Underhook

What it is

The underhook is a control where your arm goes under the opponent's arm and your hand reaches toward their back. It gives you the inside position in any chest to chest fight, so you can lift, turn and stand while they cannot pin you. From bottom half guard it is the main way to get off your back and start sweeping or taking the back.

When to use it

• In bottom half guard, to get onto your side and come up toward their back.
• Standing or on the knees, to control their upper body and set up takedowns and back takes.
• In top half guard or during a pass, to stop their frames and drive chest to chest.
• Any time you need to get off your back: the underhook is what lets you turn and sit up.

How to do it

1. Get onto your side first, so the top arm is free to move. Flat on your back there is no underhook to take.
2. Clear their arm: push their elbow up or wait for them to reach, then shoot your arm under their armpit.
3. Reach deep, hand flat on their back or gripping the far side of their belt or hip.
4. Pull your elbow in toward your own ribs so the hook is tight and your head comes up to their shoulder.
5. Use it: come up to your knees, drive them over, or climb toward their back.

Key details

• Deep and tight. A shallow underhook with a loose elbow is easy to whizzer and strip.
• Head position wins the fight: keep your head tight on the underhook side, usually under their chin, so they cannot crossface.
• The underhook is for moving, not holding. Take it and go, before they adjust.
• On bottom, your hips must be off the mat for the underhook to do anything.

Common mistakes

• Mistake: reaching for it while flat. They crossface you, your head turns away and the arm gets trapped.
• Mistake: leaving the head high and loose. They whizzer the arm and drive you back down.
• Mistake: holding the underhook and waiting. They take an underhook of their own and the advantage is gone.

What they will try

• The whizzer: their arm goes over yours and clamps it so the underhook cannot lift.
• The crossface: they turn your head away before the underhook gets deep.
• They pummel their own arm inside yours and take the underhook back.