Waki gatame

Waki gatame is the judo name for the armpit-trap configuration used to apply a wristlock or straight arm extension — the attacker pinches the opponent’s arm against their own torso to isolate the joint from the body’s defensive frame.

Etymology. Waki (脇) means “side” or “armpit” in Japanese; gatame (固め) means “hold” or “lock.” The term refers to the trapping position rather than the finishing mechanism: the attacker’s armpit closes around the opponent’s elbow or forearm, leveraging the body’s structure as a fulcrum. In Kodokan judo’s kansetsu-waza (joint-lock) classification, waki gatame is the broader category that includes both straight-arm and wrist-axis finishes from the same trapping position; in no-gi grappling the term carries the same mechanical specification.

Mechanics. The configuration isolates the target arm by trapping it tightly against the attacker’s torso — removing it from the body’s unified frame and pinning the secondary defensive structure. The attacker then loads the joint by rotating their own body or lifting the trapped arm against the natural range of the elbow or wrist.

Cross-reference. English-speaking no-gi often uses “armpit lock” or describes the position by the finish (wristlock, straight-arm). The Japanese term remains the precise label for the configuration. Full mechanical coverage on Wristlock.