Supination-Pronation-Torsion

SubFamily

Translation: supination-pronation-torsion

Range & classification

Overview

Supination-pronation torsion locks twist the forearm along its longitudinal axis, rotating the radius around the ulna and stressing the radioulnar joints and associated ligaments. ^[1],[2] Sankyo (三教, third teaching) in aikido is the classic rotational wrist lock that combines pronation with downward pressure. ^[3],[4],[5]

Also known as

Torsion Wrist Lock^[1]Rotational Wrist Lock^[2]Kote-hineriJP^[3]

Used in

BJJ Judo Submission Grappling MMA

History & Origin

Sankyo is the third foundational technique in aikido's curriculum, derived from Daito-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu. ^[1],[2] Rotational wrist locks are used across Japanese martial arts for joint control and pain compliance. ^[3],[4],[5]

Country of origin· shown in random order

BrazilBJJ, Submission Grappling, MMA
Japan回外・回内・捻転(Kaigai / Kainai / Nenten)BJJ, Judo, Submission Grappling
USASubmission Grappling, MMA
RussiaSambo
ChinaChin Na

Effectiveness

Supination-pronation torsion locks rotate the forearm against its natural range, attacking the wrist and elbow simultaneously. ^[1]

Lineage

Rotational wrist/forearm locks appear in aikido (nikyo, sankyo), jūjutsu, and classical Japanese martial arts. ^[1]

Competition Record

Rotational wrist locks are used as submissions in BJJ (at brown/black belt) and occasionally in MMA. ^[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

Taushif Patel

Ankle torsion

Supination-Pronation-Torsion·Taushif Patel

This video was uploaded from an Android phone.

1 video

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

✓Supination-pronation torsion locks attack the wrist and forearm through rotational force — twisting the hand palm-up (supination) or palm-down (pronation) beyond the natural range (Danaher, New Wave Jiu Jitsu, 2020)

✓These locks attack the radioulnar joint (where the radius and ulna cross) as well as the wrist — creating a compound lock that affects the forearm and wrist simultaneously

✓The pronation lock (forcing palm-down) is used in aikido's sankyo technique: the hand is rotated palm-down while the elbow is lifted — creating excruciating pain in the forearm and wrist

✓The supination lock (forcing palm-up) appears in catch wrestling's top wrist lock: the hand is rotated palm-up while the elbow is pinned — torquing the radioulnar joint

✓Torsion locks are particularly effective for standing control: the rotational force on the forearm creates whole-body compliance — the opponent follows the rotation to avoid injury

✓These locks appear during grip fighting: when the opponent's grip creates a rotational opportunity, the torsion lock can be applied instantly

✓Torsion locks connect to other submissions: the rotation often exposes the elbow for armbar attempts or the shoulder for kimura entries

Common Mistakes

!Applying torsion without fixing the elbow — the elbow must be controlled; if it moves freely, the rotation is absorbed by the shoulder instead of the wrist

!Rotating too far too fast — the forearm bones cross during rotation, and they can fracture if the torsion is applied explosively

!Not distinguishing between pronation and supination — each direction attacks different structures and is available from different positions

!Using only hand grip — torsion locks require controlling both the hand and the forearm; a hand-only grip slips during rotation

!Not maintaining constant pressure — torsion locks are most effective with steady, increasing pressure; jerky application allows escape

!Attempting from the wrong angle — the rotation axis must pass through the forearm; applying force from the wrong angle changes the lock's effect

!Ignoring the transition opportunities — torsion that doesn't finish as a submission often creates openings for other techniques

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 — Sankyo (三教); Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu

1BookAikido — Sankyo (三教); Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu

Japanese terminology sourced from Aikido — Sankyo (三教); Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu

2Oral TraditionDaito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu

Classical aiki-jujutsu tradition

3SyllabusAikido Terminology

Aikido technique naming conventions

4SyllabusKodokan Judo Institute — Official Waza Names

Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)

5OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)

Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)

6CitationAikido — Sankyo (三教); Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu

Japanese terminology sourced from Aikido — Sankyo (三教); Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu

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.

