Leg Locks

Leg lock positions, by name

You finish leg locks from these positions. Most of the names come from judo. Ashi garami means leg entanglement and sankaku means triangle, so each name tells you where your legs sit. A common path starts in single-leg X, moves through the ashi positions, and finishes from the saddle or 50/50.

Single-leg X (SLX)

The usual way in from open guard. You hook one of their legs between yours with a foot on their hip. It's better for off-balancing than finishing, and it leads into the ashi positions below.

Straight ashi garami

Their leg between yours, your outside foot on their hip. Also called standard ashi. The home of the straight ankle lock, and where most people learn to hold the knee line.

Outside ashi

Your outside leg crosses over their thigh instead of sitting on the hip. It stops them turning away and exposes the heel for the outside heel hook.

Cross ashi

Your legs cross over their hip with their foot across your body. Tight control of the knee line, the inside heel hook, and a common step into the saddle.

The saddle (inside sankaku, 411, honey hole)

Your legs triangle around their leg from the inside, knee trapped between your thighs. The usual spot to finish an inside heel hook.

50/50

A mirrored entanglement: both players hold the same position and can attack the same heel, so inside position and hiding your own heel decide who finishes.

The five leg locks

Each attacks a different joint or direction, so each has its own position, defense and rules.

Heel hook

Rotates the heel, which twists the knee. The inside heel hook comes from the saddle and 50/50, the outside heel hook from outside ashi. It does the most damage, so the rules restrict it the most.

Straight ankle lock

Levers the foot back against the ankle and Achilles from straight ashi garami. It is usually the first leg lock people learn, and the only one of the five legal at every adult IBJJF belt.

Kneebar

Straightens the knee against your hips, like an armbar on the leg. It comes from the entanglements when their leg is straight, and often while passing.

Toe hold

A figure-four grip on the foot that twists the foot and ankle inward. It shows up wherever the foot is exposed, including 50/50 and passing.

Calf slicer

A compression lock: your shin behind their knee crushes the calf as the leg folds. It comes most often from the truck and from the back.

How to defend leg locks

Defend the position before the submission. Many leg lock injuries happen when someone spins or pulls out of a finish that's already locked.

Clear the knee line

Once your knee gets past their hips, the heel hook loses its leverage. They're trying to keep your knee trapped, so fight for it first.

Hide the heel

Keep your heel away from their grip and out of their armpit so they cannot lock the finish.

Boot the foot

Against the straight ankle lock, flex your toes toward your shin so their wrist cannot settle under the Achilles, then work the foot free.

Turn only when the knee is free

Rolling with a locked heel hook is how knees get hurt. If the finish is on and your knee is trapped, tap.

Knowing the rules

Which leg locks are legal depends on the ruleset, your belt, and gi or no-gi. Under IBJJF rules the straight ankle lock is legal at every adult belt, kneebars, toe holds, and calf slicers start at brown belt, and heel hooks and knee reaping are legal only for adult brown and black belts in no-gi. ADCC allows heel hooks and knee reaping, NAGA no-gi allows heel hooks from blue belt, and Grappling Industries no-gi from purple belt. Kids and teens cannot heel hook under any of them.