Rear Standing TAKEDOWN Combo!
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Rear Waist Lock·TeachMeGrappling Coach Brian
This video I breakdown a follow up to a lift from the rear standing position. Check out the details and you are sure to…
Rear Waist Lock
SubFamily後腰固め(Ushiro Koshi-gatame)
TraditionalTranslation: rear waist lock
Overview
The Rear Waist Lock subfamily positions the locked grip around the opponent's waist from behind, with the attacker's chest against the opponent's lower back. [1] The rear waist lock is the standard control position for par terre wrestling and standing rear clinch situations, providing direct control of the opponent's hip line from the back. [1],[2] From the rear waist lock, the attacker can execute gut wrenches, mat returns, rear lifts, and suplex variations. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
The rear waist lock is the highest-percentage clinch position for suplex throws and mat returns in Greco-Roman wrestling. [1]
Lineage
The rear waist lock is the defining position of Greco-Roman par terre work. [1]
Competition Record
Rear waist lock gut-wrenches and suplexes are the primary scoring methods in Greco-Roman par terre at Olympic level. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Establishing body-to-body connection through underhooks, overhooks, or collar ties to control the opponent's movement
Joints Involved — Attacker's shoulders (driving position), hips (base and drive), opponent's upper body (restricted)
Force Vector — Forward pressure and angular positioning — inside position (underhooks) creates offensive advantage
Control Mechanic — Chest-to-chest pressure combined with inside ties limits the opponent's ability to create distance or attack
Position & Entry
From behind the opponent — Secure both arms around the waist, clasping hands at the front — used for lifts and returns
From clinch (pummelling through) — Swim both arms through to lock around the waist, establishing rear waist control
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
4
Moderate4/10
Body clinch positions enable throws and takedowns; rib compression risk
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Restricted
WBC/Boxing — Holding is technically a foul — referee breaks clinch, excessive holding results in point deduction {src— WBC Rules of Boxing}
K-1/GLORY — One attack from clinch allowed, then referee breaks {src— K-1/GLORY Kickboxing Rules}
— WAKO — Clinch generally broken by referee — limited or no...
WAKO Competition RulesPDFLegal
— Unified MMA — Legal — clinching is integral to MMA
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— grip fighting
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— IBJJF — Legal — standing grip fighting and clinch work pe...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— IFMA — Legal — the clinch is a core element of Muay Thai,...
IFMA Muay Thai RulesPDF— UWW — Legal — clinch is fundamental to wrestling, the pri...
UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDFTraining Notes
✓The rear waist lock grips around the opponent's hips from behind — the fundamental par terre control position in wrestling
✓Lock hands at hip-bone level with a Gable grip — your chest pressed into the opponent's lower back
✓From par terre (opponent on hands and knees), the rear waist lock launches gut wrench turns, lifts, and mat returns
✓Pop the hips into the opponent's lower back to displace their centre of gravity before throwing
✓In freestyle wrestling, the rear waist lock from par terre is the starting position for the top wrestler — master it for par terre offence
✓Drive forward to flatten the opponent (mat return) or lift and rotate for back exposure (gut wrench)
✓Condition the posterior chain — rear waist lock attacks demand explosive hip extension and back strength
Common Mistakes
!Locking too high on the back — the grip must be at the hip bones for optimal leverage
!Kneeling directly behind the opponent instead of offset to one side — angle yourself slightly to create a throwing direction
!Not maintaining chest contact on the opponent's back — your weight must press down on them
!Holding the lock from par terre without chaining attacks — the referee will restart for passivity
!Lifting with the arms and back instead of the hips — hip pop and leg drive are the power sources
!Releasing the lock when the opponent tries to stand — maintain it and convert to a standing rear body lock
!Not rotating during lifts — straight-up lifts risk dropping the opponent on their head
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Pummeling — fight for inside position by swimming arms under opponent's gripsFrame and Push — create distance using forearm frames against the chest or neckGrip Break — systematically strip the opponent's controlling gripsPosture Up — straighten the spine and drive the hips forward to break clinch control
Setup Chain
1Close Distance — bridge the gap using footwork, strikes, or a level change
2Establish Primary Grip — secure the initial controlling grip on the opponent
