BASIC Underhook Passing Lesson!
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Underhook·TeachMeGrappling Coach Brian
This video I breakdown a simple guard pass from half guard. Check out the details and you are sure to find something u…
Underhook
Familyアンダーフック(Andāfukku)
TransliterationTranslation: underhook
Overview
The Underhook family covers clinch positions where the attacker threads their arm under the opponent's arm from inside, hooking around the upper body and securing inside position. [1] The underhook is widely considered the single most important clinch position in wrestling and MMA because inside position — having the arm underneath the opponent's arm — provides direct access to the body for takedowns, lifts, and clinch control. [1],[2] Single underhooks provide one-sided inside position, while double underhooks represent one of the most dominant standing clinch positions available. [2],[3]
History & Origin
The underhook has been a cornerstone of wrestling technique since antiquity, with the battle for inside position (underhooks) recognised as the fundamental tactical contest in clinch fighting across all wrestling traditions. [1] The phrase 'win the underhook battle, win the match' reflects the technique's supreme importance in competitive wrestling. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
The underhook is universally considered the most important single clinch position in wrestling and MMA. [1] Welker describes underhook control as 'the foundation of clinch dominance' because the fighter with the underhook controls the inside position, which provides superior leverage for all clinch exchanges. [1] Couture identifies the underhook battle as the single most important skill in MMA clinch fighting. [2]
Lineage
Competition Record
Underhook control is fundamental to wrestling at all levels. [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 clinch range — Swim the arm under the opponent's arm to secure the underhook, drive the shoulder into their chest for inside position
From hand fighting — During grip exchanges, drop the arm and swim inside to win the underhook battle
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
4
Moderate4/10
Upper body clinch positions for control and transitions
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 underhook threads your arm under the opponent's arm from inside — it's the most important clinch grip in wrestling and MMA because inside position beats outside position (Couture, Wrestling for Fighting, 2006)
✓The underhook controls the opponent's shoulder and torso from inside — whoever has the underhook has the offensive initiative
✓From a single underhook, attacks include: lateral throws, go-behinds, body locks, and cage takedowns
✓From double underhooks, every throw and takedown is available — it's the most dominant standing clinch position
✓Pummelling (swimming the arm inside to replace an overhook with an underhook) is the engine of upper-body clinch fighting
✓Drive the underhook deep: your elbow should pass the opponent's armpit and your hand should reach their back
✓In MMA, the underhook against the cage is the premier position for wall takedowns and dirty boxing
Common Mistakes
!Getting an underhook but not driving it deep — a shallow underhook is easily countered by a whizzer
!Not using the head on the underhook side — head position must work with the underhook for full control
!Reaching for the underhook with a straight arm from distance — close the distance first, then swim inside
!Getting a single underhook and doing nothing with it — the underhook must immediately lead to an attack
!Allowing the opponent to whizzer (overhook) your underhook without countering — fight the whizzer with head pressure and re-pummelling
!Not transitioning from underhook to body lock when the opportunity is there — the body lock is the stronger position
!Pummelling with the arm alone — use your entire body (hip, shoulder, head) to swim the arm inside
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Close Distance — bridge the gap using footwork, strikes, or a level change
2Swim Inside — thread the arm under the opponent's armpit to establish the underhook
3Hip Position — step the same-side hip into the opponent to block their movement
4Head Position — place forehead against the opponent's temple for head control
Sources & References
Primary Source
Freestyle Wrestling: A Complete Guide for Coaches and Wrestlers (Petrov, 1977)
1BookFreestyle Wrestling (Petrov, 1977)
Alias sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Welker, 2010) [2] NCAA Wrestling Rules and Interpretations [3] Wrestling for Fighting (Couture, 2007)
2BookGreco-Roman Wrestling (Petrov, 1985)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Welker, 2010) [2] Clinch Fighting for MMA (Couture, 2011)
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationFreestyle Wrestling (Petrov, 1977)
Alias sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Welker, 2010) [2] NCAA Wrestling Rules and Interpretations [3] Wrestling for Fighting (Couture, 2007)
