🛠️ Tools for Chewing Up Space Part 3: Double Hand Check
A Study in Hand Checking from “Advanced Muay Thai Masterclass” by Jean Charles Skarbowski.
Hand checking and double hand check is not a new idea and has been around since the days of Sandy Sadler. There are many different applications to this technique which can be incorporated into mma.
Checking the hands allows a fighter to fold over elbows. Folding over elbows is something that Matt Brown goes into detail in a previous study.
Here's an example from the golden age of Muay Thai (when 4oz MT didn't exist): Yodkhunpon checking the hands, pulling the opponent's left hand down, and folding over an elbow.
An example from mma would be Jon Jones using the single hand check to fold over an elbow and defend a takedown after the exchange.
A great example of the double hand checkidea is shown in Su Mudaerji vs Matt Schnell. When Schnell covered up Su Mudaerji would grab both wrists and fold over elbows. In some of these examples, Su Muaerji would pull Schnell’s wrists down as Scarbowski does in the instructional. These elbows were sneaking through since Schnell decided not to disengage as he felt the double hand check.
If the opponent pressures forward, the fighter has the option of pushing to the right or to the left while he or she takes a superior position.
Petrosyan uses the hand check to push and create an angle on a a stationary opponent.
DC (in the days before his terrible commentary and bad takes) demonstrates that a fighter can build jabs from double hand checking.
Superlek skewers Rodtang with a after using the double hand check.
Another application of the double hand check is to use it to setup low kicks. Liam Harrison pushes with the double hand check. When the opponent pushes back they will transition their weight to the front foot so Harrison can time the low kick.
Harrison can also use the hand check as an entry off the opponent's jab. When a fighter jabs in, they transfer their weight to the lead foot, and enter bladed which leaves the lead leg vulnerable for a low kick.
Typically when a fighter wants to use the double hand check both the hands need to be on top of opponents hands.
If the opponent hands their hands on top of yours, Skarbowski recommends disengaging and moving backwards.
If the correct defense for the double hand check is moving backwards then this tactic is a useful tool in mma. This tactic can help a fighter achieve the strategy of backing their opponent up to the cage.
Not mma but a 4oz Mauy Thai example: Superlek uses the hand fight to get Rodtang to retreat then builds off that retreat with a double jab overhand while Rodtang is near the ropes.
Entering with knees off the opponent's punches is another application of the double hand check. An is severely underutilized in mma.
The double hand check is not an unstoppable tactic. Stipe shows that hooking to the body when DC double hand checks is effective. For the simple reason that when the elbows are extended, the body is exposed. Pretty daft that his team didn't realize that DC is allergic to strikes to his midsection in their film study.
While the Hand fight is good against straight punches, extending the arms out will leave a fighters midsection open for attack.
Closing Thoughts
Double hand checking is an underutilized tool in mma and building around it is even rarer. Having the double hand check in the toolbox can drastically improve a fighter chances against a good straight hitter.
If you want to see another study involving another fighter using double hand traps with different applications. Check out and subscribe to Ryan Wagner’s substack at www.mixingmartialarts.com
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