From Clinch

Species

クリンチから(Kurinchi kara)

Transliteration

Translation: from clinch

Overview

The two-on-one wrist lock from clinch uses both hands to control a single wrist during a standing clinch exchange, with one hand gripping the hand and the other controlling the forearm or wrist to apply flexion force. [1],[2] The two-on-one grip provides double the leverage of a single-hand wrist bend, making it effective against the opponent's ability to resist the flexion through muscular tension. [1] The clinch provides the entanglement and proximity needed to isolate the wrist with both hands while preventing disengagement. [1],[2]

Also known as
Clinch Two-on-One Wrist Lock[1]Standing Double Wrist Lock[2]
Used in
BJJJudoSubmission GrapplingMMASambo

History & Origin

Two-on-one wrist control is a fundamental concept in wrestling and judo clinch work, used for positional manipulation and grip-breaking. [1],[2] The conversion of two-on-one wrist control into a wrist lock submission comes from traditional jujutsu and self-defense systems where dominating a single limb with both hands is a core control principle. [1] This technique is widely distributed across martial arts that emphasize standing joint locks. [1],[2]

Effectiveness

Clinch submissions exploit the close-range tie-up to attack with standing guillotines, arm-in chokes, and neck cranks. [1]

Lineage

Clinch submissions derive from judo standing submissions and catch wrestling. [1]

Competition Record

Standing guillotine chokes from the clinch are among the most common submissions in MMA competition. [1]

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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

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 control, or guard

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Ratings

Danger Rating

Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to

5
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

✓Pain compliance from the clinch uses collar ties, overhooks, and body position to create pressure on nerve clusters and sensitive areas while standing (Couture, Wrestling for Fighting, 2007)
✓The collar tie with downward pressure creates pain through the cervical spine — the opponent's neck bears the weight of the attacker's arm and body
✓Clinch-based pain compliance includes forearm across the trachea, chin strap pressure, and knuckle pressure to the jaw — all used to manipulate head position
✓Standing pain compliance sets up takedowns: the opponent's reaction to pain creates movement that the attacker exploits for throws and trips
✓The underhook with shoulder pressure drives the point of the shoulder into the opponent's neck or jaw — creating discomfort that opens underhook advantages
✓Clinch pressure techniques are particularly effective in MMA where they accumulate damage over time — making the opponent want to disengage
✓Pain compliance from clinch requires good base — if you lean into the pain technique without proper stance, the opponent can off-balance you

Common Mistakes

!Using pain compliance from clinch without a takedown or transition plan — the pain should create openings for the next technique
!Leaning your weight into the opponent without maintaining base — you become vulnerable to counter-throws and trips
!Applying trachea pressure in training — throat strikes and pressure are dangerous and should only be simulated lightly in practice
!Using clinch pain compliance as stalling — referees may break the clinch if no technique follows the control
!Focusing on pain instead of position — the pain compliance should enhance the clinch position, not distract from maintaining proper tie-ups
!Not having a follow-up — every pain compliance action should lead to a takedown, submission, or positional improvement
!Applying the same pressure repeatedly — the opponent adapts; vary the pain stimulus to maintain its effectiveness

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

Japanese wrestling/BJJ standard terminology

1OtherJapanese Martial Arts Community Terminology

Japanese wrestling/BJJ standard terminology

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 wrestling/BJJ standard terminology

Japanese terminology sourced from Japanese wrestling/BJJ standard terminology

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the From Clinch work?

The two-on-one wrist lock from clinch uses both hands to control a single wrist during a standing clinch exchange, with one hand gripping the hand and the other controlling the forearm or wrist to apply flexion force. The two-on-one grip provides double the leverage of a single-hand wrist bend, making it effective against the opponent's ability to resist the flexion through muscular tension.

Where does the From Clinch come from?

Two-on-one wrist control is a fundamental concept in wrestling and judo clinch work, used for positional manipulation and grip-breaking. The conversion of two-on-one wrist control into a wrist lock submission comes from traditional jujutsu and self-defense systems where dominating a single limb with both hands is a core control principle.

Is the From Clinch 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 Clinch?

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

How do I set up the From Clinch?

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

How do I defend against the From Clinch?

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 Clinch?

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 From Clinch in competition?

Standing guillotine chokes from the clinch are among the most common submissions in MMA competition.

What are common mistakes when doing the From Clinch?

Top errors to watch for: Using pain compliance from clinch without a takedown or transition plan — the pain should create openings for the nex… / Leaning your weight into the opponent without maintaining base — you become vulnerable to counter-throws and trips / Applying trachea pressure in training — throat strikes and pressure are dangerous and should only be simulated lightl… / Using clinch pain compliance as stalling — referees may break the clinch if no technique follows the control.

What are other names for the From Clinch?

The From Clinch is also known as Kurinchi kara, Clinch Two-on-One Wrist Lock, Standing Double Wrist Lock.

from clinchkurinchi karasubmissionjoint lockwrist lockflexiontwo on oneclinch two on one wrist lockstanding double wrist lock