5CitationGreco-Roman Wrestling (Petrov, 1985)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Welker, 2010) [2] Clinch Fighting for MMA (Couture, 2011)
Community
Athletics
Requires
swimming speed for inside position, shoulder drive, hip pressure
Favours
strong shoulders and low centre of gravity
Key muscles
deltoids, pectorals, core, quadriceps
Sub-techniques
Double Underhook
SubFamilyThe Double Underhook subfamily covers the clinch position where both arms are hooked under the opponent's arms, giving the attacker bilateral inside position and direct access to the body. [1] Double underhooks is one of the most dominant standing clinch positions because the attacker has complete inside control — they can lock the hands for body lock takedowns, control the opponent's posture by driving the elbows upward, and prevent the opponent from establishing any meaningful offensive position. [1,2] Achieving double underhooks is often the decisive moment in a clinch exchange, and most wrestlers consider it a winning position. [2,3]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Single Underhook
SubFamilyThe Single Underhook subfamily covers the clinch position where one arm is hooked under the opponent's arm, providing inside position on one side while the other arm is engaged in a different tie (collar tie, wrist control, or overhook). [1] The single underhook is the most commonly contested clinch position — in virtually every clinch exchange, both fighters are attempting to establish at least one underhook. [1,2] A single underhook combined with a collar tie on the opposite side is considered one of the most balanced and versatile offensive clinch configurations. [2,3]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Notes
The underhook appears in 607 passages across 30 books — one of the most referenced grappling concepts in our corpus. The underhook is the most important tie-up in wrestling and MMA clinch work — controlling one arm under the opponent's armpit gives dominant angle for takedowns and position. BJ Penn's Closed Guard documents 'Counter to Opponent's Underhook Finishing with Knee Bar.' (30 books; BJ Penn, Closed Guard; BJJ.org Technique Archive)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I prevent my opponent from framing and escaping when I have the underhook?
Coach Brian emphasizes keeping control of the arm while maintaining head pressure—don't let your opponent have the space to frame or bump you out of position. By controlling both the arm and using your head to pin them down, you shut down their escape options.
What's the key detail for executing an underhook pass smoothly?
Coach Brian stresses the importance of cutting through with control, keeping your shin positioned correctly, and pulling the foot through while maintaining arm control before sliding into the final position. Each step should flow into the next without giving your opponent opportunities to escape.
How does the Underhook work?
The Underhook family covers clinch positions where the attacker threads their arm under the opponent's arm from inside, hooking around the upper body and securing inside position. The underhook is widely considered the single most important clinch position in wrestling and MMA because inside position — having the arm underneath the opponent's arm — provides direct access to the body for takedowns, lifts, and clinch control.
Where does the Underhook come from?
The underhook has been a cornerstone of wrestling technique since antiquity, with the battle for inside position (underhooks) recognised as the fundamental tactical contest in clinch fighting across all wrestling traditions. The phrase 'win the underhook battle, win the match' reflects the technique's supreme importance in competitive wrestling.
Is the Underhook 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 Underhook?
Danger rating 4/10. Moderate — upper body clinch positions for control and transitions
How do I set up the Underhook?
The standard setup chain: Close Distance → Swim Inside → Hip Position → Head Position.
How do I defend against the Underhook?
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 / Overhook (Whizzer) — trap the underhook arm with an overhook to neutralize it / Arm Drag — pull the underhooking arm past to take the back.
What are the variants of the Underhook?
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).
How effective is the Underhook in competition?
Underhook control is fundamental to wrestling at all levels.
What are common mistakes when doing the Underhook?
Top errors to watch for: Getting an underhook but not driving it deep — a shallow underhook is easily countered by a whizzer / Not using the head on the underhook side — head position must work with the underhook for full control / Reaching for the underhook with a straight arm from distance — close the distance first, then swim inside / Getting a single underhook and doing nothing with it — the underhook must immediately lead to an attack.
What are other names for the Underhook?
The Underhook is also known as Andāfukku, Underhook Position, Inside Tie, Inside Control.