Women's Self-defense Technique - Man Pinning Both Wrists in Mount Position
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From Prone Control·GracieBreakdown
This is an 8-minute "Slice" or variation from Lesson 4 of our new women's self-defense program, Women Empowered 2.0. The…
From Prone Control
SubFamily伏せ制御から(Fuse Seigyo kara)
TraditionalTranslation: from prone control
Overview
Ankle locks from prone control (ashi-garami position) are applied when the attacker controls the opponent's leg while both fighters are on the ground, typically with the attacker lying on their back and the opponent's foot trapped against the chest. [1],[2] The standard straight ankle lock entry involves falling to the hip while hugging the opponent's foot, then bridging to hyperextend the ankle. [3],[4]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Prone control submissions attack a face-down opponent with chokes, cranks, and arm locks, exploiting a position where the bottom player has limited defensive options. [1]
Lineage
Prone control attacks were developed in catch wrestling (the 'chain wrestling' system) and adopted into modern BJJ. [1]
Competition Record
Prone position chokes and cranks are used in both MMA (ground-and-pound to submission sequences) and advanced BJJ competition. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Hyperextension of the elbow joint — the hips drive upward against the posterior humerus while controlling the wrist
Joints Involved — Elbow (extension beyond normal ROM), wrist (stabilized), shoulder (isolated and controlled)
Force Vector — Posterior-to-anterior force on the upper arm with fixed distal anchor at the wrist creates a lever arm across the elbow
Leverage Principle — Hips act as the fulcrum — the longer the lever (full arm extension), the less force needed to hyperextend
Position & Entry
From open guard (bottom) — Secure the ankle with forearm blade against the Achilles tendon, fall back with legs controlling the hip, arch to finish
From standing (during guard pass) — Grip the exposed ankle, sit back to ashi garami position and apply the lock
From top position (leg weave) — During passing, entangle the leg, secure the ankle grip and transition to the lock
Variants
Standard straight ankle lock — forearm blade on the Achilles tendon, arching backward
Bellator-style ankle lock — tighter knee pinch with shoulder on the shin for added control
Standing ankle lock — applied during a scramble from the feet
Ankle lock from top — applied after a guard pass when the foot is exposed
Videos
BJJ for Law Enforcement - Handcuffing From The Mount
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From Prone Control·Gracie NEPA
During an arrest, there is no referee to start or to stop the fight, there are no weight classes, no time limits, and no…
BJJ Black Belt and former UFC fighter show law enforcement control techniques.
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From Prone Control·Gard Defense Solutions
Kevin and Justin show a limb control option to defend, takedown, and handcuff. Using a simple block and drag, controllin…
The Secret to Locking Up Submissions: Position First!
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From Prone Control·fightTIPS
You've probably heard the expression in BJJ "position before submission," which stresses the importance of not rushing a…
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4 videosWhat Instructors Say
From prone control, ankle lock submissions require careful positional establishment before application, a principle emphasized across instructional sources. FightTIPS highlights the foundational concept that position precedes submission across multiple techniques, stressing that practitioners must secure their opponent's base and control before attempting joint manipulations. GracieBreakdown demonstrates escape mechanics from mounted pin positions through bridge-and-throw principles, where hip elevation and controlled hand movement create space and force the opponent to release their grip. Gard Defense Solutions and Gracie NEPA both address control from mounted positions in law enforcement contexts, where controlling the opponent's limbs through skeletal framework and proper grip placement (particularly on the tricep and wrist) establishes dominance before transitioning to restraint or submission. Common themes across instructors include the importance of angle manipulation—cutting perpendicular angles to maximize leverage—consolidating control through body pressure and limb positioning, and preventing the opponent's escape through methodical, step-by-step progressions rather than rushing to the submission finish. All sources agree that premature submission attempts without established positional control result in escaped defenses and loss of dominant position.
Synthesized from 4 instructors
- fightTIPS — The Secret to Locking Up Submissions: Position First!: Establishes the overarching principle that position must precede submission. Demonstrates multiple submissions (guillotine, rear naked choke, armbar from mount, triangle, Kimura) with emphasis on securing positional control, managing space, and establishing proper angles before attempting the finish.
- GracieBreakdown — Women's Self-defense Technique - Man Pinning Both Wrists in Mount Position: Explains escape from mounted wrist pin through bridge-and-throw mechanics, emphasizing hip elevation to pass the 90-degree angle threshold, hand control through snow-angel motion, and immediate distance management by hugging the opponent's torso after successful escape.
- Gard Defense Solutions — BJJ Black Belt and former UFC fighter show law enforcement control techniques.: Demonstrates control progression from basic block through arm grip, head control, and mounted position finish. Emphasizes skeletal framework control, arm extension to weaken the opponent, and maintains control through proper positioning before transitioning to takedown or restraint.
