Disadvantages to using Joint Locks in Jiu Jitsu

In Jiu Jitsu there are many ways to make a person submit, one of these methods is called the joint lock. This is a method that involves manipulating an attacker’s joint in a way that the joint reaches its maximum degree of motion. There are mainly 5 different types of locks, arm, leg small joint manipulation, spinal locks and wristlocks. The bad news is that most people don’t do these the right way, making their attack useless and the are the reasons why.

The most common reason is poor mechanics, in order to keep this from happening you will have to learn the basics of this technique as to be able to apply your strength in an effort to know where to apply your strength.

The joint lock can be ineffective if the person it is being applied to is flexible, although this is rare there are cases of a person being able to bend their arm to the point that it reaches a 90 degree angle, another reason that the lock might be useless is if your attacker can withstand a high level of pain. This means that even if you execute the lock perfectly that your opponent might not be affected by the pain, if you find this to be the case your opponent might be deranged or high on drugs.

If you find yourself in this position then you will have to resort to another move such as a chokehold to render your opponent unconscious.

A good example of this type of move is called the Rear Carotid Restraint, this is executed by reaching deep towards the front of your opponent and wrapping your bicep around the sides of his neck. You will then want to squeeze your arms so that it is pressing against the sides of his neck while you press his downward toward his chest, hold this position until his body goes limp.

Another possible reason that your lock doesn’t work is that the person may have suffered an injury to the same area previously or as mentioned before they may just be extremely flexible.

The last reason that this is ineffective could be any combination of the fore mentioned reasons. However of all of the reasons mentioned the most common reason is lack of proper mechanics, and this is the only one that you have any real control over. All of the other reasons are in your opponents hands. If you find yourself in a situation you can’t handle run and get help.

Jiu Jitsu is the only martial arts used that employs the use of joint locks to make a person submit, the only way to make sure you get this right is to constantly practice this in the event that you may need to use it.