Jozef Chen Wins Pro Match by Rare Submission

Omoplatas, often dismissed as ineffective in modern no-gi competition, can still be a powerful submission when executed properly. Through analyzing Jozef Chen’s recent victory at AIGA Kazakhstan, we’ll explore how this traditional technique remains viable and the key details that make it successful.

Understanding the technical nuances and setups from various positions can revolutionize how we approach this classic submission in our modern grappling game.

In my video, I break down this fascinating submission and explore why it’s often overlooked in high-level competition:

The Misconception About Omoplatas

Many prominent grapplers like Roger Gracie, Marcelo Garcia, and Felipe Pena have notably few or zero omoplata victories in their competition records. This has led to a widespread belief that omoplatas are ineffective, especially in no-gi scenarios.

Jozef Chen’s Game-Changing Victory

At AIGA Kazakhstan, Jozef Chen demonstrated the effectiveness of the omoplata against Vladislav Buinitskiy. The match context was particularly interesting, taking place over multiple rounds where Jozef displayed technical superiority throughout.

The Setup and Execution

The submission came from an unconventional position – mount – where Jozef capitalized on his opponent’s mistake of raising his hand for an underhook. The technical execution was smooth and traditional, proving that fundamentals can still work at high levels.

Training Methods and Drills

A fundamental drill progression for developing your omoplata involves working from closed guard through three basic submissions:

• Armbar
• Triangle
• Omoplata

The Rubber Guard Connection

The rubber guard has proven to be an effective modern platform for executing omoplatas against high-level opponents. This was demonstrated in the UFC by Ben Saunders, who achieved the only omoplata submission in UFC history using this setup.

Key Defensive Considerations

Common defenses to the omoplata include:

• Knee posting and posture control
• Forward rolling escape
• The Imari roll counter

Training Resources

For those interested in developing their omoplata game, training is available at Taipei BJJ. Visitors are welcome to join classes by reaching out through Instagram or email at taipeibjj.com.