Leg locks are among the most dangerous submissions in BJJ grappling. Moreover, they are reachable from almost everywhere and can effectively submit even the toughest grapplers.
So you’re in the wrong spot if somebody entraps you into a leg lock position. In this case, you have a few options either rotate to the opposite side or tap because of pain.
This jiu-jitsu blog post covers everything you need to know about leg locks! We will go over the various types of leg locks, how to execute them properly, and what to do to defend against them. Stay tuned!
What Does Leg Lock Mean and How Does It Work?
A leg lock is a hold where a wrestler/grappler traps or immobilizes the opponent’s legs, holding or restraining the rival in that way.
The leg locks work like this – the fighter traps the foe’s leg/legs with his arms or legs, putting the opponent’s limb in an unnatural position, which forces him to tap and forfeit.
Leg locks are pretty much popular in BJJ fights. Although, in an MMA bout, an opponent is slippery, and he’s got way more options to defend due to strikes. Yet, a good MMA leg lock submission lets you win the bout.
Top Leg Lock Entry Positions
There are many ways to perform successful leg attacks, especially in a no-gi fight. The tutorial below explains the five most often leg locking positions.
We will give you a brief description of the most famous Brazilian jiu-jitsu leg lock positions:
- Ashi Garami: Sit on the buttocks keeping your opponent’s leg under your armpit and the foot of the same side leg on the top of his hamstrings – great for ankle lock or heel hook UFC leg locks.
- Single-Leg X Guard: Lay on your back, holding the opponent’s leg with your arm and wrapping your legs around his leg, controlled by your upper limb and hips. Suitable for all kinds of leg lock submissions.
- Outside Ashi Garami: You’re on the flank, leg trapped in the same way as Ashi-Garami. Still, your knee is between the opponent’s legs while your bottom leg is on his bottom hip- works great for all kinds of straight ankle lock leg attacks.
- Ushiro Ashi Garami: One of the best positions for all kinds of leg lock techniques – you’re on the flank. But you’re working on the opponent’s leg on top of you.
- Game Over (Leg Knot): Great for a tricky BJJ leg lock, primarily works for brown belts or higher – the opponent’s leg is under your armpit, his same-side leg trapped with your leg. You rotate to the side to control his other leg with your foot.
- 50/50: Tricky position, hard to escape, speed and quickness matter for a successful jiu-jitsu leg lock attempt. You’re on the flank, leg under your top armpit, trapping the opponent’s bottom leg with both limbs.
- Honey Hole, Saddle, Inside Sankaku, 411: Cross grip, throw both legs to the outside, then throw them to the inside and triangle your legs for a successful transition to inside Sankaku. You can attempt all MMA leg locks from here, but we recommend a side-heel hook finish.
Best Leg Locks for Jiu-Jitsu Grappling
Many very effective leg lock submissions can finish the fight efficiently. We will focus on the five most common types of leg locks any BJJ practitioner can perform:
- Kneebar
- Straight ankle lock
- Toe hold
- Calf slicer
- Heel hook
You don’t have to be Andre Galvao using these leg techniques to finish the opponent. Moreover, you can do these BJJ locks in gi and no-gi fights.
Indeed, the possibilities are limitless when reaching a leg lock position, from quick finishes to back-to-back submission switches.
Let’s explain each submission in depth!
Kneebar
There were so many kneebar leg lock finishes in the UFC. In BJJ, it is easier to defend it because of a gi; that’s why many call it “the submission of masters”.
What Is a Kneebar?
A kneebar is a leg-aimed attack that tends to pressure the knee by pulling the leg and pushing the joint to the opposite side, causing knee hyperextension.
How Do You Do a Kneebar?
The best position for those types of MMA locks is a half guard. You know how dangerous it can be if you watch the fight between Luana Carolina and Ariane Carnelossi.
Oh, by the way, here is an educational tutorial.
Straight Ankle Lock
A straight ankle lock is also known as “the technique of beginners” in MMA leg locks. Many other disciplines have it – Sambo and Sanda, but it originates from catch wrestling.
What Is a Straight Ankle Lock?
It is the submission in which your foot is wrapped around the aggressor’s arm, with the top of your foot tucked under the opponent’s same-arm armpit. It is the most often performed move on the list of leg submissions in jiu-jitsu.
How Do You Do a Straight Ankle Lock?
There are many types and modifications of the straight ankle lock, but here is an educational video on the move that is most often used in BJJ bouts: the stomping leg lock.
Toe Hold
Toe hold is one of the most challenging leg locks in BJJ. Unfortunately, some BJJ federations prohibit it, plus you need great quickness and timing to trap your opponent’s leg finger.
What Is a Toe Hold?
Like a Kimura on the arm, a toe hold is a submission where the attacking fighter holds his opponent’s ankle close to his chest. The offensive guy uses a popular “Kimura” type of grip to control the end of the foot and mostly touches his little finger (pinky) to the foe’s toe.
It is one of the trickiest submissions in BJJ, both for the offensive and defensive fighter, as you don’t need much pressure to finish it. Legendary Jim Miller is known for this leg lock in the UFC.
