'Joint locking is much more than aligning an opponent's arm into a secure lock, it is the understanding of the basic skeletal and muscle structure behind the lock itself. It takes patience and fortitude to attain and develop a clear understanding of joint locking.'-Arlo Welty

The Art of Joint Locking is a diverse collectinof hapkido joint locks targeting the major joints of the human body. In addition to demonstrating a wide variety of practical, effective locking techniques, author Arlo Welty teaches you simple joint lock defenses to escape common locks, key wrist stretches and the correct use of footwork.

He also explains and illustrates the United States Hapkido Federation's Twenty Directions of Response, the underlying principles for the locks taught in this book. Learn how to efficiently apply joint locks from the same side or cross grip positions, using the same hand as your opponent or switching hands. This incredibly versatile system is an essential component of mastering hapkido joint locks.

Finally, put your skills togther to practice joint lock flows and weapon flows, combinations that naturally flow from one lock to another until you've secured a crippling hold on your assailant.

'This book acts as that learning matrix. It provides the reader an opportunity to see our system of joint locks in such a way that it is easy to organize, but not so limiting so that it hampers a student's learning process and unique personal style. It provides a clear, concise perspective on the joint-locks that are part and parcel to the United States Hapkido Federation's curriculum.'-Patrick Kelly, Presdent of the United States Hapkido Federation

Includes locks that target an assailant's: Wrist; Thumb; Fingers; Elbow; Shoulder; Head; Neck; Hip; Knee; Ankle

This book is the best reference guide for Hapkido joint locking that there is. Over 80 joint locks are well illustrated and easy to follow. This book is great for anyone working through the ranks of hapkido, black belts that need a quick review, as well as Jeet Kune Do, Escrima, Tai Chi, and otger martial arts practitioners that use similar joint locking in there styles. Its not always easy to recall over 80 joint locks and this book provides each one with a ranking system of basic/intermediate/advanced so you know which are in your skill level. A highly recommended read and a great addition to any martial arts library!-Nancy

Of all the books you can by on joint locking, this one is by far the best. It is encyclopedic with excellent pictures showing how the locks are performed. The narrative and overall production values are a little lacking, but for someone with a rudimentary understanding of how locks are established the pictures more than make up for the lack of written detail and polish. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to up their repertoire.-Peter Rosomoff

The Art of Joint Locking is a very good reference for someone who already knows something about locks. However, a beginner might find some of the photos and steps confusing, although with enough studious persistence, he also could benefit greatly. I learned some new locks, and new variations of locks, and I am grateful for Mr. Welty's contribution for that reason alone. However, a complaint that I heard from one martial artist who read the book was that most of the locks demonstrated are in response to a wrist grab, which would probably not be common in a street attack (unless the victim is a woman, in which case a wrist grab might be used to pull her away to someplace else). It would be nice if more of the locks were shown as counters to other kinds of attacks.-David Whitsitt

The Art of Joint Locking is an excellent book in a limited way. Most of the locks are shown starting from a wrist grab. While that is standard practice in Hapkido when learning a lock, and though it may be the easiest way in photographs to illustrate the steps to achieving a lock, it has limited applications. Other than that, the book has been very helpful. Mr. Welty's names for the locks are English and descriptive, as opposed to standard Japanese or Korean names, but from my understanding, Hapkido is a diverse art that suffers somewhat from a lack of standardization, and names of techniques vary as a result. That being said, the book introduced me to some locks I'd never seen, as well as new (to me) variations of locks I am already familiar with.

One other small criticism, and it is very minor. The paper quality is poor, which affects the quality of the photographs somewhat, and may have a negative impact on the longevity of the book. However, that doesn't negate the usefulness of the book.-Michaelynne

Contents
Forweord
Introduction by the author
1 Joint locking
Appropriate level of response
2 Wrist stretches
Half turn stetch
Quarter turn stretch
Three quarter turn stretch
Finger stretches
Corkscrew stretch
Shoulder stretches
3 Twenty directions of response
Back pivot
Cross step and turn
Punch step shuffle
Job gi
Same side/same hand up and down
Same side/same hand inside
Same side/same hand outside
Same side/same hand through
Same side/same hand in front
Same side/switching hands up and down
Same side/switching hands inside
Same side/switching hands outside
Same side/switching hands through
Same side/switching hands in front
Cross grip/same hand up and down
Cross grip/same hand inside
Cross grip/same hand outside
Cross grip/same hand through
Cross grip/same hand in front
Cross grip/switching hands up and down
Cross grip/switching hands inside
Cross grip/switching hands outside
Cross grip/switching hands through
Cross grip/switching hands in front
4 Finger locks
Puppet master
Biceps trap
Read the book
Push the boat
Finger 3/4 turn
Wall over finger lock
Pickup finger lock
Wishbone
The leader
Pinky corkscrew
5 Thumb locks
Thumb 3/4 turn
Thumb corkscrew
Thumb compression
Thumb quarter turn
6 Wrist locks
3/4 turn
In front 34 turn
Compressional 34 turn
One hadnd compressional 34 turnKneelng wrist compression lock
fist of doom
Standing 3/4 turn
1/4 turn
Trapping 1/4 turn
Motorcycle grip 1/4 turn
Double quarter turn
Basic 1/2 turn
Chicken wing
Reverse chicken wing
Pick up 1/2 turn
Goose neck
One handed half turn
Elevated palm lock
Vertical corkscrew
Horizontal corkscrew
Inverted corkscrew
Reverse corkscrew
No handed corkscrew
7 Large joint lcks
Devil's handshake
Reverse straight jacket
Arm twist
Double arm twist
Upper branch
Middle branch
Lower branch
Walk-over armbar
Basic arm bar
Reverse arm bar
Wrap around arm bar
Pump handle
Fisherman's carry
Trapping arm bar
1/2 turn arm bar
Head hook seated arm bar
Stop arm barring yourself
The stool
Arms locked
Figure four (one handed)
In front figure fur
Compressional figure four
Cloverleaf
Two handed figure four
Wrist hang
Thigh pie
Wrap around cloverleaf (forbidden lock)
Reverse figure four
Reverse straight blast
Hammer lock (same side)
Battering ram
Crucifix
Fre pole
Hammer lock (cross arm)
Single arm headlock
Rear naked choke
Full nelson
Clavicle crush headlock
Guillotine headlock
Reverse guillotine headlock
The human backpack
8 Leg locks
Ankle lock
Achilles crush
Double achilles crush
Hip lock
Knee bar
Popliteal pop
9 Joint lock flows
Weapon flows
10 Joint lock defenses
Early arm bar defense
Late arm bar defense
Figure four defense
Half turn defense
Corkscrew defense
Quarter turn defense
Three quarter defense
One arm three quarter turn defense