In the Behind the Back over the arms variant, what is the primary action to get under hook while maintaining base?

In the Behind the Back over the arms variant, what is the primary action to get under hook while maintaining base?

• A. Widen the base
• B. Lean back posture up
• C. Peel fingers, palm to palm grip
• D. Win the leg battle, and simultaneously swim the arm not in palm to palm to get under hook

Answer: (D)

Getting under the hook in this variant comes from keeping a solid base while creating the under-hook entry with the free arm. The best action is to win the leg battle and simultaneously swim the arm not in palm-to-palm to get under the hook. When you control the legs, your hips stay heavy and you maintain balance, so you can shift your upper body and thread the free arm under the opponent’s hook without losing stance. The swimming motion of that arm clears the path under the hook and establishes the control you need. Widening the base can help a bit with stability but doesn’t create the under-hook path. Leaning back compromises your base and makes it easier for the other person to counter. Simply peeling fingers into a palm-to-palm grip doesn’t alone produce the under-hook entry; it’s the combination of solid leg control and an active arm swim that gets you under the hook.

Getting under the hook in this variant comes from keeping a solid base while creating the under-hook entry with the free arm. The best action is to win the leg battle and simultaneously swim the arm not in palm-to-palm to get under the hook. When you control the legs, your hips stay heavy and you maintain balance, so you can shift your upper body and thread the free arm under the opponent’s hook without losing stance. The swimming motion of that arm clears the path under the hook and establishes the control you need. Widening the base can help a bit with stability but doesn’t create the under-hook path. Leaning back compromises your base and makes it easier for the other person to counter. Simply peeling fingers into a palm-to-palm grip doesn’t alone produce the under-hook entry; it’s the combination of solid leg control and an active arm swim that gets you under the hook.