How to Perform a Wrist Lock

Many martial artists claim that wrist locks aren't practical, but they just haven't mastered the technique. Wrist locks are used to end a fight or to control those you don't wish to fight, such as drunks or emotionally disturbed individuals. Following are steps for using the wrist lock technique in your martial arts training.

Instructions

    • 1

      Act fast. You must get your opponent's wrist locked before he or she knows what you're doing. If you take too long, your opponent will pull the hand away or counter with a technique that will force you to let go of the hand.

    • 2

      Grab the hand so your fingers are against your opponent's palm and your thumb presses against the back of the hand under the knuckles. Find a bone and press down on it.

    • 3

      Turn your opponent's hand until your thumb is nearer your body. Since the wrist isn't designed to allow the hand to rotate in respect to the forearm, he or she will be forced to contort the body to prevent the wrist from breaking.

    • 4

      Hold the hand near your body. If you perform a wrist lock with your hand far from your body, you won't have enough power to maintain the wrist lock while your opponent tries to pull free.

    • 5

      Keep the hand far from your opponent's body. This will prevent him or her from "muscling out" of the wrist lock. It will also ensure that you are out of reach of a counterattack. You can step forward, forcing your opponent to move toward the floor, or step back, extending your opponent's arm until the elbow locks out as well.

    • 6

      Apply pressure by bending your opponent's hand toward his or her shoulder. This will cause pain and force your opponent to submit.