スタンダードアンダーアームズベアハグ(Sutandādo Andā Āmuzu Bea Hagu)
TransliterationTranslation: standard under-arms bear hug
The Standard Under-Arms Bear Hug positions the attacker's arms beneath the opponent's armpits, wrapping around the lower torso with hands locked behind the opponent's back. [1] The attacker presses their head into the opponent's chest or sternum while maintaining a tight grip, using the low centre of control to initiate lifts and takedowns. [1],[2] This position is commonly achieved after a level change or when securing double underhooks and tightening to a body lock. [2],[3]
The standard under-arms bear hug has been a core wrestling and grappling position across all styles, occurring naturally when fighters secure double underhooks and close the distance into a tight body grip. [1] It remains one of the most commonly taught clinch positions in wrestling and MMA programmes. [2],[3]
The under-arms bear hug wraps beneath the opponent's arms, leaving the opponent's arms free but securing torso control at the midsection or waist level. [1] Petrov describes it as less controlling than the over-arms version but easier to achieve against a resisting opponent, since it does not require trapping the arms. [1] It is the more common bear hug variant in MMA, where it frequently serves as a platform for trips and drives. [2]
Taught in Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling from youth through senior competition. [1]
No images yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest an image.
Episode #57 reveals some techniques & options for escaping a bear hug. Aikido of Virginia Beach practices Iwama style a…
The body lock clinch is a great way to nullify an opponent's striking and get inside for control or a takedown. This tec…
Nick Lowry demonstrates Tomiki aikido principles for facing multipe attackers
The standard under-arms bear hug is a rear clinch where an attacker wraps their arms around the defender's torso from behind with arms underneath the defender's arms, pinning them close to the body. Instructors agree on fundamental defensive mechanics: the defender should immediately drop their center of gravity to destabilize the attacker and create separation. Iwama Warriors Aikido demonstrates aikido-specific responses, showing how dropping the center, raising up with elbows, and executing a hip/gut check allows transition into joint locks such as Ikyo (first technique) or Sankyo (third technique), which can be followed by pins or throws depending on environmental threat assessment. The instructor emphasizes maintaining situational awareness and using the attacker as a human shield if multiple attackers are present. Valhalla Academy approaches the body lock clinch from a defensive tactics perspective, focusing on the initial threat prevention phase—dropping level, closing distance, and establishing tight hip contact to neutralize striking range and prepare for takedowns. Kaze Uta Budo Kai addresses bear hugs within multiple-attacker randori, stressing the importance of establishing momentary control (particularly through releases 5, 7, and 8) to guide the attacker's body and avoid being locked into a single engagement while remaining aware of subsequent threats. All three instructors converge on the criticality of immediate level drop and maintaining control pressure, though their follow-up applications diverge based on their respective martial arts traditions.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
No instructional courses yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest a course.
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
Body clinch positions enable throws and takedowns; rib compression risk
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Freestyle Wrestling: A Complete Guide for Coaches and Wrestlers (Petrov, 1977)
Alias sources — [1] Greco-Roman Wrestling (Petrov, 1987) [2] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Welker, 2010) [3] UWW Technical Terminology (UWW, 2018)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Greco-Roman Wrestling (Petrov, 1987) [2] Clinch Fighting for MMA (Couture, 2011)
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
Alias sources — [1] Greco-Roman Wrestling (Petrov, 1987) [2] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Welker, 2010) [3] UWW Technical Terminology (UWW, 2018)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Greco-Roman Wrestling (Petrov, 1987) [2] Clinch Fighting for MMA (Couture, 2011)
swimming speed for inside position, shoulder drive, hip pressure
strong shoulders and low centre of gravity
deltoids, pectorals, core, quadriceps
Drop your center to get off-balance, then raise your center with your hands and elbows to create space. You can also kick back with your hips or drop your center and work to get underneath the grip.
According to Valhalla Academy, eliminate space between you and your opponent, wrap your legs around theirs to prevent knee strikes, and crunch in on their lower back for control.
No—Kaze Uta Budo Kai emphasizes that you should continue facing your opponent if at all possible, since turning away from incoming attackers can get you into trouble.
The Standard Under-Arms Bear Hug positions the attacker's arms beneath the opponent's armpits, wrapping around the lower torso with hands locked behind the opponent's back. The attacker presses their head into the opponent's chest or sternum while maintaining a tight grip, using the low centre of control to initiate lifts and takedowns.
The standard under-arms bear hug has been a core wrestling and grappling position across all styles, occurring naturally when fighters secure double underhooks and close the distance into a tight body grip. It remains one of the most commonly taught clinch positions in wrestling and MMA programmes.
Unified MMA: legal — Legal — clinching is integral to MMA; IJF: legal — Legal — kumi-kata (grip fighting) is fundamental to judo; IBJJF: legal — Legal — standing grip fighting and clinch work permitted; IFMA: legal — Legal — the clinch is a core element of Muay Thai, clinch dominance is highly…; WBC/Boxing: restricted — Holding is technically a foul — referee breaks clinch, excessive holding resu…; K: restricted — 1/GLORY — One attack from clinch allowed, then referee breaks; WAKO: restricted — Clinch generally broken by referee — limited or no clinch fighting in most fo…; UWW: legal — Legal — clinch is fundamental to wrestling, the primary position in Greco-Roman
Danger rating 4/10. Moderate — body clinch positions enable throws and takedowns; rib compression risk
The standard setup chain: Close Distance → Establish Primary Grip → Position the Hips → Apply Pressure.
Standard counters include: Pummeling — fight for inside position by swimming arms under opponent's grips / Frame and Push — create distance using forearm frames against the chest or neck / Grip Break — systematically strip the opponent's controlling grips / Posture Up — straighten the spine and drive the hips forward to break clinch control.
Common variants: Single underhook (one arm inside for angle and control); Double underhooks (both arms inside for maximum inside position); Underhook with collar tie (combining the underhook with head control).
The under-arms bear hug is a powerful clinch grip used in Greco-Roman wrestling and MMA to execute lifts and slams. In MMA, fighters like Fedor Emelianenko and Brock Lesnar used bear hug lifts to devastating effect in PRIDE and UFC competition.
Top errors to watch for: Locking hands above the waist — the grip must be at or below the hip bones / Not using the legs for power — the under-arms bear hug throw is leg-driven, not arm-driven / Allowing the opponent to establish frames before you attack — attack before they can set defensive posts / Squeezing the lock and standing still — the lock is the setup, the throw is the payoff.
The Standard Under-Arms Bear Hug is also known as Sutandādo Andā Āmuzu Bea Hagu, Basic Under-Arms Bear Hug, Classic Torso Squeeze, Standard Under-Arm Body Clinch.
