Should You Break Someone’s Arm in a BJJ Competition?

In today's video I answer a BJJ competition question where a young guy had his very 1st Brazilian Jiu-jitsu tournament and was in a situation where he had a guy in an armbar and the guy didn't tap.

He said his opponent's arm was crackling and popping and so he stopped instead of continuing. Because he did this the opponent came back and made the match much closer where it eventually came down to a decision.

His question is whether or not I would have broken the arm or not in competition. So in this video I explain what I would have done in similar competition situation.

Hopefully this video is helpful to you if you're ever in a situation with a submission and you've gotta make a decision to break it or not.

-Chewy
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If you’d ever like to train with the team and I. Check out my gym Derby City MMA in Louisville,KY.

[kylehallman]

Anyone willing to let their arm get broken over a 3 dollar medal has genuine issues and needs help

[liamharris]

if they aint tappin', get to snappin'
-gandhi (maybe)

[dbarraza]

“If He Dies He Dies” - Ivan Drago Rocky 4

[tomparke]

I was in this exact situation in reverse. I lost in the finals to an armbar. It was really tight and my arm was popping and I didn’t tap. My opponent let go. The ref was confused but I gave it to him. He won. I wasn’t going to get out and he was 100% capable of breaking my arm. I’ve got nerve damage in my arm from the armbar and I thank the opponent t for taking better care for me, even in the finals, than I did myself.

[Shadowoftheoldones]

This is why chokes are the best. If the other guy doesn't tap, he just goes to sleep. Issues of conscience don't even need to come into it.

[kiernansmith]

Guy walks into work after not tapping casted up “Kyle what happened? Did you have to protect your family?” Kyle- “no....had to win first place in the local Bjj tournament with only two of us in the weight class”

[James]

The question is presented as a dichotomy:
Should I let go or break the arm?
There's a third choice and that is to hold the armbar as tight as possible without breaking the arm as long as they will allow you to do so. In a very calm manor verbally convey to the ref that is right there that you are in 100% control of your opponent, the opponent isn't tapping and the next step is to snap their arm.
I've been sit there and wait for the ref's response.
You may be surprised.

[grimjimreaper]

I almost broke a guys arm because he wouldn't tap. When he did, his arm was hyper extended and he was in pain. I was going to keep going until he tapped. Later that day I asked him why didn't he tap. He actually said he didn't want to lose to me. So ya, if that's what it takes to get them to drop their ego, I'll keep going.

[zaydsalcedo]

“He who does not tap surrenders himself
to the mercy of his enemy” - Khabib, probably

[md]

I needed to hear this. First comp is coming up and this is a serious concern of mine. Thank you for the wisdom 🙏

[pavb]

This kind of people were very common in judo, so the rules were changed, now if you get your arm broken or you pass out due to a choke, you get disqualified and you take your injury home as your reward for being an asshole. It´s actually considered unsportsmanlike attitude.

[daniel-zhnjyny]

''Submit your enemies incrementally, see them tap out before you, hear the admiration of the spectators !''

[genises]

He who does not tap, does not go unharmed
-Jesus probably

[FreddieMercury]

I get why some people wound't feel comfortable breaking their opponent's limb, but at the end of the day, the fault is all on the person not willing to tap. If you're comfortable breaking somone's limb, I think it's fair game.
Tap, for the love of all things good, just tap. No competiton is more important than your long-term health. Admit that you lost, tap, and get back to training the next day to get better.

[jesuscabrera]

At my home gym. Respect the tap and don’t go crazy when you have the sub in deep.

In competition it’s not over until the ref says it is or your opponent can no longer continue.

[rubenguevara]

“Should I have snapped that arm and take it home with me?!” 😂 💀👏🏼

[MrFlyingaussie]

Great video once again Chewy!

I remember about 5 years ago at a comp I got my opponent in an arm bar which was tight, my overall control on him was tight, it was game over as far as I'm concerned. I didn't crank the sub because like you I didn't want to hurt him so for a moment I had him locked in. His coach said be careful, the ref even told the guy to be careful, I told him mid match I didn't want to hurt him yet he still grunted that he was never going to tap... Needless to say I had to break his arm as I knew he would go straight for the break if roles were reversed.

Needless to say as a result of this guys toxic mentality I later found out that he missed many months of training due to this and never got back into training and to this day his arm isn't the same... Listen to Chewy guys, you may not want to but tap today so you can train tomorrow 😊

[puertoricanpanther]

"I've gotta win this regional white belt tournament that means nothing to anybody else but me!" Damn, lol

[vaughnlean]

I've dislocated my shoulder twice before starting BJJ and im only a new white belt. My arm can hyper extend especially in a kamura flexion and all my training partners stop even before i feel discomfort and its nice knowing there's that level of care with the people whilst rolling

[MrStrongBro]

Just like John Danaher says, a lot of people can tough through a broken limb, but nobody can fight going to sleep. It’s too bad we don’t get to always choose what submissions we get. 😂