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Kansetsu-Waza Advanced Katame-Waza

Ude-Gatame

腕固

"Arm Lock"

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Quick Facts

Category
Katame-Waza
Subcategory
Kansetsu-Waza
Difficulty
Advanced
Belt Level
2nd kyu, 1st kyu, 1st dan
Overview

Ude-Gatame is a straight armlock that hyperextends uke's elbow by pressing the arm against tori's chest or body using both hands on the wrist and forearm. Unlike Juji-Gatame which uses the hips as the fulcrum, Ude-Gatame uses tori's own body as a frame to lever the elbow joint. It can be applied from various positions including guard, side control, or while kneeling, and is characterised by the use of the body (rather than a body part placed at the elbow) to create the locking pressure.

Video Demonstrations
腕挫腕固 / Ude-hishigi-ude-gatame — judo technique demonstration
腕挫腕固 / Ude-hishigi-ude-gatame KODOKAN
How to do Ude Gatame — judo technique demonstration
How to do Ude Gatame Sampson Judo
The Other Judo Armlock: Ude-Gatame — judo technique demonstration
The Other Judo Armlock: Ude-Gatame Shintaro Higashi
Ude Garami Into Ude Gatame by Matt D'Aquino — judo technique demonstration
Ude Garami Into Ude Gatame by Matt D'Aquino JudoFanatics
How to Execute

Ude-Gatame — Step by Step

KuzushiOff-balance

Secure uke's wrist firmly and extend their arm. Rotate uke's arm so the elbow faces upward or in the direction of intended leverage. Keep uke's shoulder controlled to prevent them from rotating the entire arm to escape.

TsukuriEntry

Grip uke's wrist with both hands — one hand gripping the wrist itself, the other gripping just above the wrist on the forearm. Pull uke's arm straight and press the back of their wrist against your chest, shoulder, or armpit. Your body provides the fulcrum against which uke's elbow is levered.

KakeExecution

With uke's wrist pressed against your body and the arm extended, pull the wrist into your chest while preventing elbow flexion. Your body acts as the rigid surface against which the wrist is pressed; the elbow, unable to flex forward into your body, is forced into hyperextension. Maintain firm body contact throughout — if uke's wrist pulls free from your chest, the lock releases.

  1. 1

    Secure the wrist with both hands

    Grip uke's wrist with two hands — wrist and forearm grip. Pull the arm extended and away from uke's body.

  2. 2

    Supinate uke's arm

    Rotate uke's arm palm-up (supinate). This aligns the elbow for hyperextension and prevents uke from bending the elbow into a natural defensive position.

  3. 3

    Pull the wrist to your chest

    Draw uke's wrist toward your chest, pressing the back of the wrist against your sternum or armpit. Your body becomes the lever base.

  4. 4

    Ensure the arm is straight

    Confirm uke's arm is fully extended with the elbow pointing away from your body. Any bend gives uke room to flex before the lock activates.

  5. 5

    Apply pressure through the wrist

    Pull the wrist into your body while preventing elbow flexion. The locked arm hyperextends over your body frame. Control the pressure — apply gradually.

Key Principles

What Makes It Work

  • Your body is the lever base — unlike other armlocks, there is no separate fulcrum placed at the elbow; your chest/shoulder presses against the arm.
  • The arm must be fully extended and supinated to create the hyperextension angle.
  • Two-hand wrist control is mandatory — one-hand grips allow wrist rotation that defeats the lock.
  • Uke's shoulder must be controlled to prevent arm rotation; a free shoulder can rotate the arm from a bad angle to a safe one.
Common Mistakes

What to Avoid

#1 Common Mistake

Arm not fully extended before applying pressure

Pull the arm fully straight first. Any residual elbow bend gives uke range of motion to resist the lock.

#2 Common Mistake

Single-hand wrist grip

Two hands are required. One on the wrist, one on the forearm prevents rotation. Single-hand grips allow uke to twist their arm and escape.

#3 Common Mistake

Applying lock toward the natural elbow bend direction (palm down)

Supinate the arm (palm up) before applying pressure. Locking toward the natural bend direction is weaker and risks pressing on the wrist rather than hyperextending the elbow.

#4 Common Mistake

Not controlling uke's shoulder

If uke can freely rotate their shoulder, they can redirect the force. Use your body position or a second contact point to limit shoulder rotation.

When to Use

Best Moments to Apply Ude-Gatame

Ude-Gatame is applied when uke extends a straight arm — particularly when posting on a straight arm from the bottom, when pushing tori away in a ground scramble, or when uke's arm is caught outstretched during a transition. It is a high-speed application technique well-suited to competition transitions because it can be applied quickly without repositioning to a classical Juji-Gatame setup.

Variations

Variations of Ude-Gatame

Combinations

Combination Sequences

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Ude-Gatame different from Juji-Gatame?
In Juji-Gatame, tori lies across uke's body using their hips as the fulcrum against uke's elbow. In Ude-Gatame, tori uses their chest or upper body as the frame against which uke's arm is levered. Ude-Gatame does not require tori to lie back and can be applied from a variety of positions.
Why is Ude-Gatame rated as difficulty 3?
While the concept is straightforward, successfully applying Ude-Gatame in live randori requires precise positioning, quick two-hand wrist gripping, and the ability to control uke's shoulder — all while maintaining your own balance. Against a resisting opponent, these factors make it technically demanding.
Is Ude-Gatame applied only on the ground?
No. Ude-Gatame can be applied both on the ground and in standing transitions. One common application is to catch uke's outstretched arm during a throwing entry and apply the lock before reaching the ground.