Kote Gaeshi

Genus

Kote Gaeshi (小手返し, "wrist turn-out") is an outward-rotating wrist technique in which the practitioner turns the opponent's hand outward — combining forearm supination with wrist flexion — to load the radiocarpal and distal radioulnar joints and break the opponent's balance toward their little-finger side. [1] One hand wraps the back of the opponent's hand so the thumb sits across the base of the knuckles and the fingers cup the little-finger edge, while the other hand fixes the forearm; rotating the hand outward and down drives the torsion through the wrist and forearm. [2] In aikido, aikijujutsu, and classical jujutsu it is most often expressed as a throw: the wrist torsion off-balances the attacker and projects them to the ground, where the same grip is retained as a pin or wrist submission. [1,3] In Brazilian jiu-jitsu and submission grappling — and as self-defence in judo, where its competitive use is restricted — the identical mechanic is applied as a standing or ground wrist lock. [4] Because the wrist is a small joint with little muscular protection, kote gaeshi can be effective at low force, so controlling the speed of the rotation is essential to avoid injury.

Explore

Small Wrap Hand

Genus

Small Wrap Hand (小纏手, Xiǎo Chán Shǒu — "small wrap/coil hand") is an outward-rotating wrist lock from Chinese Qin Na (擒拿, the joint-locking art embedded across Chinese martial styles), documented by Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming as a White Crane (Bai He) technique. [1] The practitioner covers the opponent's grabbing hand and locks the index finger so it cannot open, raises the captured hand to set the locking angle, then wraps the hand around the outside of the opponent's wrist and presses down with the fingers pointing downward — keeping the opponent's elbow bent and lower than the wrist so they cannot turn the body and escape. [1] Yang classifies it under "Dividing the Muscle/Tendon" (Fen Jin, 分筋) applied at the wrist, and describes the finish as a form of "crane wing dropping" that drives the opponent face-down to the ground. [1] Mechanically it is the coiling, two-handed counterpart of Japanese kote gaeshi: the same outward wrist rotation, but named for the wrapping grip (纏, "to coil/entwine") rather than the reversal. The two are convergent techniques — no source derives one from the other. [1,2]

Explore

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Supination-Pronation-Torsion work?

Supination-pronation torsion locks twist the forearm along its longitudinal axis, rotating the radius around the ulna and stressing the radioulnar joints and associated ligaments. Sankyo (三教, third teaching) in aikido is the classic rotational wrist lock that combines pronation with downward pressure.

Where does the Supination-Pronation-Torsion come from?

Sankyo is the third foundational technique in aikido's curriculum, derived from Daito-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu. Rotational wrist locks are used across Japanese martial arts for joint control and pain compliance.

Is the Supination-Pronation-Torsion 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 Supination-Pronation-Torsion?

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

How do I set up the Supination-Pronation-Torsion?

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

How do I defend against the Supination-Pronation-Torsion?

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 Supination-Pronation-Torsion?

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 Supination-Pronation-Torsion in competition?

Rotational wrist locks are used as submissions in BJJ (at brown/black belt) and occasionally in MMA.

What are common mistakes when doing the Supination-Pronation-Torsion?

Top errors to watch for: Applying torsion without fixing the elbow — the elbow must be controlled; if it moves freely, the rotation is absorbe… / Rotating too far too fast — the forearm bones cross during rotation, and they can fracture if the torsion is applied … / Not distinguishing between pronation and supination — each direction attacks different structures and is available fr… / Using only hand grip — torsion locks require controlling both the hand and the forearm; a hand-only grip slips during….

What are other names for the Supination-Pronation-Torsion?

The Supination-Pronation-Torsion is also known as Kaigai / Kainai / Nenten, Torsion Wrist Lock, Rotational Wrist Lock, Kote-hineri.

supination pronation torsion kaigai kainai nenten submission joint lock wrist lock torsion wrist lock rotational wrist lock kote hineri