What controlling technique is used to break the subject's balance through the use of leverage?

• A. Balance displacement
• B. Leverage
• C. Pain compliance
• D. Mechanical compliance

Answer: (A)

Disrupting an opponent’s balance through controlled body mechanics is about using leverage to shift their center of gravity and base of support so they lose stability. By applying precise leverage and guiding the body—often at the torso or limbs—you tilt or move them just enough that their feet no longer comfortably support them, making them easier to control. This is what balance displacement specifically targets: turning leverage into a deliberate destabilization.

Leverage alone is too broad a term here; it’s the focused use of leverage to cause balance loss that defines this technique. Pain compliance aims to gain submission through pain, not by destabilizing balance. Mechanical compliance relies on steady holds and positioning to move a person without intentionally breaking their balance.