Top Wrist Lock - Coiled Arm Bar

This is perhaps the most commonly incorrectly performed technique.  Many people see this as a technique that can only be attempted out of a side holddown or a mount.   But in truth the opportunity to do this technique is ever present.  The reason it is generally only attempted from those positions (and usually missed when attempted) is that it is done incorrectly.  The "Judo" method of this technique represents the majority of errors people make when attempting this technique

Note that in this picture Uke's hand is in a natural position.  My hands are griping both his wrist and my wrist.  I'm doing nothing that will weaken or tighten his arm.  Plus my grip creates space between his arm and my own.  To make this technique work I will need to create a lot of movement in his arm.  If he is flexible it is unlikely I will be able to create enough to make the technique work even to a moderate level.  This method will give the bottom man ample time to fight out of the position as I waste time and energy on a low percentage technique.

Here on the other hand.  Bruce has turned Uke's (Craig's) hand causing an unnatural bend in his arm.  This makes everything tighten up at the elbow and sharply limits the arms strength and range of motion.  His frame up hand (left hand) snakes through and grabs his own hand.  This gives Bruce a longer lever to crank with and make the entire hold tight - Note - NO SPACE - BONE ON BONE.

With Uke's wrist on the mat - pull their hand towards their head, the elbow towards Uke's belt and then force their elbow up with an arm snaked underneath. Drive your elbow into his ribs and it will get very tight very fast. The trick is to be sure you pull every thing tight. You should keep Uke's arm pinned to the mat. Think of painting the mat with Uke's hand. It is not always necessary to have his hand right on the mat - but always keep it bent and pushed down.  If Uke straighten his arm to an angle of less then 90 degrees you can still make the lock work. Keep the wrist pinned done and weight on Uke's chest. Then again use the arm underneath to torque the arm. Keep everything very tight and the wrist stuck to the floor.
Now notice one other feature of this lock.  As the pressure is applied you slide your weight across Uke's body; pinning the opposite side of the arm that is lock.  Very often when people try this lock and it doesn't work they move their head over Uke's wrist.   Like they are trying to get a closer look at what they are doing.  This is wrong.  A wrist lock is a dangerous hold - my advice is get away - Now.  By pulling back you create a better angle to torque the arm.  Also you do not want to move the arm using you arms, strength on strength - You want to move his arm using your entire body.  As you slide away you will over power the arm and easily be able to torque the arm.

Here is an example of putting hand on hand to increase the lever length

Notice from the mount how far I shift my weight over the opposite side hip

One in this posistion it is easy to hold the lock with one hand while your elbow finds a home in his face

Even if he can keep his arm straight he is still not safe and can be double wrist locked or arm barred.

  Caution:  This is a very, very dangerous hold and should only be performed by those who know what they are doing against those who know what they are doing.  It is extremly easy to tear the should out of joint and cause serious and often perment injury with this technique.

This same technique can be performed from the bottom.  Grabbing and twisting the hand and framing up in the exact same manner then using your leg to control the man on top.  Then the lock can be applied by bringing the wrist straight up.  There is a temptation to bring the arm over the back in the manner of a hammer lock - but again this is no where near as effective.  Bringing it straight up will put a great amount of strain on the shoulder.

You can really take this same hold from many directions.  These two came out of a referees position.  It's there standing, from the side, the top, the bottom.  I have watched Tony Checchine get this techniques on a very good player with in 5 seconds, 5 times in a row when the guy knew that was the technique he was going to get.  This technique epitomizes the maxim of Isolate, Weaken, Overwhelm.

Brien taking the wrist from the bottom saddle
Double Wrsit take down ala Lou Theaz