Chin-down

Genus

Translation: chin-down

Range & classification

Overview

The chin-down wrist lock from seated guard is a flexion-based wrist submission where the attacker, working from a seated or guard position, traps the opponent's hand and forces the wrist into acute flexion by pressing the back of the hand toward the inner forearm. ^[1] The 'chin-down' designation refers to the specific grip configuration where the attacker's thumbs press down on the back of the opponent's hand, mimicking the motion of pushing someone's chin toward their chest. ^[1],[2] From seated guard, the attacker isolates one of the opponent's posting hands during a pass attempt, cups the hand, and applies downward flexion pressure against the wrist joint. ^[2] This creates intense stress on the radiocarpal and midcarpal joints, threatening ligament damage and compelling the tap. ^[2],[3]

Also known as

Chin-Down Wrist Lock^[1]Downward Wrist Flex^[2]

Used in

BJJ Judo Submission Grappling MMA

History & Origin

Wrist locks from guard became increasingly popular in BJJ competition as practitioners like Claudio Calasans demonstrated their viability at the black belt level. ^[1],[2] The chin-down variant from guard draws on the aikido and jujutsu tradition of redirecting an opponent's limb against their own body structure. ^[1] The guard position's ability to control distance makes it a surprisingly effective platform for wrist manipulation techniques. ^[1],[2]

Country of origin· shown in random order

BrazilBJJ, Submission Grappling, MMA
JapanBJJ, Judo, Submission Grappling
USASubmission Grappling, MMA
RussiaSambo
ChinaChin Na

Effectiveness

Chin-down defence (tucking the chin) is the universal defence against chokes, but when an attacker forces the chin down aggressively it can become a neck crank submission. ^[1]

Lineage

Chin-down as both defence and offensive crank appears across all grappling arts. ^[1]

Competition Record

Forced chin-down cranks occasionally appear in MMA when choke attempts create cranking pressure. ^[1]

Images

No images yet for this technique.

Biomechanical Mechanism

Primary Action — Forced flexion, extension, or rotation of the wrist beyond its normal range of motion

Joints Involved — Radiocarpal joint (wrist), intercarpal joints, distal radioulnar joint

Force Vector — Two-point control — one hand stabilises the forearm while the other drives the wrist into flexion, extension, or deviation

Vulnerability — Small joint with limited muscular protection makes it susceptible to sudden, low-force submissions

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

Videos

Stephan Kesting

5 Ways to Choke Someone Even When Their Chin is Down

Chin-down·Stephan Kesting·Added by Admin

When you attack with a choke your opponent will often try to block by dropping his chin down to his chest. Here are 5 t…

Jedi Does Jiujitsu

The First 10 Bjj Submissions You Should Learn

Chin-down·Jedi Does Jiujitsu

In today’s video I’ll be giving you the 10 first bjj submissions that every white belt should learn. These are the submi…

2 videos

What Instructors Say

The chin-down position presents a significant defensive challenge when pursuing submissions from the back, particularly the rear naked choke. Stephan Kesting (Grappler.com) provides five distinct methodologies for overcoming this defense. The Phoenix Eye Fist technique, borrowed from kung fu, uses a single protruding knuckle as a wedge to trace the jawline and create space beneath the chin. The caterpillar method involves repeatedly inserting fingers under the chin tip with a peaking motion to incrementally lift the chin and advance the hand deeper. Timing-based approaches exploit transitions where the opponent's attention diverts to other threats (such as hook insertion), allowing simultaneous choke placement. Forehead leverage involves pulling high on the opponent's forehead to extend the chin backward, exploiting the limited strength of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Finally, direct application over the jawbone itself—applying pressure through the chin rather than beneath it—can eventually dislocate or open the jaw enough to occlude the airway, though this aggressive method requires mutual consent and experience. Jedi Does Jiujitsu briefly addresses the rear naked choke in a foundational submission overview, emphasizing proper hand positioning under the chin with shoulder pressure behind the neck, but does not specifically address chin-down counters. Both instructors agree that rear naked choke success depends on hand placement and shoulder positioning; Kesting provides specialized solutions for defensive chin positioning that Jedi's overview does not cover.

Synthesized from 2 instructors

Stephan Kesting (Grappler.com) — 5 Ways to Choke Someone Even When Their Chin is Down: Provides five distinct tactical solutions for overcoming chin-down defense: Phoenix Eye Fist (jaw tracing), caterpillar finger insertion, transition timing exploitation, forehead leverage, and direct jaw application.
Jedi Does Jiujitsu — The First 10 BJJ Submissions You Should Learn: Covers foundational rear naked choke mechanics from back control, emphasizing hand placement under chin and shoulder positioning behind neck, but does not address chin-down defensive variations.

Learn This Technique

No instructional courses yet for this technique.

Ratings

Danger Rating

Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to

High5/10

Wrist lock variant targeting carpal and radioulnar joints through forced deviation or torsion

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

✓The chin-down wrist lock applies a submission by driving the attacker's chin or chest onto the back of the opponent's trapped hand — using body weight as the primary force for the wrist extension (Danaher, New Wave Jiu Jitsu, 2020)

✓This technique typically occurs from north-south or when the opponent is face-down: the attacker isolates a hand and drops their body weight through the hand via the chin or chest

✓The chin-down wrist lock is difficult to defend because the force comes from the attacker's entire body weight — the small wrist joint cannot resist this load

✓The lock often catches opponents by surprise: they focus on escaping the position while their trapped hand is quietly being hyperextended under the attacker's weight

✓The chin-down principle appears in traditional jujutsu: using the body's weight through a controlled contact point to attack an isolated extremity

✓The wrist extension from chin-down is intense: the full body weight concentrates through a small contact area (chin or sternum) onto the back of the hand

✓Chin-down wrist locks appear during transitions and scrambles: when the opponent posts a hand, driving body weight onto it creates an immediate submission

Common Mistakes

!Not isolating the hand first — the hand must be trapped and unable to retract before body weight is applied

!Applying with the chin on the fingers instead of the metacarpals — the force must be on the back of the hand, not the fingers

!Not controlling the opponent's body — if they can move freely, they simply pull the hand away before weight is applied

!Using this technique when the hand is not committed — the hand must be bearing weight or trapped against the mat for the lock to work

!Driving too aggressively — the chin-down creates enormous force on the wrist; be very controlled in training

!Not recognising the opportunity — this lock appears during transitions; develop awareness for when the opponent's hand is trapped

!Ignoring the escape route — if the opponent recognises the threat, they will try to make a fist or rotate the hand; anticipate and prevent this

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

Japanese BJJ community standard katakana transliteration

1OtherJapanese Martial Arts Community Terminology

Japanese BJJ community standard katakana transliteration

2OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention

Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities

3CitationJapanese BJJ community standard katakana transliteration

Japanese terminology sourced from Japanese BJJ community standard katakana transliteration

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

Find by what a technique does — not its name

Every move, in any martial art, shares a few universal traits. Mix and match below to pinpoint the right tool — or compare equivalents across styles.

From Clinch

Species

The chin-down wrist lock from clinch is applied during a standing clinch by gripping the opponent's hand and pressing the wrist into flexion while simultaneously driving the bent wrist downward toward the opponent's own chin or chest. [1,2] The clinch provides the close range needed to trap and manipulate the wrist while preventing the opponent from pulling away. [1] The downward driving force combined with the flexion creates compound stress on the wrist joint's ligaments and tendons, producing intense pain that can force a submission. [1,2]

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From Prone Control

Species

The chin-down wrist lock from prone control is applied when the attacker has the opponent pinned face-down and traps one wrist, bending it into flexion while pressing it toward the opponent's own face or chin. [1,2] The prone position eliminates the opponent's ability to rotate or bridge to relieve the wrist pressure, and the attacker's weight prevents any significant movement. [1] The technique is commonly applied when the opponent is flattened from top control and extends a hand to post or push, exposing the wrist to manipulation. [1,2]

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From Seated : Guard

Species

The chin-down wrist lock from seated guard uses a sharp downward flexion of the opponent's wrist while controlling the forearm from guard position. [1] The attacker traps the opponent's hand and drives the wrist into extreme flexion using body weight and guard mechanics, targeting the carpal and radiocarpal ligaments. [1,2]

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From Standing

Species

The chin-down wrist lock from standing is applied by gripping the opponent's hand and bending the wrist into flexion while directing the pressure downward toward the opponent's own chin or sternum. [1,2] The standing position allows the attacker to use body weight and stance changes to amplify the wrist flexion force. [1] The technique requires close range and is commonly initiated from a handshake grip, wrist grab, or collar-tie position where the opponent's hand is already within reach. [1,2]

Explore

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I keep my chin down when finishing a rear naked choke?

Biting down on your opponent's shoulder with your chin makes the choke tighter and gives you better back control. According to Jedi Does Jiujitsu, this positioning is more effective than relying solely on your grip.

How do I prevent my opponent from escaping when I throw my leg over for a submission?

It's important to cut an angle and be as smooth as possible when you throw that top leg over their head, as any gaps may give them enough space to escape. Jedi Does Jiujitsu emphasizes keeping your weight on them for maximal control.

What should I do with my elbow when setting up submissions in side control?

When going for submissions like the Americana from side control, put your elbow on the mat right next to their neck. If you don't do this, your opponent will have enough space to turn away from you to defend the submission.

How does the Chin-down work?

Where does the Chin-down come from?

Wrist locks from guard became increasingly popular in BJJ competition as practitioners like Claudio Calasans demonstrated their viability at the black belt level. The chin-down variant from guard draws on the aikido and jujutsu tradition of redirecting an opponent's limb against their own body structure.

Is the Chin-down 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 Chin-down?

Danger rating 5/10. Wrist lock variant targeting carpal and radioulnar joints through forced deviation or torsion

How do I set up the Chin-down?

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

How do I defend against the Chin-down?

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 Chin-down?

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 Chin-down in competition?

Forced chin-down cranks occasionally appear in MMA when choke attempts create cranking pressure.

What are common mistakes when doing the Chin-down?

Top errors to watch for: Not isolating the hand first — the hand must be trapped and unable to retract before body weight is applied / Applying with the chin on the fingers instead of the metacarpals — the force must be on the back of the hand, not the… / Not controlling the opponent's body — if they can move freely, they simply pull the hand away before weight is applied / Using this technique when the hand is not committed — the hand must be bearing weight or trapped against the mat for ….

What are other names for the Chin-down?

The Chin-down is also known as Chin Daun, Chin-Down Wrist Lock, Downward Wrist Flex.

chin down chin daun submission joint lock wrist lock flexion chin down wrist lock downward wrist flex