An armbar (sometimes called a straight armbar) is a joint lock that hyperextend the elbow joint. It is typically applied by placing the opponent's extended arm at the elbow over a fulcrum such as an arm, leg or hip, and controlling the opponent's body while leveraging the arm over the fulcrum. It is used in various grappling martial arts, including Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Catch wrestling, Judo, Jiu-Jitsu and is one of the most common ways to win a match in mixed martial arts competition. The technique has several variations, with the best known and most effective in competition being the juji-gatame.

The figure four arm-lock (also known in the USA as the americana) is a term used in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to specify the lateral keylock known in judo as ude-garami (arm entanglement). This lock is generally applied only from the mount or side control. The opponent's arm is pinned to the ground so that it is bent at the elbow, with the opponent's palm upwards. The wrist is grabbed with the opposite hand, and the arm on the same side is put under the opponents arm, gripping the attacker's wrist. This results in the necessary figure-four hold. While keeping the opponent's hand pinned to the ground, begin sliding their pinned arm down and parallel to your thigh while cranking their elbow upwards. This is referred to as *painting*. The opponent will feel pressure on their elbow and/or shoulder. From some positions, such as kesa-gatame, it is possible to apply this technique with a leg instead of using two arms.

Kimura (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu), chicken wing/double wristlock (wrestling), or reverse keylock are terms used to specify a medial keylock known in judo as gyaku ude-garami (reverse arm entanglement) or simply as ude-garami. The application is similar to the americana, except that it is reversed. It needs some space behind the opponent to be effective, and can be applied from the side control or guard. Contrary to the americana, the opponent's wrist is grabbed with the hand on the same side, and the opposite arm is put on the back side the opponent's arm, and again grabbing the attacker's wrist and forming a figure-four. By controlling the opponent's body and cranking the arm away from the attacker, pressure is put on the shoulder joint, and depending on the angle, also the elbow joint (in some variations the opponent's arm is brought behind his back, resulting in a finishing position resembling that of the hammerlock outlined below).

The omoplata (sometimes referred to as ude-garami or sankaku-garami in Judo) is a commonly featured shoulder lock in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The locking mechanism is similar to the kimura lock, but instead of using a figure-four, it is applied using a leg. The omoplata can be applied from the guard, by placing one leg under the opponent’s armpit and turning 180 degrees in the direction of that leg, so that the leg moves over the back of the opponent and entangles the opponents arm. By controlling the opponent's body and pushing the arm perpendicularly away from the opponents back, pressure can be put on the opponent's shoulder. It is also possible to put pressure on the elbow joint by bending the leg entangling the arm, and twisting it in a specific manner. Though an effective lock, it is more difficult than other arm locks to successfully apply.

An anaconda choke is an arm triangle from the front headlock position. The man on top threads his arm under the opponent’s neck and through the armpit, and grasps his biceps. The performer then attempts to pin the bottom man onto the trapped shoulder so as to better interrupt the flow of blood, all the while applying pressure with the grasped biceps. He may accomplish this by rolling the man over the untrapped shoulder, (known as a gator roll) and use the momentum to turn the man onto his trapped shoulder.

The rear naked choke (often abbreviated RNC) is a chokehold in martial arts applied from an opponent's back. Depending on the context, the term may refer to one of two variations of the technique. Either arm can be used to apply the choke in both cases.

The term rear naked choke likely originated from the technique in Jiu-jitsu and Judo known as the "Hadaka Jime," or "Naked Strangle." The word "naked" in this context suggests that, unlike other strangulation techniques found in Jiu-jitsu/Judo, this hold does not require the use of a keikogi ("gi") or training uniform.

The choke has two variations: in one version, the attacker's arm encircles the opponent's neck and then grabs his own biceps on the other arm (see below for details); in the second version, the attacker clasps his hands together instead after encircling the opponent's neck.

A triangle choke (called Sankaku-Jime in judo) is usually applied with the legs from a ground position such as the guard. One leg encircles the neck and shoulder, with the knee next to the neck; the other leg crosses the ankle of the first leg, using the foot of the first leg to "lock" the second leg at the knee. The effectiveness of the technique can be increased by pulling the legs together and using the arms to pull the opponents head towards the attacker's shoulder.

The technique can cause unconsciousness in a few seconds, and it may injure or kill the opponent if held too long. It has been borrowed by various other grappling martial arts, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Sambo, as well as in mixed martial arts competition.

Guillotine choke The guillotine choke is a chokehold in martial arts applied from in front of the opponent. The choke involves using the arms to encircle the opponent's neck in a fashion similar to a guillotine. The technique is either a type of tracheal compression restraint that prevents air flow to the lungs, or a blood choke depending on how it is applied. When executed from the ground, the person applying it will try to control the opponent by the hips, for instance using a closed guard. This is done to prevent the opponent from escaping the hold, and to be able to apply additional pressure by extending the hips. This technique can cause unconsciousness if done correctly. It is taught in various grappling martial arts, including Jujutsu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, as well as in mixed martial arts competition.

A kneebar is a leglock which hyperextend the knee. The basic kneebar is performed similarly to an armbar by holding the opponents leg in between the legs and arms so the opponent's kneecap points towards the body. By pushing the hips forward, the opponent's leg is straightened and further leveraging hyperextend the knee. A variation of the kneebar is done similarly, but instead of holding the leg with the hands, the opponent's foot is pushed behind one armpit. By pushing the shoulder backwards and pushing the hips forward, a greater amount of force is applied to the knee, and the lock becomes much more difficult to escape.

A toe hold involves using the hands to hyperextend and/or hyperrotate the ankle, typically by grabbing the foot near the toes, and twisting or pushing the foot while controlling the opponent's leg. A common type of toe hold is the figure-four toe hold, where a figure-four hold is used to hold the opponent's foot. This type of toe hold is performed by holding the foot by the toes with one hand, and putting the other hand under the opponent's achilles tendon, and grabbing the wrist. By controlling the opponent's body, and using the hands to plantar flex the foot either straight or slightly sideways, hence putting considerable torque on the ankle.

A leglock is a joint lock that is directed at joints of the leg such as the ankle, knee or hip joint. A leglock which are directed at joints in the foot is sometimes referred to as a foot lock and a lock at the hip as a hip lock. Leglocks are featured combat sports and martial arts such as Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Catch wrestling, Mixed martial arts, Sambo, Shoot wrestling and Submission wrestling, but are banned in some sports featuring joint locks such as Judo.

Leglocks are considered more difficult techniques to apply effectively than armlocks, since the legs are generally stronger limbs than the arms. Leglocks require full body leverage to be effective since they attack large joints, such as the knee. Compared to armlocks, leglocks usually require more intricate positions than the mount, side control or guard, and are often considered to be risky because of the possibility of losing position.

In training or sparring, leglocks are applied in a slow and controlled manner, and are often not hyperextended such as in the case of the comparatively dangerous heel hook. Instead, submission is signaled before the lock is fully applied. In self-defense application, or when applied improperly or with excessive force, leglocks can cause muscle, tendon and ligament damage, even dislocation or bone fractures.