Holds

A hold (or hold-down) is a grappling technique used to control and hold an opponent down so he or she cannot escape. Holds may be categorized by their function such as clinching, pinning, pain compliance, or submission.

Clinch hold

A clinch hold (also known as a clinching hold) is used in clinch fighting to control, or tie up, the opponent. It is may be used as a precursor to a takedown or throw, or to prevent the opponent from moving away or striking effectively. Some examples are:

• Bear hug
• Collar tie
• Over hook
• Pinch grip tie
• Under hook

Pinning hold

A pinning hold (also known as a hold down) is used in ground fighting to exert superior control over an opponent and pin the opponent to the ground. Pinning holds where both the opponent's shoulders touch the ground are considered a win in some combat sports. Pinning holds maintained for 25 seconds are a win in Judo. Pinning holds are also used in submission wrestling and mixed martial arts, even though the pinning hold itself is not a winning condition. The holds can be used to rest while the opponent tries to escape or to control the opponent while striking, a tactic known as ground and pound. Some examples are some Judo pins:

• Kami-shiho-gatame. Upper four quarter hold down
• Kata-gatame. Shoulder hold
• Kesa-gatame. Scarf hold
• Kuzure-kami-shiho-gatame. Broken upper four quarter hold down
• Kuzure-kesa-gatame. Broken scarf hold
• Tate-shiho-gatame. Horizontal four quarter hold
• Yoko-shiho-gatame. Side four quarter hold
  

Pain compliance hold

A pain compliance hold uses a painful joint lock, compression lock, or pressure point technique to control an opponent. Pain compliance techniques are used as self-defense techniques in martial arts, especially in Aikido. They are frequently used by police and corrections personnel in accordance with an "escalation of force" policy; however, such techniques presume a rational adversary. Some altered states such as mental illness, extreme flexibility, drug use, or extreme adrenaline may alter the subject's perception of pain or willingness to submit. Some examples are:

• Pressure points
• Wrist locks
• Finger bends

Submission Hold

A submission hold is a combat sports term for a grappling hold applied to force an opponent to submit, either due to extreme pain or fear of injury. Some examples are:

• Chokes
• Strangles
• Arm bars
• Leg bars