Also known as: Keylock · Ude Garami · Paint Brush · Figure-Four Armlock · Bent Armlock · Top Wristlock (wrestling)
The first pin submission everyone learns: pin their wrist to the mat above their shoulder line, thread a figure-four, and "paint" the knuckles down toward their hip to rotate the shoulder.
Submission · Shoulder Lock · Gi & No-gi · Difficulty 1/5 · Usually learned at White belt
Starts from Side Control as the top player → ends the match (submission).
The details that make it work
Pin the wrist with your weight through a straight arm, then thread under their elbow to grab your own wrist.
Their elbow stays BELOW their shoulder line; slide the whole frame down like painting the mat.
Keep your chest heavy on theirs — the lock fails when your weight lifts to crank.
Where it goes wrong
Muscling the wrist down instead of driving the elbow toward their body first.
How opponents counter it
Straighten the arm before the figure-four closes
Turn into the attacker to relieve the rotation
Is the Americana legal in competition?
Legal in all major rulesets at all levels (IBJJF, ADCC, sub-only). Rules change — always confirm against the current official rulebook for your event.