| Are you a black belt who has mastered the art of | | | | wristlock. |
| Wristlock Techniques? Or are you just starting out, | | | | Supinating Wristlock |
| learning the basic self-defense moves against grabbing | | | | For supinating, hold your right hand in front of you, palm |
| and pulling attacks? | | | | facing you and fingers pointing upward. The supinating |
| Whether you are a beginner or an expert looking for a | | | | position is when your palm is facing toward you. For |
| way to explain Wristlocks to your students, this article | | | | the wristlock, rotate your hand clockwise as far as |
| will help you understand the four foundational principles | | | | you can. This would be considered a supinating |
| behind Wristlock Techniques. | | | | wristlock. |
| The wristlock is one of the most popular and effective | | | | Adductive Wristlock |
| self-defense techniques. Most martial arts styles teach | | | | The term "adductive" in referring to the human |
| Wristlock Techniques to at least some degree. Some | | | | anatomy means to draw an arm or leg in toward the |
| styles and systems make extensive use of wristlocks, | | | | center of the body. For example, if you extend your |
| such as Jui Jitsu and Chin Na. Yet not all wristlocks are | | | | right arm straight out to your side at shoulder height, |
| applied with the same end desire. For example, a | | | | then drop your arm to your side, bringing your arm in |
| wristlock technique may be used by a competitor in a | | | | would be an adductive motion. |
| Mixed Martial Arts match as a submission hold, | | | | In the case of an adductive wristlock it is back of the |
| whereas an Aikido master might apply a wristlock | | | | wrist that is being rotated in toward the center line of |
| technique as a means of causing the aggressor's | | | | the body. This can be done by rotating the wrist in |
| whole body to shift, roll, or lose balance. | | | | either a clockwise or counter clockwise direction. |
| The most common types Wristlock Techniques are | | | | For an example, hold your right hand straight out in |
| typically applied by controlling the opponent's hand while | | | | front of you. Now, without bending your wrist or elbow, |
| using a bending or rotational movement to put | | | | rotate your hand, wrist, and arm counter-clockwise as |
| pressure on the hand, wrist, or forearm. | | | | far as you can while positioning your wrist in front of |
| Although most wristlock techniques are performed by | | | | your body's center line. When you've reached the |
| turning the opponents wrist in a rotational manner, not | | | | maximum point that you can turn your wrist, you've |
| all Wristlock Techniques use a rotational method. | | | | reached the limit of what is called "ulnar deviation," that |
| There are four main types of wristlocks: | | | | is, the limit that you can turn your ulna, the bone on the |
| - Pronating | | | | little-finger side of your forearm. |
| - Supinating | | | | Hyperflexive Wristlock |
| - Adductive | | | | "Flexion" refers to bending a part of your body, such |
| - Hyperflexive | | | | as when you bend your arm in order to "flex" your |
| To understand how wristlocks work, familiarity with | | | | bicep. "Hyperflexion" is when you bend part of your |
| hand, wrist, and arm ergonomics is helpful: | | | | body beyond its normal position to the point that it |
| To start, hold your right hand out in front of you, palm | | | | causes stress to that part of the body. |
| down, with you hand, wrist, and forearm straight | | | | A Hyperflexive Wristlock is accomplished by bending |
| (parallel to the floor). This is called a Neutral position. | | | | the wrist to such a degree that it forced the hand |
| Next, bend your hand up so that your fingers are | | | | toward the inside of the forearm. |
| pointing to the ceiling. This is called Extension. | | | | The difference between a Hyperflexive Wristlock and |
| Now, bend your hand down so that your fingers are | | | | a Pronating Wristlock is, with the Pronating one, the |
| pointing to the floor. This is called Flexion. | | | | hand is rotated in a circular direction. With a |
| Starting with your right hand in the Neutral position and | | | | Hyperflexive Wristlock, the hand is not rotated, but |
| rotating the wrist to the left is called Radial Deviation. | | | | forced inward. |
| Starting with your right hand in the Neutral position and | | | | These four types of wristlocks are just the beginning |
| bending at the wrist to the right is called Ulnar | | | | basics of many lock-flow techniques. For example, if |
| Deviation. | | | | your opponent grabs your left collar with his right hand, |
| Almost all of the various wristlocks use one or a | | | | you might reach over the top of his hand with your left |
| combination of these four hand/wrist positions. | | | | hand, grab and rotate his hand to your |
| The two following types of wristlocks, Pronating and | | | | counterclockwise. By bringing your right hand up to |
| Supinating are commonly referred to as Rotational | | | | help, you are now able to place him in a supinating lock |
| Wristlocks because the hand, wrist, and arm are | | | | by rotating his hand to the left. Or you might perform a |
| rotated in a circular clockwise or counter-clockwise | | | | hyperflexive lock by forcing his hand straight down |
| direction. | | | | toward his forearm. |
| Pronating Wristlock | | | | Now that you understand the types of locks, you can |
| For an example of a pronating wristlock position, hold | | | | experiment with ones of your own, or learn from the |
| your right hand out in front of you, palm facing down | | | | vast number of resources available through martial |
| and fingers pointing to the floor. Your wrist, when bent | | | | arts books and DVDs. But to really master Wristlock |
| this way, is in a pronating position. For the wristlock, | | | | Techniques, consider enrolling in a local martial arts |
| rotate your hand in a counter-clockwise direction as | | | | school where a qualified instructor can guide and |
| far as you can. This would be considered a pronating | | | | develop your skills. |