Hammerlock
Submission
The hammerlock is the catch-wrestling shoulder lock where the opponent's arm is bent behind their back, palm driven up toward their shoulder blades. In BJJ it appears less as a standalone finish and more as a devastating control: an arm pinned in the hammerlock position surrenders the back, feeds reversals, and threatens the shoulder the whole way.
Quick Reference
Key principles
- · The lock lives behind their back: their wrist travels up their spine, and every inch of lift trades directly for shoulder pressure and control.
- · Elbow control makes it work — pin their elbow to their body so the rotation loads the shoulder instead of letting the arm swing free.
- · It is a control before it is a submission: a hammerlocked opponent cannot post, frame, or defend the back on that side.
- · Chain by reaction: they turn away and give the back, turn in and feed the reversal, or stay put and the shoulder gives.
- · Apply gradually — the shoulder has little warning range this deep behind the back.
Execution
- 1 Capture their wrist as they post, frame, or reach across — closed guard tie-downs and failed grip exchanges feed it.
- 2 Fold the arm behind their back, driving the palm up toward the shoulder blades.
- 3 Pin their elbow tight to their body so the structure holds with one of your hands.
- 4 Lift the wrist along the spine for the shoulder lock, or hold it as control.
- 5 When they turn to relieve it, take the back or the reversal the turn exposes.
Common mistakes
- × Cranking the wrist alone with a floating elbow, which bleeds the pressure and lets them spin free.
- × Chasing the tap while ignoring the back exposure and reversals the position gifts you.
- × Forcing the arm up explosively — behind-the-back shoulder rotation injures fast and gives no warning.
Do it from
Positions and situations where the Hammerlock shows up.
Show 1
Closed Guard Bottom
