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Underhook Battle Position | BJJ Position Guide | BJJ Graph

Oct 25, 202510 min read

Underhook Battle Position

bjjstatestandingclinchintermediate

State Properties

  • State ID: S302
  • Point Value: 0 (Neutral standing position)
  • Position Type: Neutral with advantage to underhook holder
  • Risk Level: Medium
  • Energy Cost: High
  • Time Sustainability: Short to Medium

State Description

Underhook Battle Position is a dynamic standing clinch position where both practitioners are fighting for underhook control - inserting their arm under opponent’s armpit to control their torso. This position represents one of the most fundamental control battles in wrestling and BJJ standup, where securing the underhook provides significant advantages for takedowns, throws, and positional dominance. The battle is typically intense and energy-intensive.

Visual Description

You are standing close to opponent in chest-to-chest or offset position, with one or both arms actively fighting to secure underhooks (arm under opponent’s armpit, hand on their back or shoulder) while simultaneously preventing opponent from securing their underhooks on you. Your head positioning is critical - typically on the same side as your underhook or fighting for inside head position. Your hips are engaged, either driving forward if you have underhook advantage or creating defensive frames if opponent has the advantage. Your legs maintain a wide, stable base with bent knees, constantly adjusting to maintain balance against opponent’s pressure and attempts to off-balance you. The position is characterized by constant hand fighting, head positioning battles, and hip pressure exchanges.

Key Principles

  • Underhook control provides significant offensive and defensive advantages
  • Inside head position (forehead against opponent’s cheek) enhances underhook power
  • Hip-to-hip connection with underhook creates powerful control
  • Double underhooks are extremely dominant position
  • Preventing opponent’s underhooks is as important as securing your own
  • Use underhook to control opponent’s center of mass and direction

Offensive Transitions

From this position, you can execute:

With Underhook Advantage

  • Body Lock Pass → Back Control or Side Control (Success Rate: Beginner 50%, Intermediate 65%, Advanced 80%)

    • Secure double underhooks or single underhook with control, drive forward or execute takedown

  • Duck Under → Back Control (Success Rate: Beginner 35%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 70%)

    • From underhook position, duck under opponent’s arm to get behind them

  • Arm Drag → Back Control (Success Rate: Beginner 40%, Intermediate 55%, Advanced 70%)

    • Transition from underhook battle to arm drag, accessing back

Throws and Takedowns

  • Hip Toss → Side Control (Success Rate: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 45%, Advanced 60%)

    • Use underhook control to execute hip throw variations

  • Lateral Drop → Top Position (Success Rate: Beginner 25%, Intermediate 40%, Advanced 55%)

    • From underhook, drop to side and pull opponent over

  • Inside Trip → Top Position (Success Rate: Beginner 35%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 65%)

    • Use underhook control while tripping opponent’s inside leg

Defensive Options (Without Underhook)

  • Whizzer → Counter Control (Success Rate: Beginner 40%, Intermediate 55%, Advanced 70%)

    • Overhook opponent’s underhook arm to neutralize and create counter opportunities

  • Limp Arm Defense → Escape (Success Rate: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 45%, Advanced 60%)

    • Remove your arm from opponent’s underhook control by going limp

Defensive Responses

When opponent has underhook advantage against you:

Decision Tree

If you secure double underhooks:

  • Execute Body Lock Pass → Back Control (Probability: 80%)
    • Reasoning: Double underhooks provide overwhelming control advantage
  • Or Execute Mat Return → Top Position (Probability: 75%)
    • Reasoning: Drive forward and take down with double underhook control

Else if you have single underhook with inside head position:

  • Execute Duck Under → Back Control (Probability: 70%)
    • Reasoning: Underhook + head position creates back take opportunity
  • Or Execute Inside Trip → Top Position (Probability: 65%)
    • Reasoning: Use underhook control for inside trip finish

Else if opponent has underhook advantage:

Else (equal underhook battle / neutral):

Expert Insights

John Danaher: “The underhook battle is about controlling your opponent’s center of mass. An underhook allows you to dictate direction and pressure - it’s essentially a steering mechanism for their entire body. The key is understanding that securing the underhook alone isn’t enough; you must combine it with proper head position and hip pressure to maximize its effectiveness. Without these elements, the underhook is just an arm position. With them, it becomes a dominant control system.”

