Submission Techniques

Submission techniques are anything that makes your opponent surrender or give in.

In format martial arts and controlled matches, submission is usually indicated by tapping the mat loudly or tapping urgently on the arm or body of the person who is forcing you to submit through pain.

In Ju Jitsu, submission techniques include chokes and strangles, arm locks and leg locks - which work against the joints. Chokes (which are prohibited in Judo nowadays) stop the blood to your brain, while strangles compress the windpipe and stop you from being able to breathe.

Often a neck hold will choke and strangle at the same time, and can achieve a knock-out in just a few seconds of pressure. And it's quite possible for the person on the receiving end to be 'KO-ed' before they have been able - or willing - to tap out.

In the days when I was a teenager learning Judo, one used to have to learn Kuatsu (ancient Japanese martial arts resusitation) before you were allowed to do chokes and strangles, or use atemi blows. Most Judo schools don't do any of these today. They usually teach it as a sport.

Aikido uses arm locks, wrist locks, leg locks and pressure on some nerve centers.