Joint locks are a means of controlling an attacker. Most human joints don’t move in every direction. For example, finger joints bend in toward the palm of the hand, but they don’t usually bend back toward the back of the hand. Because of this, a person’s movements can be controlled by bending one of their fingers backward. The person will feel some pain and try to move their entire body in the direction in which you are exerting pressure. This instinctive movement to avoid pain can be used to help throw a person.

Joint locks can be used on the: Wrist, Elbow, Shoulder, and can be used to take an attacker to the ground.

Wrist:

Elbow:

Shoulder: