Extension

SubFamily

伸ばし(Nobashi)

Traditional

Translation: extension

Overview

Wrist extension locks force the hand backward (dorsiflexion), hyperextending the wrist joint and stressing the palmar ligaments and flexor tendons. ^[1],[2] The gooseneck is the classic wrist extension lock — the attacker bends the opponent's hand backward toward the forearm. Figure-four wrist extensions use a two-on-one grip for additional leverage. Kote-gaeshi in aikido is a throwing technique that uses wrist extension with rotation. ^[3],[4]

Also known as

Wrist Extension Lock^[1]Dorsal Flexion Lock^[2]

Used in

BJJ Judo Submission Grappling MMA Sambo

History & Origin

Wrist extension techniques (kote-gaeshi, 小手返し) are foundational in aikido and Daito-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu, where they are used for both throwing and control. ^[1],[2] In judo, wrist locks appear in the Kodokan Goshin Jutsu self-defense kata. ^[3],[4]

Effectiveness

Extension-based arm locks hyperextend the elbow joint by straightening the arm against its natural range of motion. ^[1]

Lineage

Extension armlocks are fundamental to judo's juji-gatame system and BJJ's armbar family. ^[1]

Competition Record

Extension armlocks (juji-gatame/armbar) are one of the most commonly finished submissions in all grappling competitions. ^[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 any grip exchange — During grip fighting, isolate the opponent's wrist with two-on-one control and apply sudden flexion or rotation

From guard (gi) — When opponent posts a hand on the mat or chest, trap the wrist and apply downward pressure for the wrist lock

From mount or side control — Opponent posts to escape, trap the wrist against the mat and apply the lock

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Ratings

Danger Rating

Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to

High5/10

Wrist extension locks force the hand backward, compressing the carpal bones and risking fracture

Difficulty

Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably

Advanced

Competition Legality

Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets

Illegal

— kansetsu-waza

IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF

Legal

— 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 RulesPDF

Training Notes

✓Wrist extension locks bend the hand backward — forcing the back of the hand toward the forearm beyond the wrist's natural extension range (Danaher, New Wave Jiu Jitsu, 2020)

✓The standard wrist extension: control the opponent's forearm with one hand while the other hand pushes the back of their hand toward their forearm — the wrist hyperextends

✓Extension locks are the most common wrist submissions in grappling: they appear during grip fighting, guard passing, and from mount when the opponent posts a hand

✓The extension lock is available whenever the opponent has a flat hand on the mat or against your body — the exposed fingers create the lever for the extension

✓The power comes from the attacker's body weight driving through the hand: the free hand pushes the back of the hand while body weight provides the force through the controlling arm

✓Extension locks work both in gi and no-gi: in gi, the sleeve grip assists control; in no-gi, the bare forearm is controlled directly

✓The transition from grip break to wrist lock is seamless: peeling the opponent's grip open naturally positions the hand for an extension lock

Common Mistakes

!Pushing the fingers instead of the back of the hand — the force must be applied to the metacarpals (back of hand), not the finger joints

!Not stabilising the forearm — the forearm must be anchored; if it moves with the hand, no extension occurs

!Using finger strength — the extension requires the palm of the attacker's hand against the back of the opponent's hand; full palm contact distributes force

!Applying when the opponent makes a fist — the fist position strengthens the wrist; wait for or create an open hand

!Not recognising the setup — the extension lock appears during grip breaks and hand posting; learn to see these moments

!Cranking rapidly — the wrist breaks before pain signals register; apply gradually

!Attempting from a distance — the attacker must be close enough to control both the forearm and the hand simultaneously

Related Techniques

Tap (Submission Signal) — the safety mechanism indicating the technique is effective

Counter Techniques

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

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

Aikido — Kote Gaeshi; Kodokan Goshin Jutsu kata

1BookAikido — Kote Gaeshi; Kodokan Goshin Jutsu kata

Japanese terminology sourced from Aikido — Kote Gaeshi; Kodokan Goshin Jutsu kata

2SyllabusAikido Terminology

Aikido technique naming conventions

3SyllabusKodokan Judo Institute — Official Waza Names

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)

5CitationAikido — Kote Gaeshi; Kodokan Goshin Jutsu kata

Japanese terminology sourced from Aikido — Kote Gaeshi; Kodokan Goshin Jutsu kata

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

Figure-Four Extension

Genus

The figure-four extension wrist lock uses a figure-four grip configuration to hyperextend the opponent's wrist — bending it backward beyond its natural range of motion. [1,2] The attacker grips the opponent's hand with one hand and reinforces with a figure-four by gripping their own wrist, then presses the back of the opponent's hand toward the forearm. [1] The figure-four provides mechanical advantage that makes the lock extremely difficult to resist with wrist strength alone. [1] This is commonly applied when the opponent grips a collar or sleeve in gi grappling. [1,2]

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Gooseneck Extension

Genus

The gooseneck extension wrist lock bends the wrist backward while curling the fingers downward, creating a shape resembling a goose's neck. [1,2] The attacker grips the back of the opponent's hand and pushes it toward the forearm while simultaneously curling the fingers, compounding the extension pressure on the wrist with flexion pressure on the finger joints. [1,3] This double-action makes the gooseneck particularly painful and difficult to resist. [1] It is commonly applied from wrist control positions in standing or from top positions in ground grappling. [1,4]

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Extension work?

Wrist extension locks force the hand backward (dorsiflexion), hyperextending the wrist joint and stressing the palmar ligaments and flexor tendons. The gooseneck is the classic wrist extension lock — the attacker bends the opponent's hand backward toward the forearm.

Where does the Extension come from?

Wrist extension techniques (kote-gaeshi, 小手返し) are foundational in aikido and Daito-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu, where they are used for both throwing and control. In judo, wrist locks appear in the Kodokan Goshin Jutsu self-defense kata.

Is the Extension 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 Extension?

Danger rating 5/10. Wrist extension locks force the hand backward, compressing the carpal bones and risking fracture

How do I set up the Extension?

The standard setup chain: Establish Position → Create the Threat → Secure the Hold → Finish.

How do I defend against the Extension?

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 Extension?

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 Extension in competition?

Extension armlocks (juji-gatame/armbar) are one of the most commonly finished submissions in all grappling competitions.

What are common mistakes when doing the Extension?

Top errors to watch for: Pushing the fingers instead of the back of the hand — the force must be applied to the metacarpals (back of hand), no… / Not stabilising the forearm — the forearm must be anchored; if it moves with the hand, no extension occurs / Using finger strength — the extension requires the palm of the attacker's hand against the back of the opponent's han… / Applying when the opponent makes a fist — the fist position strengthens the wrist; wait for or create an open hand.

What are other names for the Extension?

The Extension is also known as Nobashi, Wrist Extension Lock, Dorsal Flexion Lock.

extension nobashi submission joint lock wrist lock wrist extension lock dorsal flexion lock