Hand fighting / inside position
Ties / Solo mat / Build
One hand reaches for an inside position while the other stays home, then they swap, then both clear down.
Solo study. Solo rehearsal of a shape a coach has already shown you. No partner, no resistance, no finish against anyone. Not coach-verified.
Why it matters
Ties are won by the hand on the inside, and lost by reaching with both. The rhythm of hand fighting, one reaches while one guards, then swap, is something the arms can learn alone before it is done against someone who is fighting back.
The phases
Wrestling stance
- Base. Begin with a base wide enough to move from.
- Knees flexed. Flex the knees and hips while keeping the head up.
- Hands ready. Hands stay ahead of the body, ready to make contact.
- Hold shape. Maintain a shape you can move from in either direction.
Watch for: Do not turn a lower stance into looking down at the mat.
Hand fighting
- Stance. Keep the stance while the hands work; the feet do not stop.
- Reach inside. One hand reaches for an inside position while the other stays home.
- Swap hands. Swap: the other hand reaches while the first comes back.
- Clear and reset. Clear both hands down and away, then return to the stance.
Watch for: Both hands reaching at once leaves the head unprotected. One works, one stays home.
Three common faults
- Both hands reaching
- Both arms extend at once and the head is open. One reaches, one guards.
- Feet stopping
- The feet plant while the hands work. The base keeps moving.
- Elbows flaring
- The reaching arm's elbow swings out wide. It travels close to the body, inside.
In the room
- One hand works, one hand stays home.
- Keep the feet moving while the hands do.
- Clear both hands down and away, then reset.
Drill prescription
| Rounds | 4 rounds |
|---|---|
| Repetitions | 30 s continuous |
| Rest | 30 s |
Count the swaps out loud; aim for a steady rhythm, not speed.
Open the visual study ↗Where it sits
Mechanics: One movement at a time, slowed down: ties, entries, finishes and the shapes that stop them.
Also in this stage: Solo penetration step, Down block / hips back first, Snap down / hips first, Single leg entry / head outside.
On the boards: Hands and ties, Four weeks: entries and defence.