BJJ Self-Defense Course | Lesson 54: Double Under Hooks
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Standard Double Underhook·Gracie Schwarzwald Jiu-Jitsu·Added by Admin
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Standard Double Underhook
Genusスタンダードダブルアンダーフック(Sutandādo Daburu Andāfukku)
TransliterationTranslation: standard double underhook
Overview
The Standard Double Underhook positions both arms under the opponent's armpits, hooking up and around the shoulders or upper back, with hands clasped behind the opponent's back in a Gable grip or similar lock. [1] The attacker drives the elbows upward to elevate the opponent's arms, eliminating their ability to frame or grip fight, while pressing the chest forward into the opponent's chest to maintain pressure. [1],[2] From standard double underhooks, the attacker can transition to body lock takedowns, lifting throws, or use the position to drive the opponent backward for cage or wall takedowns. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
The standard double underhook position — both arms under the opponent's armpits with hands clasped behind the back — provides maximum clinch control for drives, lifts, and body lock takedowns. [1] Welker notes that in collegiate wrestling, the fighter who achieves standard double underhooks scores a takedown the majority of the time. [1]
Lineage
The standard double underhook is taught as the most dominant standing clinch position in wrestling. [1]
Competition Record
Daniel Cormier used double underhook body lock takedowns as his primary weapon throughout his UFC career, including his heavyweight championship victories. [1] His double underhook-to-body lock takedown was statistically his highest-percentage technique, used to control opponents like Stipe Miocic (UFC 226, July 2018) and Derrick Lewis (UFC 230, November 2018). [2]
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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
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
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
✓Both arms swim inside the opponent's arms — elbows past their armpits, hands reaching their back
✓Clasp your hands behind the opponent's lower back (Gable grip) to complete the body lock
✓Press chest-to-chest — eliminate all space to prevent the opponent from pummelling back in
✓Drive your head into the opponent's chest — head pressure adds to the control
✓From here, immediate attacks: body lock throw (pop hips), inside trip, outside trip, or lift takedown
✓Maintain constant forward pressure — pin the opponent against the cage or drive them backward
✓The window of opportunity is small: attack within 2-3 seconds of establishing double underhooks
Common Mistakes
!Not clasping hands — double underhooks without a body lock are less secure
!Keeping elbows close to the opponent's ribs instead of driving deep past the armpits
!Standing tall — bend knees and maintain a driving posture
!Leaving space between chests — the opponent pummels back in through any gap
!Not attacking immediately — the position's advantage is time-limited
!Driving forward without a throw or takedown plan — forward drive should set up a specific attack
!Forgetting head pressure — the head adds a third control point
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
Mastering Jujitsu (Renzo Gracie & John Danaher, 2003)
1BookFreestyle Wrestling (Petrov, 1977)
Alias sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Welker, 2010) [2] NCAA Wrestling Rules and Interpretations (NCAA, 2020) [3] Clinch Fighting for MMA (Couture, 2011)
2BookGreco-Roman Wrestling (Petrov, 1985)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Welker, 2010)
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 (NCAA, 2020) [3] Clinch Fighting for MMA (Couture, 2011)
5CitationGreco-Roman Wrestling (Petrov, 1985)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Welker, 2010)
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What body position should I use when applying a double underhook clinch?
You want to adopt a slightly bladed position at approximately a 45-degree angle with your opponent's leg between your legs, keeping your hips as close as possible to maintain control. Gracie Schwarzwald emphasizes not standing directly in front, as this makes it easy for your opponent to pull their hips away and escape.
Why is keeping my opponent's hips close so important in the double underhook?
The farther away your opponent's hips are, the weaker your grip becomes as it gets stretched, and you risk losing the clinch entirely and having to start over. Gracie Schwarzwald stresses that maintaining close hip contact is essential to prevent escape attempts.
Should I lock high and low, or use the same hand height on both sides?
You should generally lock high and low—when you go low, you maximize control of the hips; when you go high, you maximize control of the shoulders and limit your opponent's hip mobility. This 'twos and nines' approach gives you better overall control than matching hand heights.
What should I do if my opponent starts escaping by moving their hips away?
You can switch your grip from the double underhook to an S-grip to maintain control, and learn to transition fluidly between low and high clinches as your opponent moves. Gracie Schwarzwald emphasizes that clinch fighting skills are critical for adapting to escape attempts.
How does the Standard Double Underhook work?
The Standard Double Underhook positions both arms under the opponent's armpits, hooking up and around the shoulders or upper back, with hands clasped behind the opponent's back in a Gable grip or similar lock. The attacker drives the elbows upward to elevate the opponent's arms, eliminating their ability to frame or grip fight, while pressing the chest forward into the opponent's chest to maintain pressure.
Where does the Standard Double Underhook come from?
The standard double underhook position is one of the most fundamental and widely recognised clinch positions in wrestling, considered a dominant control position since the sport's ancient origins. It remains the position most associated with clinch dominance in both wrestling and MMA.
Is the Standard Double 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 Standard Double Underhook?
Danger rating 4/10. Moderate — upper body clinch positions for control and transitions
How do I set up the Standard Double Underhook?
The standard setup chain: Close Distance → Swim Inside → Hip Position → Head Position.
How do I defend against the Standard Double 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 Standard Double 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 Standard Double Underhook in competition?
Daniel Cormier used double underhook body lock takedowns as his primary weapon throughout his UFC career, including his heavyweight championship victories. His double underhook-to-body lock takedown was statistically his highest-percentage technique, used to control opponents like Stipe Miocic (UFC 226, July 2018) and Derrick Lewis (UFC 230, November 2018).
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard Double Underhook?
Top errors to watch for: Not clasping hands — double underhooks without a body lock are less secure / Keeping elbows close to the opponent's ribs instead of driving deep past the armpits / Standing tall — bend knees and maintain a driving posture / Leaving space between chests — the opponent pummels back in through any gap.
What are other names for the Standard Double Underhook?
The Standard Double Underhook is also known as Sutandādo Daburu Andāfukku, Basic Double Underhooks, Fundamental Double Unders, Standard Double Inside Position.