Clinches, Takedowns, and Tactics from YMAA Publication Center. Joseph Estwanik, M.D., served as the ringside physician during the early years of the UFC. He’s the former president of the Association of Ringside Physicians, an orthopedic surgeon and the author of Sports Medicine for the Combat Arts. That means he knows all about arm locks like waki-gatame, including the medical implications of their usage.
What injuries are associated with techniques that can hyperextend the elbow?
Dr. Estwanik: A sudden, forceful hyperextension movement, which can occur in armbars, can end in terrible, sharp, burning pain. This intense pain comes from possible damage to muscle, ligament, bone and other structures of the elbow. Pain will be felt at the front of the elbow, and some swelling is possible. The biceps muscle may spasm…