Straight Ankle Lock

Straight Ankle Lock from Leg Locks is a finishing attack built around a handful of repeatable controls. The defender's near foot is being attacked in a straight ashi configuration with pressure starting to build on the achilles. Another common starting shape: bottom player playing open guard with feet floating near the opponent's hips and the opponent reaching for an ankle lock setup. It is worth attempting once comfortable with: Single-leg-x to straight ankle lock entry and comfortable with: Slxw setup from single leg X. The ideas that hold it together are break the line before the grip, boot and spin, and foot awareness.

The straight ankle lock chain is a sequence of small controls, not one athletic burst. Sit up and grip the attacker's pant or wrist to kill the finish. Rotate the knee inward to break the foot line off the wrist. Boot the attacker's hip with the free leg. Spin to top or pass into knee-on-belly. Keeping the feet pointed away from the opponent's grasping reach when playing seated guard. Pulling the threatened foot back tight to the body the moment a grip closes, denying the entanglement lock. Rotating the captured foot inward to point the toes toward the attacker's hip, taking the joint out of the lever line. Sitting up and chasing the attacker's back to deny the time needed to finish the lock. The defender has freed the heel line, secured the attacker's foot or hip, and recovered position on top or in a safe leg entanglement.

Later in the straight ankle lock, rotate to defend, deny setup time, and belly-down hip-down finish tend to decide whether the position stays on track. Watch for these mistakes: Leaning back and giving the attacker hip extension. Trying to rip the foot out without rotating the knee. Abandoning the inside position of the legs. Leaving the feet hanging past the attacker's hips, inviting the entry. The high-percentage version of straight ankle lock from leg locks is the one you can still chain when the first squeeze is defended.