Tim,

I'm struggling to take advantage of opportunities from the seated/butterfly guard to do the arm drag, in an effort to take the back.

I'm having a lot of trouble getting there, because of opponent resistance and timing.

Any tips on either timing, or tips on setups? What soughts of situations would be 'prime' opportunities for the technique?

Is it easier to consider armdrags from kneeling/standing first, then from guard?

-Charles

Hope this helps CB:

Alot of the striking/blocking/grabbing techniques preformed on your feet can be done kneeling or on your back as well. It may be helpful to practice armdrags from the inside as well as the outside of the elbow/bicep/tricep area. Experiment with large single arm circles that corkscrew their way around the opponents arm and use a pivot or reverse pivot of your toso to accentuate the leverage on your behalf.
Also wrapping with one arm and palming or utilizing reach around chin cups with the other may be useful as well.
For a different perspective try sitting in a chair and work with a partner on various grabs while your sitting. Something may reveal itself to you.
Also it is helpful to think of an arm as a section of rope and the hand as a knot at the end of the rope. ALways pull the slack out the rope and once tension is attained move your feet and or direct the opponents arm where you need it to be in order to attain your results.
On your feet a knee or kick to the opponents thigh can cause them to buckle in a most favorable way.
As far as prime oppurtuniites when they put their hand in the "fan" so to speak you can act, you can also cause the event by hitting the inside or outside of their ribs with your wrist (think crane) causing them to move and create space between their arm and body. Scoop their arm the second it is moved.

Go here:

http://www.groundfighter.com/details/prodid/196.html

see arm drag sample

Thanks BackArcher! Thats good stuff!