt arms from guard, top position, scrambles, and even “bad” spots.
- Hage provides chains and sequences that turn single attempts into multi‑step traps.
- BJJ World Expert Rating: 8.5 out of 10.
ABSTRACT ARMLOCKS MAGID HAGE DVD GET HERE
Magids Abstract Armlocks Magid Hage DVD aims to reinvent the way grapplers think about armlock submissions. Instead of focusing on classic straight arm bars alone, it presents an abstract system for isolating and finishing arms from virtually anywhere.
In this review we’ll examine the structure of the instructional, discuss the often‑overlooked world of armlocks, explore Magid Hage’s background, and then evaluate each part of the instructional before offering practical advice and final thoughts.
How Many BJJ Armlock Variations Do You Know Of?
Armlocks are among the most underrated submissions in grappling, very often taken for granted. Apart from being the most efefctive/most used finish in BJJ history, they are versatile, sneaky, and simple. Plus you can hit them in Gi or No‑Gi from guard, passing or transitional positions.
There are a lot more armlocks than you can imagine. Yeah, it goes way past just Americanas, armbars, and Kimuras, or the odd Omoplata, if you know what you’re doing. There are plenty of super quick finishes that you can do from spots that shouldn’t offer submission (like inside the closed guard—something covered in this Magids Abstract Armlocks DVD).
Craig Jones managed to build a great game based on the threat of his Choi bars, and others have replicated that. Armlocks will help you become better at BJJ simply because even if people manage to defend them, they’ll do so at the expense of positions or other submission setups.
Magid “Gorilla Hands” Hage
Magid “Gorilla Hands” Hage IV is known for his big hands, fluid style and love of surfing. Born in Brazil and introduced to Jiu‑Jitsu by his father, Magid Hage III, he started training at 10 years old when there were no kids’ classes.
The family moved to San Diego in 1999 where his father taught at Gracie Barra; this is where his Jiu‑Jitsu journey truly began. Hage received his black belt at age 19 and quickly gained international attention by submitting high‑level black belts with his signature baseball‑bat choke.
The lightweight competitor is now one of the head instructors at Surfight, a Jiu‑Jitsu academy in the Del Mar area of San Diego. He balances teaching with his passion for surfing and snowboarding—he surfs every day in summer and snowboards in winter.
Hage describes his grappling style as “sneaky… very sneaky” and emphasizes drilling basics while maintaining a couple of unpredictable moves. He has won titles such as Copa Pacifica, the California State Championship, and took second at the Pan American Championships.
In recent years, Hage returned to high‑level competition, earning a silver medal at the ADCC West Coast Trials. He credits his success to constant experimentation—copying the styles of peers in his gym and refining them.
His imposing grip strength gives rise to the moniker “Gorilla Hands,” and he notes that when he applies submissions, his large hands make escape nearly impossible. While you might not have his hands, you can certainly have his armlock attacks, courtesy of this Magid Hage DVD we’re looking at today.
Detailed Magids Abstract Armlocks Magid Hage DVD Review
Magids Abstract Armlocks DVD latest instructional consisting of four volumes totaling roughly two and a half hours. Each volume focuses on attacking the arm from different positions and blends detailed instruction with conceptual insights.
Part 1—Mounted Armbars
The first volume of the Abstract Armlocks Magid Hage DVD opens with an introduction and then dives straight into armlocks from the mount. Hage demonstrates how to isolate the arms using cross‑grips and weight shifts before transitioning into straight armbars, spinning arm locks, and sneaky wrist‑involved finishes.
The only other chapter of this volume is devoted to set‑ups, where Magid explains how to trap opponents’ arms during scrambles or while threatening chokes. He repeatedly points out that you can attack the arms even when your opponent believes they are safe.
Part 2—Side Control Armbars
Volume two of the Armlocks Magid Hage Armlocks DVD moves to side‑control armlocks. Hage begins by showing how to maintain heavy pressure while isolating an arm, then flows into the Americana‑to‑armlock transition and his own variation—the Margarida armbar.
The standout segment is the Deadlift armbar, where he demonstrates a unique grip that allows you to lift the opponent’s elbow off the mat and rotate into a fully locked armbar.
Throughout this part of hte DVD he encourages students to blend submissions, chaining one to another. Magid is big on chains and sequences, something he mentions throughout this instructional.
Part 3—Armbarring While Passing
In Volume 3, Hage attacks arms while passing and from closed guard. He begins with armlocks from passing positions, demonstrating how a knee‑cut pass can become an armlock by hugging the triceps and stepping over the head.
Next, he shows how to set up armlocks during leg drags and float passes, turning seemingly defensive movements into submission attempts. The second half of the volume covers closed‑guard armlocks, including cross‑wrist traps and a sneaky armbar from a inside the closed guard.
Each technique in the Abstract Armlocks Magid Hage DVD focuses on surprising the opponent, reinforcing the promise that you will learn to attack arms from guard, top, scrambles, and bad positions.
Part 4—Specialty Armlocks
The final volume dives into specialty submissions. Magid teaches a reverse armlock, showing how to invert the classical armbar by turning the opponent’s hand towards their head. The shotgun armbar demonstrates how to use your entire body like a shotgun lever to hyper‑extend the arm.
He follows with the Choi bar, everyone’s favorite arm lock finish from guard these days, before finishing with arm attacks from top and bottom turtle situations. The Magid Hage DVD closes with a quick outro summarizing key concepts.
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How to Use This Magid Hage Armlocks DVD
Magids Abstract Armlocks Magid Hage DVD is best suited for intermediate or advanced grapplers. The instructional assumes you understand basic armbars and focuses on layering creative setups on top.
Because armlocks and wristlocks can come on quickly, you should always practice them slowly with cooperative partners. Incorporate the concepts gradually by adding one new armbar variation to your current game, rather than trying to learn everything at once.
For example, use the deadlift armbar as a follow‑up when an Americana fails, or experiment with knee‑cut armlocks during passing rounds. Hage’s emphasis on principles—grip, weight distribution, and timing—means these techniques can transfer to Gi and No‑Gi contexts.
Finally, pair the Abstract Armlocks Magid Hage DVD with fundamental wristlock and wrist‑control training; as noted earlier, wristlocks are surprising and effective submissions that complement armlocks by opening opponents up for larger joint attacks.
Becoming an Arm Collector
The Abstract Armlocks Magid Hage DVD offers a fresh take on one of Jiu‑Jitsu’s most iconic submissions. While beginners may benefit from a more fundamental armbar instructional first, seasoned practitioners will appreciate the creativity and depth. The bottom line is that you’ll get way more arm lock taps than you ever have before, so why not just jump into it?
