There is a new free instructional series about the Double Wrist Lock available at the Gotch Fightwear site, (It’s for free members of the website, and there is a form at the end of this post that you can fill to request an access). This series focuses on the principles behind the lock and how it can fit with the rest of your game.
The video below titled “3 Facts about the Double Wrist Lock”, gives you historical context and talks about the importance of this valuable tool.
The Double Wrist Lock, “Reverse ude-garami” in Judo and popularly known as “Kimura” in the Jiu Jitsu world, is a fundamental Catch Wrestling hold and certainly one of the most iconic techniques in grappling history.
Here are 3 facts about the Double Wrist Lock.
Number 1
It’s more than a submission
Besides being an effective finishing move, the double Wrist Lock serves as a reliable transitional tool. You can lock it and move between most positions top or bottom without letting go of it. One of the things that makes this hold so powerful is that it grants you control of your opponent’s posture by using his shoulder as fulcrum, allowing you to do counters, passes, reversals and more.
Number 2
It’s versatile
The double wrist lock can be applied simultaneously with other submission holds, like arm bars, cranks, scissors and figure 4 scissors strangles to name a few. It allows you to go back and forth between variations like reverse, straight or hammer locks, and as long as you keep top control of the shoulder you can grip the wrist in many different ways.
Number 3
It’s historically relevant
Brazilian Catch Wrestler and Luta Livre founder “Euclydes Hatem” used the reverse version of the double wrist lock to submit “George Gracie”, Judo Legend “Masahiko Kimura” defeated “Helio Gracie” with a double wrist lock in one of the most anticipated submission matches in history and Catch Wrestling standout “Kazushi Sakuraba” used it as part of his game in all his 4 MMA wins over the Gracie Family, victories that earned him the famous nickname “The Gracie Hunter”.