Underhook Control

Underhook Control, one practitioner places their arm underneath their opponent's arm, often securing a grip around the opponent's torso, shoulder, or back. The underhook provides a powerful form of control because it allows the practitioner to dominate the opponent's posture, manipulate their balance, and set up sweeps, submissions, or positional advancements.

Key Features of Underhook Control

Arm Position

  • Your arm is placed underneath the opponent’s arm, often reaching across their back, shoulder, or side.
  • The underhook must be deep to maximize control and prevent the opponent from countering.

Body Position

  • The practitioner using the underhook often keeps their chest close to the opponent to maintain connections and limit space.
  • Angles are crucial; the underhook works best when the practitioner is angled to the side rather than directly underneath or in front of the opponent.

Leverage

  • The underhook creates significant leverage by allowing you to lift, pull, or turn the opponent, disrupting their base and posture.

Objectives of Underhook Control

Control the Opponent

  • Limit their ability to move, escape, or attack by dominating their posture and mobility.

Set Up Offensive Moves

  • Use the underhook to transition into sweeps, submissions, or positional advancements like taking the back or achieving top control.

Defend Against Pressure

  • Underhook Control is an effective tool for preventing guard passes and countering the opponent's pressure.

Common Positions Using Underhook Control

Half Guard

Side Control

  • The top player uses an underhook to prevent the opponent from turning into them and to advance toward submissions like the Arm Triangle.

Back Control

  • Underhooks are essential for securing control and maintaining Hooks when attacking from the back.

Standing Clinch

  • An underhook in a standing position helps control the opponent’s posture and sets up takedowns like the Body Lock Takedown.

Techniques from Underhook Control

Sweeps

Old School Sweep

  • From Half Guard, use the underhook to lift their far leg and roll them over.

Butterfly Sweep

  • Use the underhook to pull them forward and elevate their hips with your hook.

Submissions

Arm Triangle

  • From top positions like Side Control, use the underhook to trap their arm and set up the choke.

Kimura

  • Transition from an underhook by isolating their arm and locking the shoulder.

Passes

Knee Cut Pass

  • Use the underhook to control their far arm and prevent framing while slicing through their guard.

Escapes

Underhook Escape from Side Control

  • Use the underhook to rotate to your knees and create space to escape or sweep.

Defending Against Underhook Control

Pummel for Inside Position

  • Fight for your own underhook or reestablish inside control to neutralize theirs.

Crossface Pressure

  • Use a strong Crossface to flatten the opponent and regain positional control.

Pin Their Underhook

  • Use your hips or arms to trap their underhooked arm, nullifying their leverage.

Tips for Effective Underhook Control

  • Stay tight to your opponent’s body to maintain connections and deny them space to counter.
  • Always work to improve your position by transitioning to sweeps, submissions, or passes.
  • Use angles to maximize leverage and disrupt their base.
  • Be mindful of leaving your head exposed, as poor underhook placement can lead to counters like the Darce Choke.

Advancing Underhook Control

Transitions from Underhook Control

To Back Control

  • Use the underhook to pull yourself around their body while maintaining pressure, climbing to Back Control.

To Mount Top

  • From Side Control, use the underhook to lift their near arm and step over to secure Mount.

To Standing

  • If on the bottom, use the underhook to build your base and transition to a Technical Stand-Up.

To Deep Half Guard

To Butterfly Guard

  • From bottom positions, use the underhook to sit up and insert hooks under their thighs, transitioning into Butterfly Guard.

Submissions from Underhook Control

Arm Triangle

  • From Side Control, use the underhook to isolate their arm, then slide your head under their trapped arm to lock the choke.

Kimura

  • Use the underhook to manipulate their arm, isolating it for the Kimura shoulder lock.

Darce Choke

  • If they turn into you, thread your arm deep under their neck and shoulder to secure the choke.

Straight Arm Lock

  • From top, extend their arm using the underhook to control their elbow and apply pressure.

Rear Naked Choke

  • Transition from the underhook to Back Control, securing the choke after establishing grips.

Sweeps from Underhook Control

Old School Sweep

  • From Half Guard, use the underhook to control their leg and roll them over.

Butterfly Sweep

  • From Butterfly Guard, use the underhook to lift their upper body while elevating their hips with your hooks.

Pendulum Sweep

  • Use the underhook to pull their weight forward, swinging your legs for momentum to sweep them.

Coyote Sweep

  • From Half Guard, use the underhook to control their leg, then rotate under to sweep them.

Elevator Sweep

  • Combine the underhook with a hook under their leg to lift and flip them.

Passes from Underhook Control

Knee Cut Pass

  • Use the underhook to pin their far arm, preventing their frame while slicing your knee through their guard.

Over-Under Pass

  • Scoop one leg with the underhook while pinning the other with your shoulder, driving forward to pass.

Smash Pass

  • Use the underhook to immobilize their upper body, flattening them while you bypass their legs.

Leg Drag Pass

  • Control their leg with the underhook and drag it across your body to neutralize their guard.

Crossface and Underhook Pass

Escapes from Underhook Control

Underhook Escape from Side Control

  • Use the underhook to turn to your knees and create space to escape.

Bridge and Roll Escape

Shrimp Escape

  • Use the underhook to frame and create space, then shrimp your hips to recover guard.

Hip Heist Escape

  • Use the underhook to lift their weight and scoot your hips out to regain position.

Roll Under Escape

  • From bottom Side Control, roll under their body using the underhook to escape and recover.

Takedowns from Underhook Control

Body Lock Takedown

  • Use the underhook to secure a body lock, driving their hips backward to complete the takedown.

Single-Leg Takedown

  • From the underhook, transition to controlling their leg and lifting it for the takedown.

Ankle Pick

  • Combine the underhook with control of their ankle, pulling it forward while driving into them.

Uchi Mata

  • Use the underhook to elevate their torso, then sweep their leg with yours for the throw.

Duck Under to Back Take

Underhook Control is a versatile tool that offers a variety of offensive and defensive options, allowing practitioners to maintain dominance and dictate the flow of a match. Mastery of underhook positioning leads to fluid transitions, powerful submissions, and effective sweeps or takedowns.

YouTube Videos