King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Transition

Move from one grappling hold or grappling position to another

Type
Holds and pins, Grappling positions

A transition in grappling is a move from one grappling hold or grappling position to another. The process is called transitioning and is one of the most important aspects of ground grappling, as it allows the combatant performing the transition to advance in positioning, for instance by using a sweep, or to attempt pinning holds or submission holds.

In judo, the term is also used to refer to the skillful transition between standing phase and the ground phase.

Other holds and pins

Japanese terms for holds and pins

TermReadingMeaning
逆手sakateunderhand grip (e.g. in gymnastics, etc.)
遁術tonjutsuNinja art of escape
遁法tonpouNinja art of escape
裸絞めhadakajimerear naked choke; sleeper hold
左上手hidariuwateleft-handed outside grip (on one's opponent's belt)
左四つhidariyotsuhold in which both wrestlers obtain an underarm grip with the left hand and an over-arm grip with the right
隠遁術intonjutsuNinja art of escape
右上手migiuwateright-handed outside grip (on one's opponent's belt)
右四つmigiyotsuhold in which both wrestlers obtain an underarm grip with the right hand and an overarm grip with the left
両差しmorozashideep double underarm grip which prevents the opponent from grabbing the belt
四つ身yotsumicross-grips (situation in which each rikishi has an underarm grip on the other)
腕を返すkainaokaesuto place one's arms under those of the opponent and lift them up, in order to prevent an overhand grip on one's mawashi

23 terms in total on the holds and pins page.

External links

Facts from Wikidata Q7834395 (CC0); text quoted from English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22.

Data: Wikidata (CC0 1.0); Wikipedia (English) (CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.