Learn to Underhook Like a Wrestler | Wrestling for BJJ
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Standard Single Underhook·Wrestling University - Takedowns for Jiu Jitsu
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Standard Single Underhook
Genusスタンダードシングルアンダーフック(Sutandādo Shinguru Andāfukku)
TransliterationTranslation: standard single underhook
Overview
The Standard Single Underhook threads one arm under the opponent's armpit, hooking up and around the shoulder or lat, while the other hand establishes a collar tie, wrist control, or elbow cup on the opposite side. [1] The underhook arm provides inside position and body access on one side, while the free hand manages the opposite side of the clinch. [1],[2] From the standard single underhook, the attacker can drive for single-leg takedowns on the underhook side, transition to body locks, or use the underhook to off-balance the opponent for throws and trips. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
The standard single underhook is a foundational clinch grip used across wrestling, judo, and MMA. [1] It provides inside control on one side while leaving the other hand free for additional attacks or defensive frames. [1],[2] Fighters use it to set up hip throws, body lock transitions, and cage takedowns. [2]
Lineage
A core wrestling position taught from youth level. [1]
Competition Record
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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 striking range — Close distance with a jab or level change, cup the hand behind the opponent's head (nape of the neck), pull their posture down
From hand fighting — During grip exchanges, swim inside and secure the collar tie by cupping the back of the head
Variants
Single collar tie — one hand on the nape controlling the head
Double collar tie (plum) — both hands behind the head for maximum control
Collar tie with wrist control — one hand on the nape, other controlling the wrist
Videos
THE BASICS OF CLINCH FIGHTING & TAKEDOWNS
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Standard Single Underhook·Budo Brothers
Eli Knight is one of the most recognized faces on youtube for jiujitsu. The reason is his ability to take the complexiti…
JiuJitsu Magazine: Technique Takedowns Working the Clinch
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Standard Single Underhook·JiuJitsuMag
From Issue #5 of JiuJitsu Magazine At the start of a match there's the immediate desire to hook up and get down to busi…
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
The standard single underhook is a foundational clinch control established from the upper-body position, taught consistently across wrestling and mixed martial arts instruction. Wrestling University emphasizes the underhook's mechanics: the elbow must point toward the ceiling with the hand clasping down to trap the opponent's escape, preventing them from circling out by placing their bicep to their ear. Three primary setups are identified: the shoulder slip (executed when the opponent gives a collar tie), the horizontal punch to clear a thumb block at the elbow using a C-clamp grip, and the inside wrist grip transition when the opponent tightens their elbow to their body. JiuJitsuMag stresses the deep underhook as the foundational control in clinch work, with fingers positioned in the crease of the opponent's back and the shoulder positioned just below the opponent's shoulder to prevent them from dropping their level and achieving dominance. Budo Brothers frames the single underhook within broader clinch taxonomy, noting that arm control varies by clinch type (front, side, rear) and positioning; they emphasize controlling the wrist and forearm with either a C-clamp grip on the elbow or a mixed thumb-and-thumbless grip. All three instructors agree the underhook provides access to high-percentage takedowns—single legs, knee picks, and snap downs—and that proper arm positioning relative to shoulder alignment determines control superiority. Wrestling University and JiuJitsuMag both warn against lazy positioning that allows escape; Budo Brothers adds that clinch control requires reading and responding to opponent energy rather than forcing predetermined techniques.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- Wrestling University — Learn to Underhook Like a Wrestler | Wrestling for BJJ: Detailed mechanics of elbow positioning (pointed upward) and hand clasp to prevent escape; identified three setups (shoulder slip, horizontal punch to elbow, inside wrist grip transition); connected underhook to snap downs, single legs, knee picks, and cow catcher finish to side control.
- JiuJitsuMag — JiuJitsu Magazine: Technique Takedowns Working the Clinch: Emphasized deep underhook with fingers in the crease of opponent's back as primary control; detailed shoulder positioning (just below opponent's shoulder) to prevent dominance shifts; explained pummeling defense and how to counter opponent's underhook attempts while maintaining clinch integrity.
- Budo Brothers — THE BASICS OF CLINCH FIGHTING & TAKEDOWNS: Contextualized single underhook within multiple clinch types (front, side, rear); described grip variations (C-clamp, mixed thumb/thumbless) and their applications; emphasized reading opponent energy and adapting clinch control rather than forcing technique.