Gordon Ryan: “In competition, I focus heavily on winning the underhook battle because it determines who controls the standing exchanges. If I get double underhooks, the match often ends quickly with a back take or dominant takedown. Even a single underhook with good head position gives me enough control to force opponent into defensive mode. I practice underhook entries relentlessly - getting the underhook before opponent is often the difference between winning and losing the standup exchange.”

Eddie Bravo: “The underhook battle connects directly to our guillotine and darce setups. When opponent gets an underhook and drives forward, they’re often exposing their neck for guillotines. When you get the underhook, you can force defensive reactions that create front headlock opportunities. The 10th Planet system views the underhook battle not just as a control position but as a setup for our submission systems - we want to win it, but we’re also ready to capitalize when opponent wins it and overcommits.”

Common Errors

Error: Fighting for underhook with arm strength alone

  • Consequence: Exhausts arm muscles quickly without achieving lasting control, easily countered by opponent’s technique
  • Correction: Use entire body to secure underhook - drop level slightly, drive with hips and legs, use core rotation
  • Recognition: If you fatigue quickly in underhook battles or lose position despite initial success, you’re using too much arm strength

Error: Neglecting head position while focusing on underhook

  • Consequence: Opponent can establish superior head position and neutralize your underhook advantage
  • Correction: Fight for inside head position (forehead on opponent’s cheek) simultaneously with underhook battle
  • Recognition: If opponent controls you despite your underhook, check head positioning

Error: Remaining static after securing underhook

  • Consequence: Allows opponent time to establish counter-controls like whizzer or to escape clinch
  • Correction: Immediately attack after securing underhook - duck under, hip toss, body lock, etc.
  • Recognition: If you secure underhooks but don’t advance position, improve transition timing

Error: Allowing opponent to get double underhooks

  • Consequence: Gives opponent overwhelming control, very difficult to defend against double underhook attacks
  • Correction: As soon as opponent gets first underhook, fight urgently to prevent second underhook, use frames and distance
  • Recognition: If you frequently get taken down or controlled from double underhooks, improve underhook prevention

Error: Poor base or stance during underhook battle

  • Consequence: Easy to be off-balanced or taken down despite having underhook control
  • Correction: Maintain wide stance with bent knees, keep weight centered, adjust base constantly
  • Recognition: If you get tripped or thrown despite underhook control, stabilize your base

Training Drills

Drill 1: Underhook Fighting with Progressive Resistance

Partners face each other in neutral standing, fight for underhook control with progressive resistance (30% → 100%). Focus on proper technique: level changes, head position, hip engagement. Each round lasts 2 minutes with 30-second reset. Partner who first secures double underhooks or maintains single underhook for 10+ seconds wins. 5-7 rounds. Success metric: secure underhook advantage in 60%+ of rounds.

Drill 2: Underhook to Technique Flow

One partner secures underhook, other defends with specific response (whizzer, frame, or allows). Attacking partner flows through techniques: duck under, body lock, inside trip, or adapts based on defense. 3 minutes per role. Focus on smooth transitions and reading defensive reactions. Success metric: complete technique chains without losing underhook control.

Drill 3: Scramble Underhook Battle

Both partners start standing, engage in live underhook battle with goal of executing any takedown or securing back control. Full resistance with reset after each successful technique or if position stagnates for more than 20 seconds. 5 minute rounds, 3-5 rounds. Success metric: successful takedowns or back takes from underhook position in 50%+ of engagements.

Position Metrics

  • Position Retention Rate: Beginner 45%, Intermediate 60%, Advanced 75%
  • Advancement Probability: Beginner 40%, Intermediate 55%, Advanced 70%
  • Takedown Success: Beginner 35%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 65%
  • Position Loss Probability: Beginner 45%, Intermediate 35%, Advanced 25%
  • Average Time in Position: 10-30 seconds (typically short due to high intensity)

Optimal Submission Paths

Fastest path to dominant position (double underhooks): Underhook Battle Position → Double Underhooks → Body Lock Pass → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke → Won by Submission Reasoning: Direct path from underhook dominance to back control and submission

High-percentage path (systematic): Underhook Battle Position → Single Underhook + Head Position → Duck Under → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke → Won by Submission Reasoning: Systematic progression using single underhook advantage to access back

Alternative control path (throw-based): Underhook Battle Position → Underhook Control → Hip Toss → Side Control → Mount → Submission Attack → Won by Submission Reasoning: Use underhook for throwing technique, establish top position for submissions

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