The Best ‘Submission’ No One Uses
What if I told you there was a joint lock submission that was easy to learn and apply, required little strength, catches people of all skill levels by surprise, and is useful both standing and on the ground? What if I also told you that virtually no martial arts school or gym is teaching it? Take a few minutes to follow me down the rabbit hole as I open your eyes to the best technique everyone ignores: the finger lock.
My respect for finger locks started early in my training as a novice grappler at a rather traditional Jujutsu school. I had maybe a year of training under my belt and I was rolling with a guy who had been training for about a month or so. We were in a bit of a stalemate, as I was stuck in his guard and doing my best to work my way out. Suddenly, out of nowhere, he grabbed a hold of my fingers on one hand and cranked them backward, forcing me to immediately tap. It was at that moment I fully appreciated the power of the finger lock; a technique which allows someone with almost no experience to effectively beat someone of greater experience with little effort.
So why does no one teach or train finger locks? That question is largely answered by the massive shift to competition-based training in the martial arts. This article could easily be titled ‘The Best ‘Submission’ No One Can Use,’ since finger locks are illegal in all types of organized competition. Why waste time training something that won’t help you ‘win’ at the next grappling tournament? This is, unfortunately, the thought process of most modern Jiu-Jitsu schools.
While finger locks may get you disqualified in competition, they are without a doubt one of best possible weapons for self-defense. Outside of some traditional Japanese styles of Jujutsu, Aikido/Aiki Jujutsu, and a few modernized self-defense systems. you’re not likely to find finger locks in any curriculum. Even when they are included, they are often taught ineffectively in an unrealistic context and are forbidden to be used in sparring (if there is sparring at all). MMA has innovated almost all areas of the martial arts, but one area it has left completely untouched is finger locking. This is something I recognized a long time ago, and have worked to innovate and incorporate finger locks into my training and teaching for many years now.
Why are finger locks the best thing you can add to your self-defense arsenal?
They require little training. Grab a finger, bend it backward, and you have a basic finger lock. Learn even a little technique, and your options begin to grow exponentially.
They require little strength. Finger locks are a true equalizer for smaller or weaker individuals. While they can be applied using only wrist and arm strength, using good technique will make them feel effortless.
They’re versatile. Like the larger appendages, the fingers can be manipulated in a variety of ways to be broken or to cause pain. They can be hyper-extended, compressed, or twisted, offering you options depending on your grip. You can capture one finger and use it to capture two fingers (pretend it’s Thanksgiving and make a wish). If you don’t want to break someone, with training and practice, you can control, pin, or move them.
They’re hard to defend against. Once someone gets a solid grip on one or more of your fingers, you are in serious trouble —especially if your arm is isolated and you are not in a position to effectively strike them. It only takes a minute range of motion to apply a finger lock, offering almost no time to defend.
They’re unexpected. The phrase “out of sight, out of mind” applies here. People who don’t train finger locks will be unaware of places where they are vulnerable and completely caught off-guard when a finger gets cranked (just as I was).
They’re everywhere. If someone is pushing or grabbing you, you can find a finger lock. Pick almost any position on the ground, orthodox or otherwise, and you can find a finger lock. Basically, if you have access to someone’s hand, you can find a finger lock.
Like everything in martial arts, there are some caveats to finger locks. It’s important to recognize that finger locks are techniques of opportunity, meaning they are things you find in the grappling scramble, rather than something you might execute technically from a specific position. You must learn to have discretion in choosing these opportunities or risk being vulnerable to taking damage. With that said, once you learn the intricacies of finger locking, you will have added a truly valuable principle to your self-defense arsenal -and arguably the best submission no one uses.
To learn some finger locking strategies, stop in for a private training session.
