Hiza Gatame
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Hiza-Gatame·WINNING
Hiza Gatame (Arm Bar) Newaza Technique as demonstrated by Sensai Bob @ The Tohkon Judo Academy of Chicago.
Hiza-Gatame
SubFamily膝固め(Hiza-gatame)
TraditionalTranslation: knee hold
Overview
Hiza-gatame (膝固め, 'knee hold') is an elbow lock where the attacker uses the knee as a fulcrum against the back of the opponent's elbow while controlling the wrist to hyperextend the joint. [1],[2] The attacker places their knee against the back of the extended elbow and pulls the wrist toward themselves, creating a lever action with the knee as the pivot point. [1] Hiza-gatame can be applied from guard or when the opponent posts an arm, using the knee's precise positioning to target the elbow joint efficiently. [1],[3]
History & Origin
Hiza-gatame is a recognized Kodokan Judo kansetsu-waza where the knee serves as the fulcrum for elbow hyperextension. [2],[3] Like other judo arm locks named for their fulcrum body part, hiza-gatame reflects systematic classification principles. [2] The technique has practical applications in self-defense and law enforcement arm control. [1]
Effectiveness
Hiza-gatame (knee armlock) uses the knee as a fulcrum against the opponent's elbow for a straight armlock. [1]
Lineage
Hiza-gatame is a classical judo armlock in the Kodokan system. [1]
Competition Record
Hiza-gatame is used in judo and BJJ competition as an armlock variation. [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 top position — Isolate the arm, control the wrist, and apply hyperextension pressure against the elbow using body positioning
From guard — Secure wrist control, pivot to create the angle, and apply elbow hyperextension from the bottom position
Videos
Maximize Your Scissor Sweep: Hiza Garuma and Sumi Gaeshi to the Rescue (BJJ/Jiu-Jitsu)
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Hiza-Gatame·Brian Glick
Hiza garuma is most commonly seen as a high-amplitude takedown in judo, but we can make perfect use of it down on the gr…
Modified Hiza Gatame to Reverse Juji Gatame from Guard
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Hiza-Gatame·Rob Jackson
One of many Attacks from Guard: Bottom; This is a straightforward approach that's relatively easy to recall and retain …
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
Hiza-gatame is an elbow lock submission applied primarily from guard position, where the practitioner uses their foot to apply pressure to the opponent's elbow while controlling the arm with their hands. WINNING emphasizes precise foot placement on the thigh rather than the knee, with the sole of the foot maintaining contact with the mat to prevent the opponent from stepping over it. The instructor stresses that the lock requires continuous control—if the opponent escapes or lifts their leg, the practitioner must immediately reapply pressure. WINNING notes the lock's mechanics: the foot on the hip combined with hand pressure pulling the arm prevents escape, and the opponent's instinctive response to push their hand inward actually worsens their position. The lock can be achieved from multiple positions beyond the formal kata sequence, including from both players on their knees. Rob Jackson presents a modified version leading into reverse juji-gatame, demonstrating the technique's utility as a transitional submission. Brian Glick's material focuses on hiza-guruma (knee wheel), a related but distinct sweeping technique from guard that uses foot placement on the knee to destabilize the opponent's base. While Glick's content emphasizes the sweep variation rather than the submission lock, it illustrates the foundational principle of strategic foot positioning on the leg. All instructors agree on the importance of maintaining control and recognizing when repositioning is necessary.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- WINNING — Hiza Gatame: Detailed mechanics of the lock including proper foot placement on thigh versus knee, hand positioning, pressure application, escape defenses, and multiple entry points from various positions.
- Rob Jackson — Modified Hiza Gatame to Reverse Juji Gatame from Guard: Demonstrates hiza-gatame as a transitional technique flowing into reverse juji-gatame, showing practical application in controlling larger opponents.
