Familiarizing yourself with the best leg lock positions is critical to mastering leg locks. If you want to skyrocket your success ratio using lower-body submissions, you must learn and become comfortable with these positions.
This article will break each position down into its core components. You want to learn all of them, as each will benefit your leg lock skills. In addition, you can learn many leg locks, such as the Toe Hold, Heel Hook, and Kneebar. Follow each link to read a comprehensive guide on these leg locks.
The thing is, you will be able to pair each leg lock with its most compatible position when you understand how this works. But it’s not everything this article will cover.
It’ll also highlight many mistakes novice grapplers make when they get into each position. How will this be of use to you? It’ll help you perfect your lower body game before you even start practicing these positions. You’ll skip weeks of trial and error just by learning the right way.
Same Side Grip vs. Cross Side Grip
The critical point you want to understand before we break down the Ashi Garami—is that you want ankle control. So how do you get that? You wrap your hand around the opponent’s ankle. Remember, BJJ is all about control, so strive to achieve as much control as possible.
Hopefully, that makes sense.
You can attack two sides, the left and right leg (simple enough.) Now you can also grip whichever one you prefer. Typically, if you’re left-handed, you’ll grip the opponent’s right leg using your left hand. The opposite applies here as well. But you can also grab the opponent’s right leg with your left hand (cross-grip.) Are you following along?
So if you grip the opponent’s left leg with your right hand, you can go for the Ashi Garami (as it’s a same-side position.) But first, let’s see what it is and how to enter it.
So let’s dive into the first, most popular position: Ashi Garami.
Ashi Garami
The Ashi Garami is the foundation for all other leg lock positions. That’s the first one you want to learn, as it provides a cornerstone for all different positions. I’ve listed it as the first one, so you can follow along properly.
You can use the Ashi Garami position when you have the same side grip on the opponent’s ankle as your target leg. So, if you grip the opponent’s left leg, you can enter the Ashi Garami if you grab it with your right hand.
The Ashi Garami position utilizes one foot (toes facing down) on the opponent’s hips and the other between his legs. The last step is to pinch your knees together and trap the targeted leg. You want to have the exact side grip to perform the Ashi Garami.
If you master the Ashi Garami, you’ll have an easier time learning all the other ones, as it provides a basis for the other positions. You must understand the steps to use it to ensure you’re building a solid foundation moving in the future.
The most common mistake grapplers make with the Ashi Garami isn’t in the execution itself but in not investing enough time mastering it before learning the others. You want to master it so you can move forward much better.
That, by the way, applies to leg locks. You should learn the Ankle Lock before you think about learning any other one. The ankle lock is the cornerstone submission, providing a basis for each leg lock.
Follow this link to read about BJJ’s most effective leg locks and how to perform each one!
Outside Ashi Garami
The Outside Ashi Garami, or Outside Ashi (simpler, right), is a leg lock position you want to learn after you practice the Ashi Garami and grasp its fundamentals.
This position gives you plenty of control, allowing you to go for many leg locks, such as the Heel Hook. Eventually, you want to start learning and mastering it right after you grasp the basic concepts of the Ashi Garami.
So how do you perform the Outside Ashi?
You want to start in the Ashi Garami to perform the Outside Ashi. Then, you loosen your knee pinch, bring the leg between the opponent’s leg, and place it on the other leg. You want your ankles to be locked.
You’re now in the Outside Ashi. What submissions can you perform from this position?
The most suitable leg lock you can use is the Straight Foot Lock, AKA Ankle Lock. Heel Hooks are a convenient option as well.
Here’s a question to affirm your understanding: Is the Outside Ashi the same side or cross-side grip? I hope you have understood that it’s the same side grip as you start in the Ashi Garami, which is the same side grip.
So can you perform the Outside Ashi when you grip the opponent’s left ankle with your left hand? Unfortunately, the answer is no, as that’s a cross-side grip.
Saddle (Honey Hole)
The next position we’ll cover is the Saddle, AKA Honey Hole. By this point, you know everything to perform it flawlessly. So let’s see how you can transition from the standard Ashi Garami to the Honey Hole (Saddle.)
You start in the Ashi Garami to perform the Saddle. Then, you switch your grip to the cross-side and place the leg on the opponent’s hips between his leg (bringing both legs to the inside.) Finally, you underhook the opponent’s same leg while locking a Triangle with your legs.
