In this article, we will take a detailed look into the importance of wrist control in MMA and some of the best examples of wrist control being used to good effect in the Octagon.
Wrist control is crucially important in modern MMA from both a grappling perspective (in order to help control and pin your opponent on the ground) and for setting up strikes (both Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier set good examples of using wrist control to set up punches from the clinch).
We will now take a deeper look into how wrist control is utilized in MMA, covering some of the most common uses of wrist control and how to incorporate it into your game. We will explore how you can use it in three ways:
- Grappling
- Russian Tie and Wrist Control for Takedowns
- Striking
Wrist Control in Grappling
Wrist control is one of the most lethal techniques in all of MMA. In fact, it’s one of the reasons Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov has had such a magnificent streak. It allows you to pin and control your opponent. You can use it to incapacitate them, by keeping them in a particular position. And pummeling them until they tap out. It allows you to do two things at the same time. You get to cripple their ability to defend themselves. And to strike them continuously until they see stars!
You cripple their defense by gripping and holding one or both of their wrists. If you can only hold one of their wrists, opt for their dominant hand. That’s the hand they use for their punches and strikes. It’s easy to see that wrist control makes a fight more efficient. Instead of using a lot of energy in attacking and defending yourself from a variety of positions. It allows you to grip and control their wrist and position them to take advantage of them. This way, you’ve contained how you’re using your energy. It’s more focused and so more deadly. To a large extent, it allows you to determine the trajectory of the fight. After all, you’ve been able to constrain them! Even if it’s only for a while.
Of course, it’s not a magic bullet. If you’re contesting against a solid fighter, they’d be trying repeatedly to escape. You would if you were in their shoes. So, you’d have to reapply the control each time they seek to escape your hold. If your grip is firm and your strikes are powerful, it won’t take long before you’ll submit them.
How “The Eagle” executes his wrist control is highly instructive, nay, it’s a model for smart fighters. It’s appropriately named “The Dagestani Handcuff” because it’s akin to an iron grip! You can see how it works, for example, in his fight against Michael Johnson. Now, MJ is no pushover. In fact, he was trying repeatedly to escape. But pay careful attention to how “The Eagle” deployed it. He had top control, and he secured MJ’s right hand under his back. Notice that it’s an around-the-back grip.
Being on top and forcing his prey’s body over the trapped arm has the effect of flattening his opponent, which makes for easier control. He then drove MJ’s body over the trapped arm. While you’re on top, don’t lean on their shoulder. They can easily throw you off that way. The set up is ingenious. It’s a trap that’s difficult to escape from. Even if an opponent is able (after some time) to escape. The arm that’s been trapped under the weight of two men has been “crippled.” Now, you know why I suggested that you opt for their dominant arm while grappling, and to apply control over it.
Can you use it for takedowns? Let’s find out…
Russian Tie and Wrist Control for Takedowns
Wrist controls are an integral part of Russian Ties. The tie extends wrist controls. The combo is highly effective for preventing an opponent from taking you down while making it easy for you to take them down. You can deploy it in Gi or no-Gi scenarios. Hey. What’s not to like? It’s also known as the Russian two-on-one. A descriptive term for the use of two arms on one of the arms of the opponent. The technique unfurls an array of opportunities for takedowns and submissions because it offers you full control over the arm.
Once you have that control, you can decide the next step in your favor. You could parlay it into different takedowns. Because of space constraints, I’ll only show you just one way to establish the tie and the takedown. It’s great for situations where your opponent has established a collar tie or has their hands around your head or neck. It helps you escape their hold and turn the table on them.
So, let’s check out its mechanics and how it makes for easy takedowns. Say an opponent has a collar tie on you or has their hand on your head or neck. With your hand that’s on the same side, grip their hand, remove it swiftly and use your other hand to establish a wrist control on their hand, while at the same time bring their hand down in front of you. Grip their wrist from below. That offers you a stronger hold. If you grip them above the wrist, they can easily break away. At the same time, your other hand establishes an overhook over their biceps. (Can you see the two-on-one?) One of your hands is on their upper arm (biceps), while the other controls their wrist. You’ve got complete control over the arm.
To make the grip firm, drop the control on the wrist, and put your hand under your armpit on the other side, at the same time, drop the hand on the bicep to their elbow and put your hand in your other armpit. Keep both hands hidden in your armpits. Your right-hand goes inside the left armpit, while your left-hand goes inside the right armpit. The grip becomes incredibly firm and hard to escape. Then dive forward and roll ‘em. And you’ve got ‘em down on the ground. Come up and swiftly use your free hand to hook their neck. That way, you can keep them pinned to the ground.
Now, let’s explore how wrist controls can be used to set up strikes.
Setting Up Strikes
While “The Eagle” controlled one hand (see the section on grappling) on the ground, Jon Jones showed how vital and effective wrist controls can be when he controlled two hands (double wrist control), from a standing position! And then unleashed shoulder strikes repeatedly. He secured wrist control over Glover Teixeira’s hands and used his shoulders as a weapon.
It’s another variant of being able to do two things at the same time. Incapacitate an opponent and then strike them. It curtails their ability to defend themselves. And at the same time, you get to beat them up. Jones used wrist control (also from a standing position) to set up strikes when he fought Daniel Cormier. Jones is hip to how effective wrist controls can be. It was a tough fight. Even though Jones is outstanding, Cormier gave him a hard time. He also used the control, but not as much. Jones tried a couple of techniques, but Cormier was still unleashing uppercuts. The tide turned when Jones secured a firm wrist control (a single wrist control) and was able to drive his opponent to the fence.
In effect, he used the setup to prepare for his strikes. He punched, used his knee, gave him an uppercut, and even took down Cormier after securing the wrist control. A testament to how powerful the control can be. Interestingly, it wasn’t until the fight almost ended that Cormier became savvy to the power of the control. At a point, he whipped, circled, and wriggled out of the control, and immediately unleashed a power punch. But, Jones won, and his “secret” weapon was the humble wrist control.
Before we wrap up our exploration, let’s look at two vital issues that’d take your wrist control to a whole new level. They’re:
- How to Improve Grip strength
- The Importance of Building a Solid Clinch Game with Wrist Control
How to Improve Grip strength
Think of Jon Jones holding both wrists of an opponent who is as strong and then striking the person brutally. You can bet that he works hard at his grip strength. Who wouldn’t want a grip as strong as a vise? I’ll suggest the following to improve your grip strength:
- Using a Kettlebell
- Picking up Heavyweights
- Hang (on a bar)
- Crush Grippers
- Dumbbells
- Pull-Ups
The Importance of Building a Solid Clinch Game with Wrist Control
Having great wrist control will always give you an edge. Even when you’re not yet out to attack, it helps with how well you clinch. Even if an opponent is about to attack you, if you’ve got great wrist control, it’s easy to segue into a clinch. You can easily close the distance, by swiftly grabbing at their wrists and pulling them close, to neutralize their offense. As you know, a clinch works only at a close range. If your opponent is smart, they’d be wary about getting too close to you. But, if you level up your clinch game via strong wrist control skills, you’d be able to dominate them whether they’re close or at a distance. They’d have no place to run!