Ice Pick on the Ground
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The Ice Pick·Kalah UK
The Kalah approach to dealing with an icepick attack if you find yourself on the ground
The Ice Pick
SubFamilyザ・アイスピック(Za Aisu Pikku)
Translation: The ice pick
Overview
The Ice Pick is a wrist lock submission from rubber guard that isolates the opponent's hand and applies leverage against the wrist joint. [1]
Ice PickIce Pick Control
History & Origin
Developed by Eddie Bravo as part of the 10th Planet submission system. [1]
Effectiveness
Proven in EBI and professional MMA competition. [1]
Lineage
10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu; Eddie Bravo. [1]
Competition Record
Used in EBI and UFC competition
Images
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — The Ice Pick-specific submission mechanics from rubber guard
Position & Entry
From rubber guard — Transition through positions to The Ice Pick
Variants
Not yet documented
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
8
Very High8/10
Submission with fight-ending potential
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
— FIAS Sport Sambo — All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFLegal
— IBJJF — Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi — chokes a...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— ADCC — Legal
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal — choke submissions are among the mos...
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Requires solid rubber guard foundation (Bravo, 2006)
✓Chain with other 10th Planet attacks
Common Mistakes
!Rushing without proper position
!Losing leg control before finishing
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Rubber guard → Position chain → The Ice Pick
Sources & References
Primary Source
Mastering the Rubber Guard (Bravo, 2006)
1Book[1] Bravo, E. with Krauss, E. and Cordoza, G. (2006). Mastering the Rubber Guard: Jiu-Jitsu for Mixed Martial Arts Competition. Victory Belt Publishing.
2Citation[1] Bravo, E. with Krauss, E. and Cordoza, G. (2006). Mastering the Rubber Guard: Jiu-Jitsu for Mixed Martial Arts Competition. Victory Belt Publishing.
[1] Bravo, Mastering the Rubber Guard (2006) — technique description and application
Community
Athletics
Hip flexibility
Grip endurance
Body control
Notes
The Ice Pick is a 10th Planet submission documented in Mastering the Rubber Guard. Part of Bravo's submission chain from the rubber guard position. (Bravo, Mastering the Rubber Guard, 2006)
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main problem with traditional ice pick defenses when someone is on top of you?
According to Kalah UK, traditional defenses that try to catch the knife directly in line don't work in reality because an attacker won't stay still—they'll resist and keep trying to strike. Practicing with a compliant partner masks this critical problem that emerges when facing a real threat.
What are the key principles for defending against an ice pick attack on the ground?
Kalah UK emphasizes two critical controls: first, you must control the weapon arm itself to stop the stabbing motion, and second, you must control his body to prevent him from pulling backwards and forwards to generate power for repeated attacks.
Why is it important to train ice pick defenses realistically?
Kalah UK stresses that if you're training a hardcore self-defense system based on reality, you must actually practice realistically—otherwise there's something fundamentally wrong with the training. When techniques fail in practice, you need to understand what the real consequences would be in an actual life-or-death situation.
How does the The Ice Pick work?
The Ice Pick is a wrist lock submission from rubber guard that isolates the opponent's hand and applies leverage against the wrist joint.
Where does the The Ice Pick come from?
Developed by Eddie Bravo as part of the 10th Planet submission system.
Is the The Ice Pick legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels, gi and no-gi — chokes are the safest submission cat…; IJF: legal — Legal (shime-waza) — strangulation techniques are one of three permitted subm…; ADCC: legal — Legal; Unified MMA: legal — Legal — choke submissions are among the most common finishes in MMA; FIAS Sport Sambo: banned — All chokes prohibited in Sport Sambo; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the The Ice Pick?
Danger rating 8/10. Submission with fight-ending potential
How do I set up the The Ice Pick?
The standard setup chain: Rubber guard → Position chain → The Ice Pick.
How do I defend against the The Ice Pick?
Standard counters include: Posture / Stack / Guard pass.
How effective is the The Ice Pick in competition?
Used in EBI and UFC competition
What are common mistakes when doing the The Ice Pick?
Top errors to watch for: Rushing without proper position / Losing leg control before finishing.
What are other names for the The Ice Pick?
The The Ice Pick is also known as Za Aisu Pikku, Ice Pick, Ice Pick Control.