KerwinBenson.com Hidden Gems of Martial Arts

Why would someone want to do some of those really weird locks out there?

Good question.

Don't some of those joint locks seem impractical? How would you ever use some of those in the heat of a real fight? Are these unknown locks only good for control a grab to your body?

These are all decent questions too.

In the book, Wrist Locks: From Protecting Yourself to becoming an Expert, I devote an entire chapter to teach you a dozen specific locks. Actually, you learn 13 locks -- a baker's dozen.

But why did I want you to learn those particular locks?

Owners of the book 'Wrist Locks,' can understand some of my choices:

* Readers like the practicality of revving the motorcycle

* They are delighted by all of the variation on the Basic Lock

* They see how Chicken Wings and Step Throughs could
       fit into an actual confrontation

* And they could even see themselves performing the Ground Control Lock ...

But how the heck do you use a Double Ninety or "The Weird Lock With No Name"?

One of the reasons I teach you these particular locks is that they present some very important principles for successful joint locking.

You learn by virtue of practicing those particular locks. And if you play with these controls enough, you will learn to generalize these principles to other locks and controls that you may have to use during an encounter.

It almost happens automatically.

Still, you ask, "Why, Keith Pascal, did you include some of those more bizarre locks?"

Some of these locks have very specific uses. They don't generalize well to different situations.

But they are perfect if you use them in their particular niches.

And you can learn by example. If these locks fit into particular places, are there other locks that could make your fighting more efficient, if placed in the right spot?

Here's what I am talking about. Let's take the 'The Weird Lock With No Name' as an example.

Why would you ever want one of your hands on the inside of your opponent on his or her biceps, while your other hand bends the opponent's wrist in a control?

Could there really be a situation where this is useful?

Here are just a few possible scenarios for The Weird Lock With No Name:

You are against an opponent, and you're standing to the side of him. You have his arm outstretched and your other hand is snaked around the back of his neck.

With a little pressure you will bend him over -- maybe into a throw -- maybe drop him down, flowing into another control...

But this guy resists your pressure. He has one mighty neck. He could have played the part of The Hulk.

Not only does he resist bending his neck, but he actually bends his arm in, not allowing you to 'straight arm' him.

What do you do?

You allow him to bend his arm and keep his neck upright, because his resistance, pardon the reference the The Borg in Star Trek, is futile.

Resistance is futile, because if The Hulk resists, he will pull you right into The Weird Lock With No Name.

It's that simple.

In scenario number two, you want to put an arm bar on your opponent, but you find your arm is on the inside of her guard.

Do you take the time to pull your hand free?

[Not a bad idea, if you trap the arm that's in the way as you pull yours free. Also, only pull it as far back as needed to barely clear the obstruction. No cradling your fist back at your side.]

So, what do you do?

You move your hand in a direction where you don't feel resistance. And guess what!

That direction just happens to be on her biceps. BAM -- you have a chance to use The Weird Lock With No Name again.

Hmmm -- Maybe this lock has more uses than previously thought.

In fact, without imagining any more scenarios, you are able to generalize this lock to a principle:

When you have your arm on the inside of your opponent's, and it is either right to left or left hand to right hand, you can do The Weird Lock With No Name --- as long as you can put your hand on your opponent's biceps without resistance.

Whew -- that was a mouthful.

But I have something concrete to practice.

I can invent situations where my hand ends up on the inside. I can practice as many variations as I can think up.

And someday, if I ever feel that familiar feeling, that would make others panic, I can easily move just a few inches into an efficient lock.

End note:

If you do already own the book, you'll find The Weird Lock With No Name on pages 50-51 in the hardback edition, and on pages 55 - 56 of the ebook version.

But as I said, you don't need the book or that particular lock, to make this article worthwhile to you.

Pick any strange lock that you already know.

Put the lock on your partner.

Now back up one step. Ok, rewind two steps. Go back to where your hand is making 'first contact' (A Star Trek reference again?) with your partner in preparation for the lock.

Now, freeze action, right there.

Examine both of your positions -- hand positions and body positions. Look at everything. On both you and your partner.

Now, the question becomes:

How many ways can you find to get to that position in a fight.

'All roads lead to Rome' -- and several of your hand encounters could lead to one particular lock.

If you do this with all of your 'weird' locks, you could really enhance your martial arts skills.

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