Get To Know Everything About Body Lock In MMA

Body Lock In MMA: Controlling an opponent’s upper body is one of the finest techniques to subdue them during a fight. It’s simple and easy to break their posture during the stand-up stage and pass their legs to the ground using upper body control. Controlling the opponent’s upper body is difficult since you have to get beyond their hands, hips, and other lines of defence.

But once you have the upper body under control, getting through the guard is incredibly difficult to stop.

Get To Know Everything About Body Lock In MMA

Body Lock

Body locks can be applied both while standing up and while lying down. Typically used in the stand-up, the ideal body lock involves encircling the opponent’s torso with your arms and employing underhooks to control their upper body. This is no easy feat, since the adversary would definitely utilise their weapons to defend themselves. The body lock can be utilised to limit movement while trapping one (over-under) or both of the opponent’s arms (double over). An effective body lock in MMA may be used to get behind the opponent, set up other takedowns, or launch an assault.

As you pass their guard and transition to side control or mount while on the ground, the body lock may also be employed to control the opponent’s torso. The body lock usually counters the butterfly guard because it prevents the opponent from using their legs as much, neutralising the hooks.

Applying A Body Lock Over Under

It might be challenging to maintain adequate body lock control in the stand-up from the over-under position. The opponent’s upper body is powerful and erect when you and the opponent are in an over-under stance. As a result, there isn’t much room in this posture to re-grip and move their arm away from their body on your under hooking side, especially if their grips are locked.

The dominating over under body lock may be achieved by lowering your knee to change levels. In order to acquire velocity and recapture the underhook, swing your underhooking arm in the direction of your body as you raise it. To flare their hand away from their chest on your underhooking side, you must first draw your body up from changing levels. The over-under should be finished by applying a gable grip.

You might also be interested in reading this: 5 Powerful Combinations of Bait Punches

Get Out of the Body Lock

To acquire the dominant over under body lock, lower your knee to a new level. As you raise your body, whip your underhooking arm in the direction of your body to acquire speed and restore the underhook. You must draw your body up from shifting levels before you can flare their hand away from their torso on your underhooking side. Finish by applying a gable grip to the over-under.

After aiming for a single leg takedown, head in while leaning to the side and switch your grips to a body hold. Grasp your opponent’s waist and ribs with a body lock. Squeeze their body backwards while driving your head into their chest. The opponent’s erect stance will be broken by this. To lower them to the mat, cross your other leg over their far leg. As you drop, secure the mount position.

Pass The Body Lock

Grab the opponent’s leg on the side you want to pass, starting with the standing open guard pass and the opponent seated in butterfly guard.

When employing the body lock pass to go past the butterfly guard, you must stop your opponent’s leg from moving outside to your hip on the side you want to get through since doing so provides them with the chance to re-guard. With your other hand underhooking their body behind the waist, you lunge forward towards their chest while blocking their leg.

Stop their feet from crossing outside of your hip by using your leg. Reconnect with your underhooking hand behind their waist with your hand by letting go of the leg you’re holding onto. Continue to block the top of the opponent’s leg with your elbow. This makes it difficult to perform the body lock because it stops the opponent from releasing their leg and bringing their knee up to their chest. Use your head to drive on the opponent’s chest as you pass them to prevent them from pushing with their arms to push on your legs or arms, making it harder for them to regain their guard.

Bring your leg beyond the passing side as you lock hands. By sprawling, turn your hip to the opposite side, and place your other leg directly over the knee. Put your head on the other side of their body and press your shoulder onto their chest to exert pressure. The opponent will often lock the half-guard from this posture. Pinch your knees together and smash your foot inside their leg to go through the half-guard. Bring your knee up now to release your entrapped leg. To secure the pass, go to full mount or side control.

Final Words

The body lock is a dynamic move that embodies the fundamental idea of grappling: closing the gap. It is simple to do and doesn’t need much athletic ability to become proficient. The body lock is an absolute must-learn to defeat opponents of all skills and styles in the current meta, as various guards are employed to create space and distance against the opponent. This technique may be used safely by grapplers at all skill levels in BJJ, MMA, or even self-defence scenarios, whether they are standing or on the ground.

The secret to a strong body lock pass is to use your body to restrict movement. You should be able to defeat even the most resilient guardians in your gym as long as you are always aware of your placement. Have a wonderful time!