{"id":20978,"date":"2023-12-30T17:29:44","date_gmt":"2023-12-30T23:29:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/?p=20978"},"modified":"2023-12-30T17:29:46","modified_gmt":"2023-12-30T23:29:46","slug":"can-opener-bjj","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/can-opener-bjj\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Opener BJJ Submission"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Brazilian jiu-jitsu prides itself on being a methodical and highly technical style and has often moved away from techniques deemed to be brutish or bully-ish. This does not mean they are ineffective, and one of the most popular, easy-to-execute, and commonly frowned-upon techniques is the can opener.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The can opener is a spine lock executed from top closed guard by pulling the head of the opponent with both hands toward their chest. This action creates immense pressure and pain in the cervical spine and is mainly used to open a closed guard, but it sometimes leads to a submission.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The can opener is banned in many competitions, which doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to use it. It can come in handy in self-defense, MMA, and no-gi submission grappling competitions to elicit a reaction in the opponent when the move is not banned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>What Is A Can Opener in BJJ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The can opener is a neck and spine crank mainly used from the top of closed guard<\/a> to force the opponent to open their guard as a result of pain, hence the name can opener.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The move is executed by grabbing the back of the head in a Thai clinch, anchoring your elbows to the chest, and pulling. This creates immense tension in the neck and spine and forces the opponent to react. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pressure can be quickly alleviated by opening the guard, which is its primary use. Still, there are more than a few submission finishes when the bottom person is too stubborn or oblivious to the possible defenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The can opener is not the most technical way to open a closed guard and is a technique that would earn you instant and certain resentment from training partners. Neck cranks<\/a> have a terrible reputation in BJJ for their injury potential and being considered brutish and not technical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The can opener is a technique everyone should be familiar with because it’s simple but effective, and there is also a possibility of getting caught in one if you are rolling with wrestlers or MMA fighters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The can opener is not something you would want to do to your friends, but it is certainly something you can try against people who annoy you when you or you feel the catch-wrestling itch just to cause pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Do A Can Opener<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The can opener is one of the simplest techniques you can use. It\u2019s executed from a top closed guard, so you won\u2019t need a dominant position secured. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grab the back of their head with both hands like you would for a Thai-style plum clinch, pull their chin to their chest, and that\u2019s it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, there is one more important detail. If you just pull, the likelihood of getting arm barred<\/a> is enormous, so you have to put your elbows on their chest or collar bones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doing this drastically reduces the chance of them going for an armbar and significantly increases the pressure on the cervical spine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a couple of possible defenses, but if you use the technique properly, the only option is for the opponent to release their feet, open the guard, and give you passing opportunities. Remember, this is the primary purpose of the can opener.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other option is perhaps even more unpleasant and involves stacking the opponent. Everything is the same grip-wise, but instead of pulling their head straight away, posture and stack them on their neck. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If this still doesn’t work, you can bring them to their butt, which makes it even worse, as shown by one of the masters of inducing pain, Josh Barnett.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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