The Ultimate Guide to Gable Grip in BJJ

Do you want to gain dominance over your competitor by applying jiu-jitsu techniques? If yes, then you should be familiar with the development of a strong grip on your opponent in BJJ competitions. Among the various types of grips, the gable grip holds great significance in BJJ. Simply place one palm over the other and develop the gable grip. With this grip, you can develop a strong athletic hold over different body parts of competitors. Read this article thoroughly if you want to learn more about Gable grip and how it works for you.

In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a regulated palm-to-palm grip is referred to as a gable grip. This term is named after the renowned American wrestler Dan Gable, who was famous as the 1971 World Champion and 1972 Olympic Champion. Dan Gable often used this grip in his wrestling tournaments.

The Gable grip is also known as the Gable Lock, Monkey Grip, and Greco Grip.

Grip control is considered an essential component during grappling as it assists you to control your opponent effectively. The gable grip is widely used by the BJJ fighters to improve their grappling performance on the mats. If you strongly establish a gable grip earlier in the bout, then you can apply various BJJ techniques, including defensive moves and submissions to win the match.

The process of formulating this grip is quite simple. All you need to do is cross your hands, making a palm-on-palm grip. lock your hands tightly together by exerting adequate pressure required to take control over your competitor. BJJ fighters use gable grips to attack their opponents with straight armlocks in BJJ competitions. From resisting the armbars to body locks, gable grips will work for you on the mats. With your grip strength, you can regulate your opponent’s posture to apply your jiu-jitsu techniques. Gable grips can also be used to apply different forms of chokes, including Monson choke, arm triangle choke, rear naked choke, and Japanese neck-tie choke. It’s truly amazing that by simply putting your hands together, you can get the desired grip that leads to submission.

While applying the gable grip technique, you do not need to grip your fighter opponent’s apparel. You simply need to hold the hand of your opponent during body locks and takedowns in clinches.

Another amazing factor of the gable grip is its functional versatility. You can use this grip in different directions for both offensive and defensive techniques.

When you are going to apply this grip, ensure proper thumb positioning to get better control. Don't make the grip with your thumbs out. Instead, tuck one of your thumbs smoothly in between your palms and place the other thumb securely near your wrist. There should be no gap between the palms and the fingers, as gaps can exert unnecessary pressure on your fingers and wrist.

Butterfly Grip: A butterfly grip is the top variation of the gable grip. This grip involves a similar configuration but instead of palms, you grasp your forearms. Butterfly grips are effectively used during the heel hooks.

The V-Grip: This form of gable grip is identical to the original grip, but the main difference lies in the placement of the thumb on one arm. Here, the thumb is positioned between the middle and index fingers of the opposite hand instead of being fully tucked between the fingers of the opposite hand.

Reverse Gable Grip: This grip involves holding the back of one palm with your other hand. Although this variation is considerably weak as compared to other grips, it is used in various thin guillotines, including low-elbow finishes.

It can be concluded that if you are a grappler and want to secure victory, then you should be familiar with the gable grip. Close your hands together by making a loop that will help you control your opponent’s hand from any direction. Always ensure proper thumb placement to establish an effective gable grip and achieve your desired results in BJJ competitions.

Photo credit: @Gracie Charlottesville