And you’re in the Saddle position.
The Triangle lock is one of BJJ’s tightest locks. Therefore, you can imagine the amount of pressure you’ll have on the opponent when you lock it successfully. Eventually, it’ll allow you a lot of control.
And, as you can imagine, you can go for many submissions from the Honey Hole position. You’ll be capable of threatening many attacks while controlling the opponent.
Leg locks are wonderful, aren’t they? 🙂
50/50
The 50/50 position utilizes the cross-side grip. Remember, it’s when you grab the opponent’s right leg (or left leg) with your right hand (or left hand.) As a result, the opponent’s leg will be crossed over your body and not in a straight line.
You want to start in the Ashi Garami to perform the 50/50. Then, you want to switch your hands to have a cross-side grip. The next step is to move the leg that’s between the opponent’s legs and place it on the outside (like the Ashi Garami. You’re now in the 50/50.
This is one of the more popular ones, as it’s also more effective than its peers. It allows you more control than your average leg lock position. How? One might ask. Well, you see, you’re in a position where you lock the opponent’s leg exceptionally tightly.
Therefore, the escape routes of your opponent have been minimized. Thus, it’ll be more difficult for him to escape.
You want to remain as tight as possible to ensure you can go for a leg lock from this position.
The primary disadvantage with the 50/50 is that you’re legs are exposed. You have them reach out; advanced grapplers will use that against you. So it’s a bit riskier than the other ones. But you’ll still have more control over the opponent, especially if you’re as tight as possible.
Leg Knot
The next pre-leg lock position we’ll review is the Leg Knot, AKA Game Over. This is one of the ones that give you the most control, and you’ll see why in a second. Typically, you want to control and pressure in various directions, not just one.
Following this rule will allow you to force your opponents to tap out faster than if you were to focus on a single direction. But, of course, the same applies to control. Now you’ll see how this affects the Leg Knot in just a second.
You want to start in the Ashi Garami and turn toward the opponent. Then, you move the leg that’s on his hip and place it between his legs. Next, you hook his far leg with the same leg while moving your other leg over the opponent’s same leg. The final step is to lock your legs together.
The Leg Knot allows you so much control—and you’ll see it when you see it in play. The opponent doesn’t have many escape routes here, as he won’t be able to move if you perform it correctly. So what’s the primary mistake grapplers make with the Leg Knot?
Many grapplers won’t be as tight as they should be. As a result, their opponents can escape by applying pressure and forcing your lock open. Therefore, you want to be as tight as possible while preparing for the option that the opponent will attack you back.
You can go for many leg locks from the Leg Knot, including the Heel Hook and the Toe Hold. These are the primary ones, but there are more!
Ushiro Ashi Garami
The Ushiro Ash Garami is a variation of the Outside Ashi. It allows you more control, giving you more offensive options. Likewise, many grapplers won’t be familiar with escaping from it, at least not as much as from the Ashi Garami or Outside Ashi.
You enter the Ushiro Ashi Garami position by starting in the Outside Ashi. Then, you roll until your belly faces the floor. The next step is to switch your grips and go for an underhook (rather than your standard grip.) Then, finally, you turn to the same side (with your belly down) while maintaining the underhook.
I recommend learning this position, as it lets you be more dynamic in your grappling game. You’ll be able to finish off opponents with a fierce Kneebar they will not expect.
I believe the Ushiro Ashi Garami is the most dynamic position, allowing you to transition into other variations of the Outside Ashi. Eventually, the more options you have, the most successful you’ll be.
It can also be the most surprising position to your opponents since not many grapplers know how to defend against it. So make sure to learn it!
Final Words
I thought about numerous ways to wrap up this article. However, only a single one of these is worth going for.
Leg locks are critical to understand. In addition, you want to familiarize yourself with lower-body attacks, as you might eventually prefer them over upper-body submissions, such as the Kimura, Americana, and Triangle Choke.
Many IBJJF pros prefer using leg locks, as that’s what their entire grappling game revolves around. The point is—understanding these positions will solidify your leg lock game further. It’ll help you get more leg locks and win more fights.
This is why this article is as essential as reading and learning about actual leg locks. Combining the two will skyrocket your lower-body game, allowing you to understand the primary concepts of lower-body submissions and how to win more fights using them.
And if you want to complete your knowledge and learn about BJJ’s best leg locks, follow this link.