How Do You Do a Toe Hold?
The attacking BJJ fighter turns the foot in a twisting motion, straining many joints. The most significant effect is on the talonavicular joint.
Still, if not released on time, it can also hurt the knee ligaments. Please watch the tutorial on performing one of BJJ’s most dangerous leg locks.
Source: BJJ Fanatics
Heel Hook
The heel hook is one of the most dangerous leg submissions in the history of the UFC. It is hard to master, but once you do, your opponent will have a hard time!
What Is a Heel Hook?
A heel hook is a submission that attacks many joints by twisting the foot medially (inside) or laterally (outside heel hook). It produces tremendous knee and foot torque, leading to submission.
How Do You Do a Heel Hook?
The video tutorial below shows you how to perform one of the most brutal UFC leg locks, Ryan Hall’s and Rousimar Palhares’ secret weapon.
Source: Gold BJJ
Calf Slice
The calf slicer is undoubtedly one of the most painful leg locks in the UFC. However, you can do it in both gi and no-gi fights.
What Is a Calf Slice Submission?
A calf slicer is a submission attempt that presses the calf muscle to the tibia and fibula bones. It hurts like hell and forces your opponent to surrender.
How Do You Make a Calf Slice Submission?
This is tricky, as you need to get a good hold of your opponent. Please check out the instructional video below – these are very detailed instructions.
How to Defend Leg Locks?
The best way to avoid a BJJ leg lock is to rotate to the opposite side. For example, if your opponent tries to push your leg clockwise, you must move it to the opposite side under nearly the same angle to slip out of it.
Alternately, in an MMA fight, you can sit on the opponent and unload a barrage of punches to prevent MMA leg lock attempts. Yet, punches cannot generate tremendous power, so rolling to the opposite side still works better.
When the opponent attempts an MMA leg lock from a single X-guard or Imanari roll, you must kneel or sit on the mat and close his angles (you can strike him, too).
An excellent example is a fight between UFC leg lock specialist Ryan Hall and Darrick Minner. He defended tons of Imanari attempts by kneeling to the pressured leg. As a result, Hall’s elite jiu-jitsu leg lock attempts were useless.
Top BJJ Grappling Leg Lockers?
Leg lockers abound in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and MMA today, but some stand out more than others.
- Dean Lister: A multiple-time ADCC and IBJJF No-Gi World Champion, Lister is one of the most decorated leg lockers in recent history. He is known for his leg lock innovation, creativity, etc.
- Craig Jones: The Australian-born grappler has recently been on the run with his miraculous leg lock victories. If he locks your leg up tight, you’ll have two options – tap or visit the hospital. More than 50% of his sub-wins are via leg attacks.
- Lachlan Giles: The bronze medal winner at the ADCC 2019 tournament, Giles is in absolute class. He submitted three heavyweights on the same day. His leg locks, especially from 50/50 positions, are highly unpredictable. The guy can do everything, from a figure four MMA leg lock to the most unorthodox submission switches of lower limbs.
- Garry Tonon: The ONE FC fighter is an expert in leg locks. The former World No-Gi BJJ winner showed the world his power on the ground against Yoshiki Nakahara.
- Ryan Hal: A BJJ black belt most known for his great heel hooks. BJ Penn, Frantz Siloa, and Johnny Nunes were the victims of this UFC leg lock specialist and TUF 22 winner.
- Rousimar Palhares: The first absolute master of leg locks in the UFC. He scored so many notable heel hook victories throughout his career. Yet, Dana White had had enough of Rousimar when he failed to release the submission when the referee stopped the fight versus Mike Pierce. Hence, the promotion parted ways with him in 2013.
Are Leg Locks Legal in BJJ?
Well, legal jiu-jitsu leg locks depend on the tournament rules. So we will focus on IBJJF rules, but note that it depends on the federation, too:
- In the adult competition, white, purple, and blue belts can only do straight ankle locks. In this position, they should pivot away from the ankle when attacking the opponent’s leg (no turning towards the knee).
- Knee reaping is illegal for all belts in gi competitions.
- Toe holds, calf slicers, and kneebars are legal for adult black and brown belts.
- IBJJF gi competitions prohibit all kinds of heel hooks.
Recommended: Grasp the IBJJF rules and regulations to avoid disqualification and gain a competitive advantage by becoming familiar with legal and illegal IBJJF submission techniques. Learn more by clicking here!
Final Thoughts
There are many leg locks, but the game ends when a good grappler locks his limbs around your leg up tight. Here is some other stuff we have learned so far:
- It is easiest to enter the leg lock position when you’re already on the canvas; Imanari and takedown are riskier in an MMA fight.
- Any leg lock could lead to a stoppage. The advantage of BJJ is that the rules prohibit the opponent from hitting you, making the job more straightforward.
- MMA allows all kinds of leg locks. They are prohibited in Judo, while BJJ depends on the federation and competition rules.
Heel hooks are a very entertaining way to finish the opponent, especially in an MMA fight.
Still, an outstanding level of entertainment comes with many risks. Would you like to be famous for leg submissions in the UFC one day? Then give leg locks a shot!
