Basic Wristlock Takedown - Marine Corps Martial Arts Technique

This page examines the basic wristlock takedown used in the Marine Corps martial arts program. Overall, this section focuses on tan belt techniques used by the Marine Corps martial arts program. Information from Public Domain Document, MCRP 3-02B, Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP).

For more Marine Corps techniques, please visit the main Marine Corps Martial Arts Program section.

Wristlocks

A wristlock is a joint manipulation that can be applied in a number of ways to achieve pain compliance. The wrist will rotate in a number of directions; it will bend in a single direction until its movement stops naturally. In a wristlock, pressure is exerted beyond the wrist’s natural ability to bend or twist the joint. A wristlock can be executed when someone tries to grab you or is successful in grabbing you or your equipment. You can also perform a wristlock when you wish to initiate control of someone.

Basic Wristlock Takedown

Technique

~ Begin with the aggressor placing his hands on your collar/shoulders.
~ Grab the aggressor’s left hand with your right hand by placing your thumb on the back of his hand so that your knuckles are facing to your left. Keep the aggressor’s left hand centered on and close to your own chest.
~ Hook your fingers across the fleshy part of his palm below the thumb. Rotate the aggressor’s palm so that it is now toward him and the fingers point skyward (keeping his palm close to your chest).
~ Bring your left hand up to join the right hand; place the left thumb next to the right on the back of the aggressor’s hand. You may place both thumbs on the back of the aggressor’s hand, with the thumbs crossed.
~ Hook the fingers of both hands around the fleshy part of the aggressor’s palm on both sides of his hand.
~ Apply pressure downward on the back of the aggressor’s hand to bend the joint and rotate the wrist outboard, twisting the joint.
~ Apply downward pressure on the wristlock, pivot on the ball of your left foot, and step back with the right foot, quickly turning to your right to take the aggressor to the deck. If you have an aggressor in a wristlock, he can be easily off balanced by pivoting quickly. You can gain better control of the aggressor once he is knocked off balance.
~ While you turn in a small circle, the aggressor is forced around in a bigger circle and he cannot move as fast as you and is knocked off balance.
~ Continue to apply pressure on the wrist joint as the aggressor lands on his back with his arm straight in the air.
~ Slide your lead foot under the aggressor’s shoulder.
~ Apply pressure with your knee against the aggressor’s triceps/elbow while pulling back on his arm and maintain downward pressure on the wrist until pain compliance is achieved. See figure 2-44.

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References

1. Information from Public Domain Document, MCRP 3-02B, Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP), http://www.marines.mil/News/Publications/ELECTRONICLIBRARY.aspx, Added - 04/29/15