Judo Holds and Submission Techniques

You can use Judo holds and submission techniques to end a fight quickly, and without having to cause serious damage to your opponent.

In the animated illustration (at left) Uke is tapping frantically to indicates he has already surrendered. And he has good reason. His neck is being choked, any harder and he'll black out. And with a tiny bit more pressure on his elbow and Uke's trapped arm can be broken as well. Lastly, he can't hope to grab Tori's testicles from that position. Believe me, it is a tried and tested Ju Jitsu finishing hold.

After the fight goes to the ground, usually by a throw, but sometimes by both protagonists falling, Judo holds are used to take control of your opponent. He in turn will be trying the same against you, if he has any experience of ground fighting or grappling.

A Judo hold can be as simple as one that keeps you braced so he cannot get an advantage. Or it can go into a submission technique that ends the fight then and there. An arm bar. A leg crank. A choke hold or a strangle hold.

If your opponent doesn't tap to signal surrender, he'll have a snapped bone joint, or be rendered unconcious by oxygen starvation to his brain. Tapping only applies in the Dojo. In real life, the techniques are applied to the max to break the bone or perform a knock-out. After all, there's no point in letting him go if he's only going to come at you a second time. (And how can you be absolutely sure he won't? Forget what he shouts out while he's in pain.)

Judo holds and submission techniques have been time tested and they are very powerful. They use the principle of leverage against the body's joints, so even a strong man cannot resist the pressure. A woman trained in Judo or Ju Jitsu can easily apply these locks and holds to a larger man.

Just be prepared to work at your Judo holds and submission techniques for a considerable time period. You can't afford to put them on ineffectively. You've got to be quick and confident. Remember, anything worth having is going to take some dedication. You can't buy it and take it home. You have to do it, and make it yours.