Grappling Techniques in Judo

There are three basic grappling techniques used in judo. They are holddowns, strangles and elbow locks and twists. All these techniques should be learned by the student of judo. He should also know defensive methods in grappling. These are explained in this article.

1.Osaekomi-waza (holddowns)
These are techniques that are used to immobilize your opponent when he is lying on his back on the mat. They include kesagatame (collar hold), kata-gatame (single shoulder holddown), kami-shiho-gatame (four-quarter holddown), kuzure-kami-shiho-gatame (modified four-quarter holddown), and yoko-shiho-gatame (side four-quarter holddown).

2.Shime-waza (strangles)
These are techniques by which you strangle your opponent into submission. Both hands press against either the windpipe or the carotid arteries to stop the flow of blood to his head. If you do this, he will be forced to submit because of the lack of blood supply or else fall into unconsciousness.

Shime-waza include such techniques as navni-juji-jime (normal cross strangle), gyaku-juji-jime (reverse cross strangle), kata-juji-jime (half cross strangle), okuri-eri-jime (sliding collar strangle), kata-ha-jime (single wing strangle), hada-ka-jime (bare-hand strangle), and ryote-jime (two-hand strangle).

3.Kansetsu-waza (elbow locks and twists)
These are techniques by which you bend, twist, or lock the elbow joint of your opponent's arm in order to bring him to submission. Kansetsu-waza include juji-gatame (cross armlock), hiza-gatame (knee-elbow lock), ude-gatame (straight armlock), and ude-garami (entangled armlock). Besides mentioning these pressure holds on the elbow joints, we may point out that even though locks on the other joints, such as the ankles or wrists, are effective, they are not allowed in the sport of judo. Because of the obvious danger if the other joints are involved, the rules of the Kodokan prohibit the locking of any joint except the elbow.
Defense methods in grappling

Let us make an experiment. Put both your hands and knees on the mat. In this posture you can use the waist and abdominal region at will to defend yourself from an attack from the rear. Now have someone straddle your back and attempt a strangle from the rear. He probably cannot succeed as long as you hold this posture, since all your muscles will cooperate to defend you from the back strangle.

The force of the waist and abdominal region, which enables all your muscles to cooperate, comes from the power of your legs, which press against the mat. On the other hand, your opponent cannot use his whole force to choke you when he is in his present posture.

Your defensive power is therefore larger than his offensive power. Never give him the opportunity to flatten your body against the mat, for in this posture you can use neither the force of your legs nor that of your waist and abdominal region.

The same thing can be said of all strangulation techniques. If only you are free to push the mat with one of your legs, it will be impossible for your opponent to strangle you. By pushing the mat effectively, you can set your body in a posture that will allow the power of the waist and abdominal region to operate in defense against the attack.

Become proficient in the area of grappling and you will be successful very often.

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