Locks - FMA Style

In this cycle, we have spent some time on the floor.  Practicing from a pummel position, we've been looking at some ways of breaking the base, moving attention from high line to low line, and using the pummel as a way to seek a finishing lock either standing or on the floor.  FMA differs from MMA, BJJ/Jujitsu or wrestling since there are no submissions.  The end result of every finishing hold is a joint destruction, neck crank or a choke/strangle.

When applying locks, it is important to work in your own comfortable workspace, no higher than the line of your own shoulders and hopefully close to your body on the center line.  This allows for better delivery of the body weight and power than locks done at arms' length.  If the opponent happens to be taller, we should use low line kicks/knees/stomps to bring them down to our workspace rather than attempt to reach higher for the lock.

To improve how to execute effective locks, I suggest the following three step approach:

1) Set the Shape
Every lock is structured with a relationship between our body and our opponent's.  Using our footwork to enter, and our arms and hands to control (sometimes legs, too), we establish the shape of the lock.  This is like loading a bullet in the chamber of a gun.  In practice, it is good to study the locking shapes carefully, since many different shapes can appear in each scenario and we need to choose an effective shape for the ever-changing situation.  Whenever possible, our shape involves causing the other person to have their head/neck/spine out of alignment or twisted, which limits their resistance.

2) Remove the slack
Once the shape is set, we remove all the slack - thereby isolating the joint.  If the joint is not isolated, the shape will move, since the opponent will be actively trying to escape or counter the shape we create. Their arms or legs will wriggle and snake.  The elbows/knees will bend, the opponent will try to bridge or shrimp away, etc.  Once the slack is removed, the isolated joint can be attacked with the maximum pressure and leverage.  Think of  it like a wrench turning a bolt.  If you use a wrench which is too big, the force is lost and the bolt cannot be tightened.

3) Apply Force
When we apply force, it is best to use the largest possible muscle groups since they generate the most power.  Particularly, the best locks are done using the chest, back, hips/pelvis, or thighs.  There is a tendency for beginners to try to apply locks using just the arms.  This can work, but it is slower and riskier than using the body weight and the core.  By applying force this way, even a smaller person can deliver effective results since the major muscle groups and core allow them to use their full body weight for the lock.  Of course, gravity is also an effective force multiplier, and many of the best locks are completed by dropping our body weight onto the opponent or causing them to fall while locked.  In KM, many of our locks are done using the breath exhale/chest expansion as this is very difficult to resist and yields a lot of power.

Done properly, locking represents an effective way of finishing a situation without the need to strike or kick.  In KM we emphasize mobility but it is still important to have at least some basic skills in case a fight ends up on the ground.

Practice Effectively.