From: stark@dwovax.enet.dec.com (Todd I. Stark)
Subject: Re: Standing joint locks.
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: 16 APR 92 10:28:44    


In article <barry.703382762@citr.uq.oz.au>, barry@citr.uq.oz.au (Barry Kitson) writes...
>Someone asked via email:
> 
>> One other question comes to mind, however;  does TKD have any 
>> equivalent to the joint-lock immobilizations in Aikido?  There
>> are several ways to perform a technique and leave the attacker
>> standing up, but locked in such a way that further attack is
>> impossible without sacrificing a locked wrist....

I've used and seen standing locks used efectively, although they aren't
my first choice tactically in most situations.

My experience has led me to use the following general guidelines 
for standing locks :

	1. When using any standing lock, always keep the opponent's posture 
		broken to some degree.  The line of their shoulders should be 
		kept on a tilt, and the curve of their spine should be kept 
		off of vertical).   This ensures that the opponent will have
		difficulty with most grappling counters or generating
		power with a counter strike.

	2.  Obtain and maintain a safe position close to the opponent but not 
		in easy	reach of their hands and feet, even if they are off 
		balance.  For example, stay close to one side, rather than
		directly behind with a gap between you and the opponent,
		in general.

	3.  Always use techniques which can easily be taken a step farther
		to take the opponent down by breaking their balance
		further, preferably without them being able to break
		their fall, but with you able to control their fall
		as required.  Other important related factors are whether you
		can move into a strangle or head and neck control from a 
		standing lock, and whether you can hit them without changing
		your position.

	4.  Understand the groundwork options if you need to take the 
		opponent down.  Often, particular options will
		characteristically open up from particular standing
		locks, to simplify your training.

With those guidelines in mind, I'll discuss briefly some classic locks.
I won't attempt to describe them, but will give their most common
names.

1.  The gooseneck (hand bent with palm toward forearm).  
	I generally don't recommend this, even though it is commonly used in 
	law enforcement.  It is easy to learn, but there are as many
	things that can go wrong as there are ways to follow up.  If anyone
	uses this one, it should be applied with an isolation on the thumb 
	as reinforcement.  

2.  Aiki Sankyo technique.
	This one is very versatile, but takes a lot of training to use
	consistently well on flexible opponents.  Properly applied, it leads 
	very well into hammerlocks, takedowns, neck restraints, and certain 
	groundwork options.   It is one of the better methods for demonstrating
	how a standing lock can be used to break the opponent's posture.
	A key point is keeping the opponent from resting their weight down,
	especially on the near leg, which is the first step to countering
	the lock.

3.  Aiki Nikkyo technique.
	Again versatile, but also takes great precision to perform properly,
	and tends to leave you in a more vulnerable position than Sankyo.
	Groundwork is almost inevitable from Nikkyo, so I wouldn't even
	class it as a true standing lock.

4.  Hammerlock
	There simply isn't enough control of the opponent's balance
	in a traditional standing hammerlock.  Some of the variations
	that include neck restraint can be made very effective, although
	against a very strong opponent, finger isolation may be required
	(as is the case with most standing arm locks).

5.  Double wing lock
	Arms encircle the opponent's from behind from the outside, then the
	hands are placed against the opponent's back for leverage.  This
	is very effective for controlling an opponent without hurting
	them, but virtually any serious resistance forces you to move
	into groundwork with them, so it is not really a good standing
	lock.

6.  Lateral vascular restraint
	A law enforcement version of standing choke.  Likely to lead to
	unconsciousness groundwork, although against a mildly resisting
	opponent it might work as a standing lock if their balance is
	sufficiently broken backwards.

7.  Neck pressure and control
	Various very effective standing locks can be made out of
	control of the head and neck and pressure on the nerve centers
	and pressure points in the neck.  These can often bring about almost
	total control of the opponent's posture and balance, and lead to
	effective follow-ups, so they are my first choice for standing
	locks.

8.  Straight arm locks
	These can be dramatically effective or dramatically 
	ineffective depending on the opponent's response.  I don't
	recommend them because they leave few options for followup
	other than breaking the opponent's arm or sometimes taking them
	down violently.  If you wanted to hurt them like that you would
	probably have punched them out instead of applying a standing lock.
	Also, they tend to require both arms to apply, and don't always leave
	you in a safe position if the opponent wiggles out unexpectedly.

>	Aiki-people should be able to share lots huh?

>| Barry KITSON              | TRL of AOTC                   ||   \_() |

	I'm primarily an Aiki people.  I hope this helps someone.

							todd
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