Ulnar Nerve | 3D Anatomy Tutorial
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Ulnar·AnatomyZone
Anatomy of the ulnar nerve. Check out the 3D app at http://AnatomyLearning.com. More videos available on http://AnatomyZ…
Ulnar
SubFamily尺側(Shakusoku)
TraditionalTranslation: ulnar
Overview
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Ulnar deviation locks twist the wrist toward the pinky side, attacking the ulnar ligaments. [1]
Lineage
Ulnar deviation locks appear in jūjutsu, aikido, and self-defence curricula. [1]
Competition Record
Ulnar deviation locks occasionally appear as surprise wrist submissions in grappling 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
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
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
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
✓Ulnar deviation wrist lock bends the hand toward the pinky side — forcing the hand away from the thumb and toward the ulna bone of the forearm (Danaher, New Wave Jiu Jitsu, 2020)
✓The wrist has slightly more range in ulnar deviation than radial deviation — but the lock is still effective because the structures resist this direction strongly
✓Ulnar deviation locks appear in catch wrestling's 'bent wrist lock': the hand is bent pinky-first toward the forearm while the opponent's arm is controlled
✓The lock is applied by gripping the opponent's hand from the back (dorsum) and driving it pinky-side toward the inner forearm — the limited range creates the submission
✓In self-defence, ulnar deviation combined with downward pressure creates a takedown: bending the wrist laterally while pressing downward drops the opponent to their knees
✓Ulnar deviation locks are available during wrist grabs: when the opponent grabs your wrist, their hand is positioned for an ulnar deviation counter-lock
✓The ulnar nerve runs along the pinky side of the wrist — ulnar deviation can compress this nerve, adding neurological pain to the mechanical lock
Common Mistakes
!Confusing ulnar with radial deviation — ulnar goes toward the pinky, radial goes toward the thumb; mixing them up changes the attack
!Applying without stabilising the forearm — the forearm must be anchored; a free forearm absorbs the deviation
!Using excessive force — the wrist has limited lateral range; the lock can cause damage with relatively little applied force
!Not training ulnar deviation as part of a system — it is most effective when combined with extension, flexion, and radial attacks
!Attempting against a fisted hand — the fist strengthens wrist stability; ulnar deviation works better against an open or partially open hand
!Not controlling the elbow — if the elbow is free, the opponent can rotate the forearm to relieve the lateral pressure
!Applying in isolation — ulnar deviation should flow from other wrist lock attempts; it is rarely the first attack
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
Daito-ryu — sankyo principle; Japanese sports medicine terminology
1OtherJapanese Martial Arts Community Terminology
Daito-ryu — sankyo principle; Japanese sports medicine terminology
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)
4CitationDaito-ryu — sankyo principle; Japanese sports medicine terminology
Japanese terminology sourced from Daito-ryu — sankyo principle; Japanese sports medicine 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 Ulnar work?
Ulnar deviation wrist locks bend the wrist laterally toward the pinky side (ulnar side), stressing the radial collateral ligament. Like radial deviation locks, these are relatively uncommon as standalone submissions but can be encountered during grip fighting and transitional moments.
Where does the Ulnar come from?
Ulnar deviation attacks are documented in Japanese martial arts systems as part of comprehensive wrist manipulation curricula.
Is the Ulnar 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 Ulnar?
Danger rating 5/10. Wrist lock variant targeting carpal and radioulnar joints through forced deviation or torsion
How do I set up the Ulnar?
The standard setup chain: Establish Position → Create the Threat → Secure the Hold → Finish.
How do I defend against the Ulnar?
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 Ulnar?
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 Ulnar in competition?
Ulnar deviation locks occasionally appear as surprise wrist submissions in grappling competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Ulnar?
Top errors to watch for: Confusing ulnar with radial deviation — ulnar goes toward the pinky, radial goes toward the thumb; mixing them up cha… / Applying without stabilising the forearm — the forearm must be anchored; a free forearm absorbs the deviation / Using excessive force — the wrist has limited lateral range; the lock can cause damage with relatively little applied… / Not training ulnar deviation as part of a system — it is most effective when combined with extension, flexion, and ra….
What are other names for the Ulnar?
The Ulnar is also known as Shakusoku, Ulnar Deviation Lock, Ulnar Wrist Lock.