Gable Grip

The Gable Grip is a widely used hand configuration in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, named after the legendary wrestler Dan Gable. It involves clasping your hands together without interlocking your fingers, creating a secure and versatile grip. The Gable Grip is known for its strength, versatility, and ease of adjustment, making it a fundamental tool for controlling opponents, maintaining position, or applying submissions.

Key Characteristics

Hand Positioning

  • One palm faces upward while the other faces downward, with the fingers of each hand clasping the base of the opposite palm.

No Finger Interlocking

  • Unlike grips that interlock fingers, the Gable Grip avoids potential weak points or injuries associated with finger entanglement.

Tight and Unified Connection

  • By engaging the hands and forearms, the grip creates a strong, stable bond between your arms.

When to Use the Gable Grip

Submissions

Arm Triangle

  • Use the Gable Grip to secure your hands while applying Pressure to the opponent’s neck and shoulder.

Guillotine Choke

  • Enhance control and force by connecting your hands with the Gable Grip during the choke.

Anaconda Choke or Darce Choke

  • The Gable Grip is key to locking the choke tightly and maintaining control.

Control

Top Control

Back Control

  • Use the grip to stabilize your hand positioning when working toward submissions or maintaining control.

Transitions

  • The grip provides a stable connection, allowing you to control the opponent while transitioning between positions or advancing through the Positional Hierarchy.

How to Execute the Gable Grip

Position the Hands

  • Place one hand palm-up and the other palm-down, with the base of each palm meeting at the center.

Clasp the Hands

  • Wrap your fingers around the base of the opposite palm, ensuring a snug and secure grip.

Engage the Grip

  • Squeeze your hands together and engage your forearms to create a strong, unified connection.

Maintain Tightness

  • Keep the grip close to your body for maximum Leverage and control.

Advantages of the Gable Grip

Strength and Durability

  • The grip distributes force evenly, making it difficult for the opponent to break.

Versatility

  • Effective in a wide range of positions, including offensive and defensive scenarios.

Ease of Adjustment

  • The grip is quick to release and re-establish, allowing seamless transitions.

Common Mistakes

Loose Clasping

  • A weak connection between the palms reduces the grip's effectiveness and makes it easier to break.

Improper Palm Placement

  • Misaligned hands create gaps, weakening the grip and compromising control.

Overreliance

  • Using the Gable Grip without combining it with proper Base, Pressure, or Frames may result in inefficiency.

Training the Gable Grip

Positional Drills

  • Practice using the grip in common scenarios like Side Control Top or submission setups.

Grip Strength Exercises

  • Develop grip strength through tools like grip trainers or resistance exercises to enhance the grip’s durability.

Positional Sparring

  • Focus on maintaining the Gable Grip during transitions or control-heavy positions in live rolling.

Comparison to Other Grips

Versus Butterfly Grip

  • The Gable Grip offers quicker adjustments and less risk of finger injuries due to the lack of interlocking.

Versus S-Grip

  • The Gable Grip is generally stronger and more stable than the S-Grip, which relies more on flexibility and reach.
Tip

The Gable Grip is an essential skill in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, offering a balance of strength and versatility. Focus on proper hand placement and tight engagement to maximize control and Leverage in both positional play and submissions.