Kansetsu-waza
関節技
Joint-lock techniques in judo, jujutsu and aikido. In competitive judo only the elbow may be locked, and the Kodokan lists ten techniques.
Quick Facts
Word breakdown
Definition
Kansetsu-waza (関節技) means “joint techniques”: kansetsu is a joint, waza a technique. These are locks that stretch a joint beyond its range or twist it. In judo they belong to katame-waza, the immobilization techniques, and the Kodokan lists ten of them, for example ude-hishigi-juji-gatame and ude-garami. The term is also used in jujutsu and aikido. Competitive judo restricts such locks considerably: under IJF rules the attacker may lock only the elbow joint. Ashi-garami, the leg entanglement, is forbidden in competition. A lock ends in ippon when the opponent submits or cannot continue.
In practice
Joint locks are practiced in the dojo slowly and with control, because a joint gives way faster than consciousness does in a choke. The partner submits in time, by tapping the attacker or the mat.