Purpose

The underhook is the most consequential single grip in the standing exchange. the underhook controls the hip names the mechanical principle: an underhook controls the hip on that side. The practitioner who has both underhooks controls both hips, which is why the double underhooks position is the dominant clinch outcome. The pummel drill is the foundation on which underhook-finding and underhook-defending skill is built. It is the same drill used in wrestling and judo with one important no-gi modification — there is no friction provided by a jacket, so the elbow must clamp tighter and the hand must pin further behind the partner’s back.

Setup

Both partners standing in over-under clinch — each partner has one underhook and one overhook. Bodies are close, hips connected, heads on the same shoulder.

Execution

Step 1 — initiate: Begin with partner A’s underhook on the right, partner B’s underhook on the left. On signal, partner A swaps — drives the right hand inside-and-up under partner B’s left arm, replacing partner B’s underhook with their own.

Step 2 — partner B receives and reciprocates: Partner B accepts the swap on that side and immediately works to get their own underhook back on the same side, by mirror action.

Step 3 — flow continuously: The drill is continuous, not turn-based. Both partners are simultaneously pummelling, with the goal that the position is always shifting between over-under, double-underhooks-by-A, over-under, double-underhooks-by-B, over-under.

Step 4 — maintain hip connection: Throughout the exchange, the hips stay connected. Practitioners who let the hips separate during the pummel are losing the structural connection that makes the underhook valuable.

Run for two minutes continuous, low intensity throughout. Begin cooperative; once hand path is consistent, escalate to semi-resisting (partners may slow but not block the partner’s incoming underhook) and then resisting (full hand fight).

Coaching Notes

The no-gi modification matters. With a jacket, the underhook can be set with the hand resting on the back of the gi — friction holds the position. Without a jacket, the hand has nothing to hold onto and slips down the back unless the elbow clamps to the partner’s ribs and the hand pins behind the partner’s far shoulder blade. Practitioners who have learned to pummel in the gi often present with a high underhook hand that does not control the hip in no-gi.

The hip-connection requirement is the second no-gi modification. With a jacket, the partner’s grips can pull and create connection at distance. In no-gi, connection is established by hip contact. A pummel drill where the hips disconnect is not training a no-gi skill — it is training a gi skill that does not transfer.

Cue: “elbow on their ribs, hand on their back, your hip on their hip.” If all three are present, the underhook is controlling the hip. If any one is missing, it is decorative.

Common Errors

High underhook hand: Hand sits at shoulder-blade height or higher. Does not control the hip. Drop it.

Elbow flaring out: Elbow leaves the partner’s ribs during the pummel. Loses structural connection. Tighten the elbow line.

Hip gap: Bodies disconnect during the pummel. The drill becomes an arm-only exchange. Reset and re-engage with hip contact.

Holding the position: Practitioners win the double underhook and stop. The drill is continuous — once the position is achieved, partner B drives back through immediately. The training value is in the continuous exchange, not in the static endpoint.