Belt grip

Belt grip is the judo-derived name for the rear body lock — the clinch configuration in which the attacker controls the opponent’s waist or lower back from behind, with the hands gripped or interlocked across the opponent’s centre of gravity.

Etymology. In legacy judo and traditional grappling contexts the term referred to a grip on the opponent’s belt (or the equivalent waist-level fabric) from behind, used as a setup for sacrifice throws and rear-attack entries. In modern no-gi grappling the term has carried forward to describe the same waist-and-hand control without the literal belt grip — the mechanical role of the grip (controlling the rear waist) defines the term rather than the specific clothing reference. The no-gi vocabulary generally uses “rear body lock” or “rear waist lock” for the same configuration.

Mechanics. The configuration positions the attacker’s chest against the opponent’s back, with both hands locked or gripped at waist level. The locked-hand circle closes the opponent’s centre of gravity from behind, restricting their forward step and stripping the rotational defence they would otherwise have. From here the attacker enters lifting throws, drag entries, or back-take sequences as the opponent fights to break the connection.

Cross-reference. English-speaking no-gi and wrestling use “rear body lock” or “rear waist lock.” Full mechanical coverage on Rear Body Lock.