Calf Slicer
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The calf slicer is a compression lock. You place your shin or forearm behind the opponent's knee and fold their leg over it, crushing the calf and prying the knee joint open. It needs a bent leg, so it comes from positions where the leg is trapped and folded, most often the truck and the back.
How it works
Your shin sits deep in the back of their knee, as close to the joint as you can get it. Holding their foot or ankle, you fold the leg toward their hip so the calf is squeezed between their thigh and your shin. The deeper the shin and the tighter the fold, the faster it finishes. It hurts more than it looks, so apply it slowly.
Where calf slicers come from
The truck, the position from the twister and Eddie Bravo's 10th Planet system, is the classic setup: you are behind them with one of their legs trapped in a lockdown, and the calf slicer is right there. It also comes from the back when a leg is caught in a body triangle or a hook, from turtle, and from top of half guard when you trap their bent leg.
Defending the calf slicer
Do not let the leg fold with the shin deep in the knee. Straighten the trapped leg early, turn toward the attacker to take the angle away, and fight their grip on your foot. Once the leg is folded tight over the shin, tap.
Rules
Under IBJJF rules the calf slicer is legal for brown and black belts in gi and no-gi, including masters. Grappling Industries allows calf slicers from blue belt. Many other events treat it as an advanced technique, so check the rules before you rely on it.
Check any leg lock by belt and ruleset →Frequently asked questions
Is the calf slicer legal in BJJ?
Under IBJJF rules, from brown belt in gi and no-gi. Grappling Industries allows it from blue belt. Many other events limit it to advanced divisions.
Is a calf slicer a leg lock?
Yes. It is a compression lock on the lower leg: a shin or forearm behind the knee crushes the calf and pries the knee open as the leg folds.
What position does the calf slicer come from?
Most often the truck, where you are behind the opponent with one of their legs trapped. It also comes from the back, turtle, and top half guard when their leg is bent and isolated.
How do you defend a calf slicer?
Keep the leg from folding over their shin: straighten it early, turn toward them, and fight the grip on your foot. If the shin is deep and the leg is folded, tap.
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