- Gracie NEPA — BJJ for Law Enforcement - Handcuffing From The Mount: Details mounted position control for restraint application, including two-on-one grip on weapon-side arm, tricep consolidation, stomach roll mechanics, and leg blocking to prevent arm escape. Emphasizes verbal commands, chest pressure augmentation for smaller officers, and methodical hand positioning before cuff application.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
6
High6/10
Ankle locks from prone position allow strong leverage
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
— kansetsu-waza
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDFLegal
— IBJJF — Legal at all belt levels
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— ADCC — Legal — all submissions legal in ADCC
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal submission technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Submissions from prone control attack the opponent when they are face-down — a vulnerable position that exposes the neck, arms, and legs to locks and chokes (Danaher, New Wave Jiu Jitsu, 2020)
✓The prone position limits the opponent's defensive options: they cannot see the attacker, cannot use their arms effectively, and cannot hip escape
✓Common attacks from prone control: rear-naked choke (after rolling to back control), arm locks on the exposed posted arm, wrist locks, and ankle locks
✓The transition from prone to submission is a key skill: catch wrestlers and folkstyle wrestlers specialise in attacking from the top position against a face-down opponent
✓The wrist lock from prone control attacks the hand that the opponent plants on the mat to push up — the posted hand is hyperextended using body weight
✓Prone control rides (chest-to-back, side ride, cross-body ride) maintain the position while setting up submissions
✓The prone opponent's instinct is to push up to hands and knees — this pushing action exposes the arms and wrists for immediate locks
Common Mistakes
!Not maintaining control while attacking — the prone opponent will scramble to escape; maintain chest-to-back contact throughout
!Attempting submissions before establishing control — secure the riding position first, then identify which limbs are vulnerable
!Not using body weight — from prone control, body weight is your primary tool; lifting off to apply a technique allows the opponent to move
!Ignoring the back-take — from prone control, the back take is often the highest-percentage option; don't skip it for lower-percentage locks
!Not training the prone position — many grapplers neglect top-turtle and prone attacks; this leaves significant opportunities untrained
!Applying locks without knowing which arm is posted — read the opponent's body position before committing to an attack
!Staying in prone control too long without progressing — use the position to attack or transition; stalling from prone control wastes the opportunity
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Establish Position — achieve the controlling position needed for this submission
2Create the Threat — begin the submission setup to force a defensive reaction
3Secure the Hold — lock the submission grip with proper body mechanics
4Finish — apply increasing pressure until the opponent taps or the joint/choke takes effect
Sources & References
Primary Source
Wikipedia ja; JBJJF rules; Japanese BJJ community
Japanese Wikipedia — martial arts technique articles
Official Japanese BJJ federation — competition rules and terminology
Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)
4OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
5CitationWikipedia ja; JBJJF rules; Japanese BJJ community
Japanese terminology sourced from Wikipedia ja; JBJJF rules; Japanese BJJ community
Community
Athletics
Requires
forearm blade pressure, hip extension power, body arching
Favours
strong forearms and back extensors
Key muscles
forearm extensors, erector spinae, glutes, hip extensors
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do immediately after I post my hands to escape from prone control with both wrists pinned?
According to GracieBreakdown, you must hug your opponent's torso immediately after posting and catching yourself, because once your hands are no longer controlling the opponent, they can use them to punch you in the face or regain wrist control.
What's the safest way to escape when someone has my wrists pinned vertically in mount?
Instead of bridging, GracieBreakdown recommends raising your arms to 90 degrees first to get closer to the opponent's shoulders, which makes it easier to hug the torso and climb out, then wrapping the arm to escape.
What are the most common injuries that happen when escaping from prone control with both wrists pinned?
GracieBreakdown notes that face plants into the ground are the most common unfortunate training situations that occur from this escape, emphasizing the importance of proper hand placement to avoid them.
When controlling someone in mount position, why is it important to control the arm on the weapon side?
According to Gracie NEPA's law enforcement instruction, you must control the subject's arm on the gun's side because they can reach for the weapon, making this arm control essential for officer safety.
How does the From Prone Control work?
Ankle locks from prone control (ashi-garami position) are applied when the attacker controls the opponent's leg while both fighters are on the ground, typically with the attacker lying on their back and the opponent's foot trapped against the chest. The standard straight ankle lock entry involves falling to the hip while hugging the opponent's foot, then bridging to hyperextend the ankle.
Where does the From Prone Control come from?
Prone-control ankle locks are fundamental in sambo and catch wrestling leg attack systems. In BJJ, they serve as the entry-level leg lock, permitted at all belt levels in IBJJF no-gi competition.
Is the From Prone Control legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels; IJF: banned — Only elbow joint locks (kansetsu-waza) permitted in judo — all other joint lo…; ADCC: legal — Legal — all submissions legal in ADCC; Unified MMA: legal — Legal submission technique; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the From Prone Control?
Danger rating 6/10. High — ankle locks from prone position allow strong leverage
How do I set up the From Prone Control?
The standard setup chain: Establish Position → Create the Threat → Secure the Hold → Finish.
How do I defend against the From Prone Control?
Standard counters include: Early Recognition — identify the submission attempt early and begin defence immediately / Posture and Base — maintain strong posture and base to prevent submission setups / Grip Fight — deny the attacker their preferred gripping configuration.
What are the variants of the From Prone Control?
Common variants: Standard straight ankle lock (forearm blade on the Achilles tendon, arching backward); Bellator-style ankle lock (tighter knee pinch with shoulder on the shin for added co…); Standing ankle lock (applied during a scramble from the feet); Ankle lock from top (applied after a guard pass when the foot is exposed).
How effective is the From Prone Control in competition?
Prone position chokes and cranks are used in both MMA (ground-and-pound to submission sequences) and advanced BJJ competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the From Prone Control?
Top errors to watch for: Not maintaining control while attacking — the prone opponent will scramble to escape; maintain chest-to-back contact … / Attempting submissions before establishing control — secure the riding position first, then identify which limbs are … / Not using body weight — from prone control, body weight is your primary tool; lifting off to apply a technique allows… / Ignoring the back-take — from prone control, the back take is often the highest-percentage option; don't skip it for ….
What are other names for the From Prone Control?
The From Prone Control is also known as Fuse Seigyo kara, Prone Position Lock, Ground Control Submission.