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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
✓Swim your arm inside the opponent's arm — your arm goes under their armpit with your hand reaching their back
✓Drive the underhook deep: your elbow should be past their armpit, hand on their scapula or spine area
✓Position your head on the underhook side — your forehead presses into their shoulder or chest
✓Your other hand posts on their bicep or shoulder to manage the opposite side
✓From this position, attack with: go-behind (circle the underhook side), hip throw, or body lock (add the other arm)
✓Maintain forward pressure through the underhook — drive the opponent backward or toward the cage
✓The standard single underhook is the building block: master this before progressing to double underhooks and body locks
Common Mistakes
!Keeping the underhook shallow (elbow at the opponent's ribcage) — drive it deep past the armpit
!Putting your head on the opposite side from the underhook — head must match underhook side
!Not posting with the other hand — a dangling free arm is wasted
!Standing upright with the underhook — maintain a slight forward lean for pressure
!Letting the opponent whizzer without countering — re-pummel, hip-switch, or go-behind against the whizzer
!Reaching for the underhook from far away — pummel for it in close quarters
!Using the underhook as a static hold — it's an attacking position; chain moves from it
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 (NCAA, 2020) [3] Clinch Fighting for MMA (Couture, 2011)
2BookGreco-Roman Wrestling (Petrov, 1985)
Lineage sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Petrov, 1977)
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)
Lineage sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Petrov, 1977)
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's the correct elbow position when setting up an underhook?
According to Wrestling University, your elbow should be pointed towards the ceiling and as high as possible, with your hand clasping down to trap your opponent's escape. If you leave the underhook lazy with a low elbow that isn't properly attached, your opponent can put their bicep to their ear and circle out.
How deep should I go with the underhook in a clinch?
Per JiuJitsuMag, the key to all clinch work is a deep underhook—you want to control your opponent's back by placing your fingers right into the crease of their back. This deep positioning, combined with controlling the real estate between their legs, prevents your opponent from getting angles to compromise your shoulder.
What's a common mistake people make when controlling the underhook position?
JiuJitsuMag notes that most people keep their hips back or post their far leg forward instead of properly engaging, which gives the opponent easy opportunities for takedowns. You need to maintain hip engagement and pressure on your opponent's leg to control the position effectively.
How does the Standard Single Underhook work?
The Standard Single Underhook threads one arm under the opponent's armpit, hooking up and around the shoulder or lat, while the other hand establishes a collar tie, wrist control, or elbow cup on the opposite side. The underhook arm provides inside position and body access on one side, while the free hand manages the opposite side of the clinch.
Where does the Standard Single Underhook come from?
The standard single underhook is the most fundamental clinch position in wrestling and has been the primary target of clinch engagement since the sport's origins. Establishing the first underhook is considered the opening move of the clinch fight in modern wrestling and MMA coaching.
Is the Standard Single 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 Single Underhook?
Danger rating 4/10. Moderate — upper body clinch positions for control and transitions
How do I set up the Standard Single Underhook?
The standard setup chain: Close Distance → Swim Inside → Hip Position → Head Position.
How do I defend against the Standard Single 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 Single Underhook?
Common variants: Single collar tie (one hand on the nape controlling the head); Double collar tie (plum) (both hands behind the head for maximum control); Collar tie with wrist control (one hand on the nape, other controlling the wrist).
How effective is the Standard Single Underhook in competition?
The single underhook is one of the most common grips in MMA clinch exchanges, used extensively by wrestlers in UFC and Bellator to initiate takedown sequences against the cage. In freestyle wrestling, underhook battles are a constant feature of World Championship and Olympic competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard Single Underhook?
Top errors to watch for: Keeping the underhook shallow (elbow at the opponent's ribcage) — drive it deep past the armpit / Putting your head on the opposite side from the underhook — head must match underhook side / Not posting with the other hand — a dangling free arm is wasted / Standing upright with the underhook — maintain a slight forward lean for pressure.
What are other names for the Standard Single Underhook?
The Standard Single Underhook is also known as Sutandādo Shinguru Andāfukku, Basic Single Underhook, Fundamental Inside Tie, Standard Single Under Position.