Historical Context and Nomenclature

Kannuki Gatame, historically called Uli Gatame, is a classical armlock technique found across multiple martial arts including judo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and professional wrestling. The name 'Kannuki' refers to a bolt or latch on a door, descriptively capturing the mechanics of this figure-4 armlock variation.

Setup from Guard Position

When an opponent reaches into the guard, the defender traps the arm by placing one hand on their own shoulder and the other on the opponent's wrist. This initial positioning prevents the opponent from withdrawing their arm and establishes control before applying the lock.

Establishing the Fulcrum

The defender's forearm must be positioned directly under the opponent's elbow to create the primary fulcrum of the lock. The trapped arm must be pulled tightly against the defender's body to prevent the opponent from extracting their limb during the submission.

Upper Body Pressure and Wrist Control

The defender's free hand pushes into the opponent's shoulder while simultaneously pulling the trapped arm inward, creating compressive pressure. The defending hand then clasps their own wrist, forming a complete lock that often produces immediate submission even before additional leverage is applied.

Adding Rotational Torque

To intensify the lock when initial pressure proves insufficient, the defender rotates their body while driving their knee into position for additional mechanical advantage. This combination of rotational movement and knee pressure eliminates any remaining escape space and dramatically increases the submission's effectiveness.

Adaptations for Taller Athletes

Practitioners with longer limbs can modify the technique by pushing the opponent away to create space, then re-engaging with increased extension. This variation accommodates different body proportions while maintaining the lock's fundamental mechanics and submission effectiveness.

Leg-Assisted Variation with Lapel Control

An alternative approach incorporates grip on the opponent's far lapel while using the legs for positioning, requiring the defender to pull the opponent down to prevent arm extraction. The defender shifts to control the far lapel while looping through, causing the opponent to defend against an apparent choke while their hand contacts the mat.

Transitional Movement to Finish

As the defender moves across the opponent's body, they utilize their shin and foot against the opponent's shoulder and head as a control point, similar to head roll mechanics. The combination of arm barring and head pressure forces the opponent prone while the defender maintains the armlock for submission.

Hip Movement and Final Pressure

The defender creates space by moving their hips backward while using their forearm to push into the opponent's armpit, forcing them downward. Once sufficient positioning is achieved, the defending foot steps over the opponent's head while the hips rotate forward, applying simultaneous shoulder and elbow pressure for the final submission.

Advanced Grip Integration

Maintaining cross-lapel control throughout the finish prevents the opponent from escaping by running away or extracting their arm. The combination of arm bar, lapel grip, and hip hook creates a multi-directional lock where the opponent's arm cannot bend, resulting in submission through shoulder crank and elbow lock applied simultaneously.

KANNUKI GATAME (UDE GATAME) Latch or Crossbar Armlock (Also Called Straight Armlock)

welcomematstevescott

Hara-Gatame From Standing

3 min read·10 key moments·PT9M4S video

Key Takeaways

•Historical Context and Nomenclature
•Setup from Guard Position
•Establishing the Fulcrum
•Upper Body Pressure and Wrist Control

This video shows two applications of an old armlock that continues to be effective in all types of sport grappling and self-defense. Go to www.amazon.com or www.ymaa.com to get Steve Scott's books THE JUDO ADVANTAGE, SAMBO ENCYCLOPEDIA and JUJI GATAME ENCYCLOPEDIA. Join the Steve Scott Training Group on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1094841137237608/ Our channel was started in 2010 as an extension of our program at Welcome Mat. Welcome Mat was founded in 1969 by Steve Scott in Kansas City, Missouri, USA and has produced thousands of successful students, athletes and coaches in a variety of grappling sports. View over a thousand videos on the subjects of judo, freestyle judo, Shingitai Jujitsu, sambo, submission grappling and sport jujitsu are on our Youtube channel. Browse through our playlists to see what we have on our channel. If a video is listed as "private" is it because that video is still in development or scheduled for later viewing. Comments are moderated. Please keep your comments on topic and think before posting them. Comments containing profanity, racial, religious or sexual slurs and comments that are insulting will not be permitted and those posting such comments will be blocked from the channel. Criticism is okay but trolling isn't. You can subscribe for free to our channel at http://youtube.com/user/welcomematstevescott. We strive to provide fundamentally sound and technically innovative skills and information on a variety of grappling sports. We appreciate your support! Please tell others about our channel. You can help support our channel by going to our online store and purchasing items. Go to http://www.WelcomeMatStore.com. We have a variety of books, shirts and other items for sale. Music for the Freestyle Judo show provided by YouTube Copyright Free Audio featuring "Fiend" by Sting and performed by the Jingle Punks and "All This Down Time" by Sting and performed by the Jingle Punks. Visit our club web site at http://www.WelcomeMatJudoClub.com. For information on the Judo Black Belt Association, go to http://www.judoblackbelt.com. Thank you for watching our video. Please tell others about our channel. Our videos are all original material and are copyrighted. Reproduction or showing these videos without the specific permission of Steve Scott is prohibited. #KannunikGatame #UdeGatame #welcomematstevescott

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this video teach about hara-gatame from standing?

This video covers historical context and nomenclature, setup from guard position, establishing the fulcrum. It provides detailed instruction from welcomematstevescott.

How long does it take to learn hara-gatame from standing?

The basic mechanics can be understood in a single session, but developing reliable execution requires consistent drilling over weeks of practice. This 10-part breakdown helps structure your training by isolating each phase of the technique.