3Position the Hips — align hips to maximize leverage and control angle
4Apply Pressure — use the grip to control posture and create offensive opportunities
Sources & References
Primary Source
Freestyle Wrestling: A Complete Guide for Coaches and Wrestlers (Petrov, 1977)
1BookMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)
Alias sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Welker, 2010) [2] Greco-Roman Wrestling (Petrov, 1987) [3] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986)
2BookFreestyle Wrestling (Petrov, 1977)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Petrov, 1977)
3OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
4CitationMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)
Alias sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Welker, 2010) [2] Greco-Roman Wrestling (Petrov, 1987) [3] Kodokan Judo (Kano, 1986)
5CitationFreestyle Wrestling (Petrov, 1977)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Petrov, 1977)
Community
Athletics
Requires
grip strength, upper body endurance, balance under pressure
Favours
strong arms and shoulders, stable base
Key muscles
forearms, deltoids, core, hip muscles
Sub-techniques
Notes
The rear waist lock (back clinch) is the primary position for suplex throws in Greco-Roman wrestling and for lift-and-slam takedowns in MMA. Control is maintained with clasped hands around the opponent's waist from behind. (FILA/UWW Greco-Roman wrestling manuals)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I execute a rear waist lock takedown effectively?
Coach Brian from TeachMeGrappling emphasizes doing everything together dynamically: step over, pop them, lift them, and turn them sideways all at once rather than doing these movements separately.
What are the common defenses against a rear waist lock takedown?
According to Coach Brian, one of the most common defenses is when the opponent won't step and blocks your leg, preventing you from stepping in front or lifting. Understanding these defensive reactions is critical so you can chain your attacks together like chess moves.
Why is it important to have combinations when attacking with a rear waist lock?
Coach Brian stresses that you must always have a backup move ready because your opponent will defend against your first attack. If he defends move number one, you need move number two—this is fundamental to grappling strategy.
Does a tight rear waist lock work if I'm in reverse position?
Coach Brian notes that keeping a tight lock is critical—if you maintain proper hand positioning, the rear waist lock will still work even if you're trying to lift from a reversed angle.
How does the Rear Waist Lock work?
The Rear Waist Lock subfamily positions the locked grip around the opponent's waist from behind, with the attacker's chest against the opponent's lower back. The rear waist lock is the standard control position for par terre wrestling and standing rear clinch situations, providing direct control of the opponent's hip line from the back.
Where does the Rear Waist Lock come from?
The rear waist lock is one of the most fundamental positions in all wrestling, central to both standing and par terre phases of Greco-Roman and freestyle competition. It has been a primary control and attacking position since the earliest codified wrestling rules.
Is the Rear Waist Lock legal in competition?
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
How dangerous is the Rear Waist Lock?
Danger rating 4/10. Moderate — body clinch positions enable throws and takedowns; rib compression risk
How do I set up the Rear Waist Lock?
The standard setup chain: Close Distance → Establish Primary Grip → Position the Hips → Apply Pressure.
How do I defend against the Rear Waist Lock?
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.
What are the variants of the Rear Waist Lock?
Common variants: Standard variation (primary clinch configuration from the most common entry); Gi variation (adapted with collar and sleeve grips for gi-based grappling); No-gi / MMA variation (modified for no-gi or cage fighting conditions); Offensive variation (configured to set up strikes, takedowns, or submissions f…).
How effective is the Rear Waist Lock in competition?
Rear waist lock gut-wrenches and suplexes are the primary scoring methods in Greco-Roman par terre at Olympic level.
What are common mistakes when doing the Rear Waist Lock?
Top errors to watch for: Locking too high on the back — the grip must be at the hip bones for optimal leverage / Kneeling directly behind the opponent instead of offset to one side — angle yourself slightly to create a throwing di… / Not maintaining chest contact on the opponent's back — your weight must press down on them / Holding the lock from par terre without chaining attacks — the referee will restart for passivity.
What are other names for the Rear Waist Lock?
The Rear Waist Lock is also known as Ushiro Koshi-gatame, Rear Waist Clinch, Back Waist Grip, Ushiro-Koshi-Kumi.