- Brian Glick — Maximize Your Scissor Sweep: Hiza Garuma and Sumi Gaeshi to the Rescue (BJJ/Jiu-Jitsu): Covers hiza-guruma as a sweeping variation using similar foot-on-knee positioning principles, with applications for amplifying guard sweeps.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
7
Very High7/10
Hiza-gatame (knee armlock) uses the knee as a fulcrum point against the elbow
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
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
✓Hiza-gatame (knee-press armlock) uses the knee as a fulcrum against the opponent's elbow — the attacker presses their knee into the back of the elbow while controlling the wrist (Kashiwazaki, Osaekomi, 1997)
✓The knee provides a precise, hard fulcrum point: smaller than the belly (hara-gatame) but more concentrated — creating intense pressure on the elbow joint
✓Hiza-gatame is applied when the opponent extends their arm during ground transitions: the knee drops directly onto or behind the elbow while the hands secure the wrist
✓The technique works from top position without requiring the attacker to change their base significantly — the knee simply redirects to the arm
✓Hiza-gatame is common in judo: it catches opponents who post with an arm to prevent being pinned — the posted arm is vulnerable to the knee press
✓The kneeling position provides stability: the attacker's weight is centred while the knee acts as the breaking mechanism
✓Hiza-gatame can transition to juji-gatame: if the knee press doesn't finish, swing the leg over into a full armbar
Common Mistakes
!Placing the knee on the wrong part of the arm — the knee must press directly behind the elbow joint; too high or too low misses the lock
!Not pulling the wrist while pressing the knee — both forces must work simultaneously; the wrist pulls up while the knee presses down
!Using insufficient knee pressure — commit body weight through the knee; light pressure allows the opponent to retract the arm
!Not controlling the opponent's body — they will roll or turn to escape; control the shoulder or head with the free hand
!Staying on a failed hiza-gatame too long — if it doesn't work, transition immediately to juji-gatame or another submission
!Losing balance while applying the knee — maintain a stable base; overcommitting to the knee pressure disrupts your position
!Not recognising the setup — hiza-gatame works when the arm extends; learn to read the moment the arm straightens
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Control the Arm — isolate and grip the target arm
2Position the Hips — align hips perpendicular to the arm for maximum leverage
3Pinch Knees — squeeze knees together to prevent arm extraction
4Extend for the Finish — bridge hips up while pulling the wrist down to hyperextend the elbow
Sources & References
Primary Source
Kodokan Judo — Official Katame-waza Classification
1BookKodokan Judo — Official Katame-waza Classification
Kodokan — Hiza-gatame (膝固め) classification
Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)
3OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
4CitationKodokan Judo — Official Katame-waza Classification
Kodokan — Hiza-gatame (膝固め) classification
Community
Athletics
Requires
fine motor control, grip sensitivity, quick hand transitions
Favours
dexterous hands with strong fingers
Key muscles
forearm flexors and extensors, intrinsic hand muscles
Sub-techniques
Notes
Hiza gatame (knee arm lock) is a Kodokan judo arm lock where the attacker uses their knee as the fulcrum against the opponent's elbow. One of the nine official kansetsu-waza. The knee provides a hard, precise fulcrum. (Kano, Kodokan Judo)
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main purpose of controlling my opponent's hand and foot in Hiza-Gatame?
Controlling the hand and foot prevents your opponent from escaping by pushing away or moving their base. As explained in the WINNING instructional, keeping these points controlled removes their options to push your foot down or come across it to escape.
What are the main ways my opponent can escape from Hiza-Gatame?
Your opponent can try to push your foot down with their arm and come across it, or they can crowd in to prevent you from fully establishing the position. If they feel the lock coming, they may also grab something to create control or sit out to create distance.
How do I make sure the sweep works when using Hiza-Gatame from guard?
Brian Glick emphasizes that you must pull and drive your opponent's head over your knee with your hand—simply using leg force alone is very difficult. You should also turn your belly toward the mat for balance and base as you drive them over.
What should I focus on to properly execute the knee wheel (Hiza-Garuma) sweep?
Keep your collar control to prevent backward movement and your shin forward to prevent forward movement, then use your shin as a counter-force against your partner's side to drive them down. Prop on your elbow and draw their hand back while bringing your head to the same height as theirs.
How does the Hiza-Gatame work?
Hiza-gatame (膝固め, 'knee hold') is an elbow lock where the attacker uses the knee as a fulcrum against the back of the opponent's elbow while controlling the wrist to hyperextend the joint. The attacker places their knee against the back of the extended elbow and pulls the wrist toward themselves, creating a lever action with the knee as the pivot point.
Where does the Hiza-Gatame come from?
Hiza-gatame is a recognized Kodokan Judo kansetsu-waza where the knee serves as the fulcrum for elbow hyperextension. Like other judo arm locks named for their fulcrum body part, hiza-gatame reflects systematic classification principles.
Is the Hiza-Gatame 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 Hiza-Gatame?
Danger rating 7/10. Hiza-gatame (knee armlock) uses the knee as a fulcrum point against the elbow
How do I set up the Hiza-Gatame?
The standard setup chain: Control the Arm → Position the Hips → Pinch Knees → Extend for the Finish.
How do I defend against the Hiza-Gatame?
Standard counters include: Clasp Hands — grip own wrist to prevent arm extension / Stack — drive forward to compress the attacker and relieve elbow pressure / Hitchhiker Escape — rotate the thumb toward the mat and roll to extract the arm.
What are the variants of the Hiza-Gatame?
Common variants: Standard wrist lock (kote gaeshi) (two-handed rotational lock on the wrist); Gooseneck wrist lock (flexion lock bending the wrist down toward the forearm); Standing wrist lock (applied during grip fighting or a standing exchange); Ground wrist lock (catching the opponent's posted hand from mount, side cont…).
How effective is the Hiza-Gatame in competition?
Hiza-gatame is used in judo and BJJ competition as an armlock variation.
What are common mistakes when doing the Hiza-Gatame?
Top errors to watch for: Placing the knee on the wrong part of the arm — the knee must press directly behind the elbow joint; too high or too … / Not pulling the wrist while pressing the knee — both forces must work simultaneously; the wrist pulls up while the kn… / Using insufficient knee pressure — commit body weight through the knee; light pressure allows the opponent to retract… / Not controlling the opponent's body — they will roll or turn to escape; control the shoulder or head with the free hand.
What are other names for the Hiza-Gatame?
The Hiza-Gatame is also known as Hiza-gatame, Knee Armlock, Knee-Pin Armbar, Knee Arm Lock.