BJJ Graph

Underhook Control

Dec 09, 202510 min read

Underhook control represents one of the most fundamental positional battles in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, occurring across multiple positions including half guard, side control transitions, and scramble situations. This inside control position creates a critical strategic fork where the practitioner who secures and maintains the underhook gains significant mechanical advantage in directing the pace and outcome of exchanges.

The underhook battle fundamentally centers on controlling your opponent’s center of gravity and restricting their ability to generate pressure or establish dominant angles. When you secure an underhook, you create a structural frame that prevents your opponent from flattening you out while simultaneously opening pathways for sweeps, back takes, and positional improvements. The deep underhook penetrates past your opponent’s arm and connects to their back or far shoulder, creating a mechanical lever that disrupts their base and posture.

From bottom positions, underhook control transforms defensive scenarios into offensive opportunities. The bottom practitioner uses the underhook to prevent their opponent from consolidating side control or knee-on-belly, instead creating space for hip movement and guard recovery. The underhook serves as both shield and sword—protecting against submissions while enabling sweeps and reversals. This dual functionality makes underhook control essential for any bottom player seeking to neutralize top pressure and create scramble opportunities.

From top positions, underhook control becomes an offensive weapon for maintaining pressure, preventing escapes, and setting up passes or submissions. The top player uses the underhook to drive their opponent to their side, flatten them out, or create angles for leg attacks and back takes. Top underhook control often connects directly to dominant positions like mount or back control, making it a high-value objective in any passing sequence.

The strategic value of underhook control extends beyond immediate positional advantage. Practitioners who consistently win the underhook battle control the tempo of matches, forcing opponents into reactive patterns and creating predictable defensive responses. This positional warfare develops into complex hand-fighting exchanges where timing, grip strength, and technical precision determine outcomes. High-level competitors invest significant training time in underhook battles because winning these micro-exchanges translates directly into macro positional dominance.

Modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has elevated underhook control from a fundamental concept to an advanced art form. Practitioners now chain underhook entries with specific guard systems, develop sophisticated underhook retention strategies, and exploit underhook-based passing systems that integrate seamlessly with leg entanglement attacks. Understanding underhook control from both bottom and top perspectives creates a complete positional understanding that applies across gi and no-gi contexts, from beginner fundamentals through elite competition strategy.

Key Principles

  • The underhook battle determines who controls the positional exchange—win this and you control the tempo

  • Deep underhook penetration past the arm connects to the opponent’s back, creating maximal leverage

  • The underhook creates a structural frame that prevents flattening while enabling hip mobility

  • From bottom, the underhook transforms defensive positions into offensive launching points

  • From top, the underhook prevents escapes while creating angles for advancement

  • Underhook control must be dynamic—static underhooks invite counter-strategies and stalling

  • The non-underhook hand plays a critical role in preventing opponent head control and crossfaces

Top vs Bottom

 BottomTop
Position TypeDefensive with offensive optionsOffensive/Controlling
Risk LevelMediumLow to Medium
Energy CostMediumMedium
TimeMediumMedium to Long

Key Difference: Inside control trades defense for sweep access

Playing as Bottom

→ Full Bottom Guide

Key Principles

  • The underhook must be deep—shallow underhooks provide minimal leverage and invite opponent shoulder pressure

  • Dynamic movement prevents static stalemates—use the underhook to enable hip mobility and angle changes

  • The non-underhook hand prevents crossface control, which would nullify underhook advantages

  • Hip positioning determines success—keep inside hip elevated to maintain offensive options

  • The underhook creates sweep opportunities by controlling opponent’s center of gravity and base

  • Underhook control is transitional—use it immediately to advance position rather than holding statically

  • Combine underhook control with leg positioning (butterfly hooks, lockdown, shields) for maximum effectiveness

Primary Techniques

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Maintaining shallow underhook that only reaches opponent’s bicep or elbow area

    • Consequence: Opponent easily establishes crossface control and drives shoulder pressure into your face, flattening you to the mat and nullifying offensive opportunities
    • ✅ Correction: Drive your underhook deeply past opponent’s armpit with hand reaching their far shoulder blade. Use hip movement to maintain depth and prevent opponent from extracting their arm backward

  • ❌ Keeping inside hip flat on the mat while holding underhook

    • Consequence: Opponent flattens you completely, eliminating hip mobility necessary for sweeps or guard recovery. Static position allows opponent to consolidate control and advance
    • ✅ Correction: Use underhook frame to elevate inside hip off the mat. Maintain dynamic hip positioning with ability to shrimp, turn, or drive forward. Never allow both hips flat simultaneously

  • ❌ Neglecting non-underhook hand, allowing it to hang passively

    • Consequence: Opponent establishes crossface control with their far arm, driving your head away and creating angle for pass. Crossface nullifies underhook advantages completely
    • ✅ Correction: Non-underhook hand must actively frame against opponent’s hip, knee, or far arm. This secondary frame prevents crossface and completes defensive structure

  • ❌ Holding static underhook without attempting sweeps or positional improvements

    • Consequence: Opponent adapts to your static position, establishes counter-grips, and neutralizes your offensive potential. Referees may penalize for stalling in competition
    • ✅ Correction: Treat underhook as launching point for immediate action. Continuously attempt sweeps, back takes, or guard recovery rather than holding position statically

  • ❌ Pulling down on underhook instead of driving upward and forward

    • Consequence: Pulling down collapses your own structure and brings opponent’s weight onto you. Creates crushing pressure that prevents hip movement and offensive options
    • ✅ Correction: Drive underhook upward toward ceiling while driving your body forward and into opponent. This lifting action off-balances opponent and creates sweep opportunities

  • ❌ Ignoring leg positioning while focusing entirely on upper body underhook battle

    • Consequence: Opponent controls your legs independently, establishing knee slice or leg drag passes that bypass your upper body frames completely
    • ✅ Correction: Coordinate underhook control with butterfly hooks, lockdown, or knee shield positioning. Effective bottom control requires upper and lower body integration

Playing as Top

→ Full Top Guide

Key Principles

  • The top underhook must drive downward pressure continuously—upward pressure invites bottom player movement

  • Coordinate underhook pressure with crossface control to create complete upper body domination

  • Use underhook to drive opponent to their side, creating passing angles and eliminating guard retention

  • The underhook enables leg-free passing by controlling upper body while legs advance position

  • Maintain heavy hip pressure driving toward opponent’s hips to prevent explosive escapes

  • Top underhook creates back take opportunities when bottom player attempts to turn away

  • Transition between underhook passing and other passing methods to prevent adaptation and stalling

Primary Techniques

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Pulling upward on the underhook instead of driving downward pressure

    • Consequence: Lifting creates space underneath your body, allowing bottom player to elevate their hip, create angles, and execute sweeps or guard recovery. Your pressure becomes neutralized completely
    • ✅ Correction: Drive underhook pressure downward toward the mat continuously. Think of pushing opponent’s shoulder into the ground rather than pulling them toward you. Weight drives through the underhook connection

  • ❌ Neglecting crossface control while focusing entirely on underhook

    • Consequence: Bottom player establishes head control or inside position, enabling them to turn into you for sweeps or create off-balancing opportunities. Underhook alone provides incomplete control
    • ✅ Correction: Coordinate underhook with crossface pressure where your shoulder drives into opponent’s face. This dual control eliminates their ability to turn and creates complete upper body domination

  • ❌ Allowing hips to rise high above opponent’s hips during underhook control

    • Consequence: High hips create space for bottom player to shrimp, recover guard, or insert knee shields. Your pressure becomes ineffective and passes stall
    • ✅ Correction: Keep your hips low and driving toward opponent’s hips. Maintain heavy hip pressure that pins them flat while your underhook controls their upper body

  • ❌ Maintaining static underhook position without advancing or creating new angles

    • Consequence: Bottom player adapts to static pressure, establishes defensive frames, and neutralizes your passing attempts. Referees may penalize for stalling in competition
    • ✅ Correction: Use underhook as foundation for continuous advancement. Chain together knee cuts, leg weaves, and position transitions rather than holding static pressure

  • ❌ Exposing your own neck by overcommitting to underhook pressure without protecting head position

    • Consequence: Bottom player establishes guillotine grips or front headlock control, creating dangerous submission threats that force you to abandon your pass
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain head position tight to opponent’s shoulder or far side of their body. Never allow space for them to insert their arm around your neck during underhook advances

  • ❌ Failing to control opponent’s far leg while focusing on upper body underhook control

    • Consequence: Bottom player uses far leg to create leverage for sweeps, especially old school or hook sweeps that exploit your weight commitment to upper body
    • ✅ Correction: Coordinate underhook control with leg control strategies. Use your free hand to post on their far knee or hip, preventing leverage for sweeps while underhook controls upper body

  • Half Guard - Primary position where underhook battles determine sweep vs. pass outcomes

  • Deep Half Guard - Advanced underhook position that maximizes bottom control and sweep opportunities

  • Dogfight Position - Neutral scramble position where both players compete for underhook dominance

  • Side Control - Position where bottom player seeks underhook to prevent consolidation and create escapes

  • Turtle - Defensive position where underhook control enables back takes or guard recovery

  • Butterfly Guard - Guard system that integrates underhook control for sweeps and back takes

  • Single Leg X-Guard - Leg-based position that combines with underhook control for sweep stability

  • Quarter Guard - Transitional position where underhook control prevents pass completion

  • Z-Guard - Half guard variation that prioritizes underhook control for defensive structure

  • Body Lock - Advanced control position that evolves from dominant underhook positioning