In a surprising clip that has stirred debate in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community, ADCC bronze medalist Daniel “Big Dan” Manasoiu has declared that wrist locks are largely ineffective in BJJ competition.
During a candid conversation with fellow grappler Roosevelt Sousa, Manasoiu expressed his skepticism about the submission technique that has been a staple in traditional martial arts.
“I don’t think wrist locks work,” Manasoiu stated plainly. “I only think they work out of one position, which is a back triangle, if I’m being honest. But other than that, it’s just one of those overrated techniques.”
His statement comes despite recent evidence to the contrary. When reminded that competitor Mike Perez successfully finished Kieran Kitchuk with a wrist lock at the 2023 IBJJF World Championships, Manasoiu acknowledged the example but maintained his position.
Perez has actually developed quite a reputation for his wrist lock prowess. In addition to his victory at Worlds, he notably broke Craig Jones‘ wrist with the technique in a previous competition, though Jones famously refused to tap to the submission.
During the discussion, the grapplers also referenced Pete “The Greek” Letsos, who has built his entire persona around wrist lock variations. “He knows hundreds of types of wrist locks,” one participant noted, describing Letsos‘ standing wrist lock entry that resembles a flying submission.
Manasoiu remained unconvinced, jokingly expressing concern about even discussing the topic:
“I’m pretty scared to answer this because I’m scared now I go to a competition [and] somebody [catches me with one].”
The debate highlights an interesting division in the BJJ community regarding the effectiveness of certain techniques at the highest levels of competition. While some practitioners dedicate significant time to developing specialized submissions like wrist locks, others like Manasoiu prefer to focus on what they consider more reliable finishing methods.
Whether wrist locks deserve their place in the modern BJJ arsenal remains contested, but with respected competitors on both sides of the argument, the technique isn’t likely to disappear from competition anytime soon.
