Mastering Wrist Locks in BJJ: Step-by-Step Guide from Ricardo Migliarese

Why Wrist Locks Are a Game-Changer in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Wrist locks might not be the flashiest submissions, but they pack a punch in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and translate well to MMA, no-gi grappling, and even wrestling scenarios. Ricardo Migliarese, a seasoned black belt, emphasizes their value as quick, high-percentage finishes that catch opponents off guard. Unlike armbars or chokes, wrist locks target the small joints of the hand and wrist, making them legal in many competitions under IBJJF rules and ideal for self-defense.

These techniques shine in scenarios where space is tight or your opponent resists larger joint locks. They're especially useful for smaller grapplers against bigger foes, as they rely on leverage rather than raw strength. In MMA, integrating wrist locks can disrupt striking setups or create openings during clinches. Before diving in, ensure you're drilling with a partner who taps early—wrist injuries heal slowly.

Migliarese breaks them down by position, offering setups, entries, and finishes. We'll cover standing exchanges, guard work, top control, and more, with tips for rash guards, gis, or no-gi adaptations.

Standing Wrist Lock: Controlling the Entry

From a neutral stance, wrist locks start with grip fighting. Migliarese teaches grabbing the opponent's sleeve or hand to off-balance them.

Step-by-Step:

1. Grip and Pull: Shoot in for a collar tie or overhook on their wrist. Pull their arm across your centerline while stepping to the side. 2. Isolate the Thumb: Use your thumb to pin their thumb against their fingers, creating a figure-four grip. 3. Torque and Drop: Rotate your hips away while dropping your level. Apply pressure by extending your elbows and arching your back.

Pro Tip: In Muay Thai clinches or MMA standups, this transitions seamlessly into takedowns. Wear quality boxing gloves or hybrid MMA gloves from brands like Hayabusa or Venum for grip training without slipping.

This standing lock ends the exchange before it hits the ground, perfect for competition resets.

Closed Guard Wrist Lock: Bottom Game Surprise

Playing closed guard? Use wrist locks to punish lazy posture.

Execution:

Setup: Break their posture with a two-on-one grip on their sleeve.
Entry: Swing your legs to open slightly, then shrimp to isolate the wrist.
Finish: Cup their fingers with one hand, grip the wrist with the other, and crank upward while bridging your hips.

Migliarese stresses keeping your elbows tight to avoid counters. In BJJ gis like those from Fuji or Tatami, the sleeve grip is gold; no-gi fighters can adapt with wrist control over rash guards from Scramble.

Open Guard Variations: Dynamic Attacks

From open guard, wrist locks flow from sweeps or guard passes.

Butterfly Guard Lock:

1. Hook their arm with your underhook. 2. Control the wrist, fold their hand into a prayer position. 3. Extend and twist while elevating with your hooks.

De La Riva Setup:

Grip the heel and sleeve, yank to unbalance, then attack the free wrist.

These keep you offensive without exposing your back, relevant for kickboxing transitions in MMA.

Side Control Dominance: Top Pressure Locks

Side control is prime for wrist hunting.

American Side Lock:

Slide your knee on their tricep, grip the far wrist.
Figure-four your hands and roll their thumb inward.
Drive your shoulder down for the tap.

Adaptation: Against wrestlers, combine with knee-on-belly for extra leverage. Elite Sports or Rival gear provides the durability for heavy rolling sessions.

North-South and Knee-on-Belly: Isolating the Target

North-South:

1. Posture up, trap their arm between your legs. 2. Grip wrist and hand, hyper-extend by sitting back.

Knee-on-Belly:

Float the knee high, attack the near wrist with a thumb-in grip.
Arch and pull for the finish.

These are brutal in no-gi MMA, where opponents can't gi-grip escape.

Mount and Back Attacks: Finishing Strong

Full Mount Wrist Lock:

High mount, isolate one arm.
Stack their hand palm-up, torque across their body.

Back Control:

From seatbelt, feed the wrist under their armpit.
Crank while controlling the body.

Migliarese notes these counter turtle escapes in wrestling-heavy MMA bouts.

Turtle Position Counters: Defensive Offense

When they turtle:
1. Overhook the wrist.
2. Step over, figure-four grip.
3. Bridge and roll for the lock.

Gear Note: Rash guards from Hyperfly prevent slick escapes; shin guards from Fairtex protect during scrambles.

Advanced Tips from Migliarese

Drilling: Start slow, focus on grip strength. Use resistance bands or hand grippers.
Common Mistakes: Loose grips or early extension—keep it tight.
Legalities: Check rules; some IBJJF divisions ban them for white belts.
Progressions: Chain into armbars or triangles if they defend.

Incorporate these into your sparring at Apollo MMA-affiliated gyms. For training, stock up on durable gis, gloves, and mats.

Training Integration Across Combat Sports

BJJ: Core submission arsenal.
MMA: Clinch weapons.
Wrestling: Ride-off escapes.
Submission Grappling: Points and finishes.

Ricardo Migliarese's system proves wrist locks are versatile tools. Drill consistently, and watch your game evolve. Find premium BJJ gear and apparel at Apollo MMA to support your journey.

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