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    Hiza-gatame

    膝固 · ひざがため · knee armlock · said hee-ZAH gah-TAH-meh

    The Kodokan calls this Ude-hishigi-hiza-gatame (腕挫膝固).

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    Demonstrations

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    Hiza-gatame illustration

    About this technique

    The armlock applied with the knee: from guard or side-on, uke's extended arm is trapped and tori's knee presses the elbow against its hinge. The name describes tori's knee, not uke's; no leg joint is attacked. Competition joint locks are restricted to the elbow and to senior age groups; learn and practise this only under instruction.

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    A technique to stretch and lock the opponent’s elbow joint with the left knee by holding his right arm under the left armpit from the front.
    The Kodokan's definition

    Key points

    1. Their arm trapped straight across your body, wrist controlled
    2. Your own knee presses the back of their elbow
    3. The hips fine-tune the pressure; apply slowly

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    grappling techniques

    At a glance

    , classification, Gokyo set, Kodokan number, contest rules, grades that require it
    What it is
    Katame-waza (grappling techniques).
    Kodokan number
    804 (HIG).
    Contest rules
    No rule singles it out.
    Also written
    Ude-hishigi-hiza-gatame.
    Required for

    Step by step

    These steps describe the standard right-handed form without relying on the video.

    1. You are on your back with your partner kneeling between or beside your legs, gripping as they posture.
    2. Trap their right arm: hug their wrist and forearm to your chest with both hands so the arm lies straight across your body.
    3. Bring your left knee up and place it against the back of their trapped elbow, your foot hooked at their hip or thigh.
    4. Control their posture with your grip and your other leg so they cannot rise away.
    5. Apply by drawing the wrist to your chest while the knee presses gently forward; the pressure meets at the elbow, builds slowly, and releases the instant they tap.

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    Receiving it

    Your arm is hugged straight across their body and a knee arrives against the back of your elbow; the squeeze between wrist-pull and knee builds quietly. Tap clearly at the first feeling of pressure; an elbow or shoulder can be injured before the pain becomes severe. Never snatch out of a lock with a twist.

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    VI judo notes

    On your back you have full contact already, and the arm is trapped entirely by feel. Hug the wrist to your chest and follow the forearm with your hands until you find where the elbow bends, then bring the knee to that point rather than to where you expect it. Draw the wrist in slowly, and listen for the tap as well as feel for it.

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    In competition

    , how often it scores at IJF level, and two contests where it worked

    Senior IJF competition, 2020 to 2026, from 73,099 contests. Counts scores, not attempts.

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    In combinations, counters and transitions

    , 2 recorded, 2 awaiting review

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    Reference pages elsewhere

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