Underhooks and overhooks
The pummeling battle for inside arm position that repeats across nearly every position.
How to read it
What this entry helps you see
An underhook threads your arm under the partner arm to reach inside control, while an overhook wraps over it. The contest for underhooks, the pummel, repeats in the clinch, in half guard, in turtle, and in scrambles. Winning inside position tends to give you the initiative, which is why the same battle keeps showing up. Treat it as one recurring skill rather than a separate move in each position.
Study cues
- Fight for the inside underhook in the pummel
- Connect the underhook shoulder to the partner body
- Recognize the same battle across standing, half guard, and turtle
Common errors
- Winning an underhook but leaving it loose
- Relying on an overhook where an underhook was available
- Treating each position pummel as unrelated to the others