Toe Hold from X-Guard

Toe Hold from X-Guard is a finishing attack built around a handful of repeatable controls. The bottom player is in X-guard and the opponent has dropped the knee onto the chest. Another common starting shape: the bottom player is in one-leg X or X-guard and the opponent rolls under to attack a toe hold on the bottom-side foot. The ideas that hold it together are dropped-knee read, kimura-style toe lock, and roll with the opponent.

The toe hold chain is a sequence of small controls, not one athletic burst. Hug the dropped leg with the inside arm while reaching with the other to grip the foot, thumb around the far side. Lock the kimura-style figure four and twist the toes like opening a bottle. If the opponent rolls, follow over the shoulder keeping the hooks attached, and finish on top or pin for points. Follow the opponent's roll immediately so the toe hold grip cannot finish. Once on top of the roll, attack the gripping hands and clear the foot to two points. If late, post the free foot on the opponent's elbow and kick to release the grip and come on top. The bottom player has hugged the leg, locked a kimura-style toe-hold grip on the foot, and either tapped the opponent in place or rolled with him to top with the toe hold still attached.

Later in the toe hold, follow the roll, hand attack, and elbow kick release tend to decide whether the position stays on track. Watch for these mistakes: Trying to defend in place instead of rolling with the attacker. The high-percentage version of toe hold from x-guard is the one you can still chain when the first squeeze is defended.