🔀 Two pathways, one submission
Good submissions aren't just about the end result. It also matters how we get there.
Good submissions aren't just about the end result. It also matters how we get there.
When we're refining our submissions, it's easy to hyperfixate on the quality of the finish. But finishing submissions is easy once they're locked in. The entry is the hard part.
You've heard me talk about the 3 joint rule before, but here's a quick reminder: to reliably finish limb submissions, we must control all three of the major joints in that limb.
For arms, that means controlling the wrist, elbow, and shoulder. For legs, that means controlling the ankle, knee, and hip.
Full limb control is much easier said than done, though. Our limbs evolved to be adaptable, slippery things. Arms and legs are kinetic chains: when we control one joint, the pressure “bleeds” into the others, maintaining flexibility.
That's why we need to immobilize all three joints to finish a limb submission. Otherwise, the breaking pressure will bleed out from the target joint into the other joints.
But where do we start?
We could begin at the end of the lever (wrist or ankle) and work our way toward the torso. That's the distal pathway (think “distance”).
Or, we could begin at the base of the lever (shoulder or hip) and extend our control outward. That's called the proximal pathway (think “proximity”).
(And yes, you could also start in the middle, in which case you could presumably head in either direction.)
Whether you choose to start at the beginning or end of the limb, the goal is the same:
Think of controlling a limb like climbing a ladder: one rung at a time. And like a ladder, you can climb up or down.
If I grab your wrist for an arm drag, the next step is your elbow, and finally, closing the distance to your shoulder. That's the distal pathway: I start at the end of the lever.
If I use an underhook to pry your elbow open for an armlock, I'll want to finish by controlling your wrist. That's the proximal pathway: I start at the base of the lever.
To the best of my knowledge, the “distal” and “proximal” pathway language was popularized in jiu-jitsu by Lachlan Giles. But he's not the first person to use this idea: you may have heard coaches like John Danaher and Greg Souders talk about using a lever to control the body's center mass, then using the center mass to control the lever. That's a great way to explain the interplay between distal and proximal control.
Distal and proximal pathways both have their place. Neither is “better” than the other. Which pathway you choose depends on a variety of factors, such as what's within grabbing distance, what your opponent is doing, and what techniques you're fluent with.
Once you achieve distal or proximal control, it's time to climb the ladder. It doesn't matter whether you're going up or down; you move to take the next joint.
When we grab our opponent by the arm or leg, this thinking helps us quickly answer the question: “What do I do next?” The answer is to take the next rung of the ladder.
As soon as you grab their wrist, start thinking about how you can control their elbow.
As soon as you lock onto their hip, start thinking about how you can immobilize their knee.
Regardless of the direction, limb control is like climbing a ladder: one rung at a time. So get climbing!