Let’s take a look at 5 leglock entries from a standing position. By combining your takedowns with these submissions you’ll greatly magnify the power of both!
It’s always easier to apply a technique when your opponent doesn’t expect it. And nothing is more surprising than thinking you’re in a takedown battle but suddenly find yourself on the defensive, frantically defending a leglock attack.
Here are 5 high percentage leglock attacks from standing which have been used in high level grappling and MMA competition…
Video Timestamps:
0:10 Standard Ashi Pull from Collar Tie to Heel Hook
2:06 Rear Bodylock to 50/50 and Reverse Heel Hook
3:38 Single Leg to False Reap and Heel Hook
6:46 Kani Basami from Overhook or Underhook to Leg Weave
8:59 Viktor Roll to Kneebar
Now let’s take a look at each of these setups in a little more detail and context…
Entry 1 – Pulling Standard Ashi / Single Leg X Guard from the Collar Tie
In this entry you first push into your opponent, typically from a collar tie position with one forearm on his collar bone and the other hand controlling his elbow. When he pushes back you shoot one of your legs deep through his legs and enter into the “Standard Ashi” leglock control position.
One critical aspect of this technique is to keep your other leg close to your chest to prevent your opponent from simply sitting down into mount. One leg shoots for the entanglement, the other serves as a frame to keep his weight off your torso.
From Standard Ashi the simplest option is to elevate and rotate your hips (i.e. the twist sweep) and immediate follow that by digging for the heel and applying the outside heel hook to submit your opponent.
Standard Ashi is essentially identical to the Single Leg X Guard which is actually a rather deep position with many attacks, transitions, sweeps and submissions.
To become more comfortable with the Single Leg X Guard I’ve got a free course on this position has helped a LOT of people; click here to access the Single Leg X Guard quickstart course for free.
By the way, click here for a PDF cheat sheet covering the leglock positions we’re going to be using today. I think it’ll be useful for following along.
Modern Leglock Position Cheatsheet
This style of leglock entry has been used numerous times in MMA, most notably by Rousimar Palhares who had 4 heel hook wins in the UFC (before getting kicked out of the UFC for continuing to crank on submissions after the referee had told him to let go).
In MMA Palhares typically set up this entry from a double leg takedown instead of a collar tie, but the mechanics remain almost identical. Here’s an example of him hitting this move.
Rousimar Palhares about to heel hook Alexi Ivanov in MMA
Entry 2 – 50/50 Heel Hook from the Rear Bearhug
Getting the rear bearhug on someone is a very good thing. On the feet this might happen after you use an armdrag, a duckunder, or in a scramble that starts on the ground and ends up standing.
Normally the default plan from the rear bearhug should be to take someone down to the ground and submit them there (for example with these takedown options from the rear bearhug).
4 Takedowns from the Rear Bearhug
But sometimes you just can’t take the other guy down, or maybe you’re running out of time in a match. In these cases it might be time for a Hail Mary technique and go for the heel hook from 50-50.
Throw one leg through his legs, pivot around to his front side, sweep him backwards, and then attack with a heel hook from 50-50 position.
The 50-50 position occurs when both people have their inside legs intertwined. Now you can finish with the reverse heel hook while having closed circuit control over your opponent’s hip and knee, which makes for an incredibly devastating leglock.
In theory the 50-50 is a symmetrical position and both people have access to the same techniques, so it’s important to be comfortable with the finishes, understand the counters, and surprise your opponent when you move into this position.
Fortunately the 50-50 from the rear bearhug is a very surprising move. Hit it with conviction and you can usually get the submission before your opponent understands what’s happening.
Entry 3 – False Reap from the Single Leg Takedown
The false reap is a relatively new position in leglocking where you control one of your opponent’s legs with your forearm behind his knee and your leg passing over his thigh. From the false reap there are a lot of different routes to the heel hook, the kneebar, and taking the back.
Typically the false reap is done on the ground from from the guard, but today we’ll be doing it from a single leg takedown.
In this version you’ve snatched up his leg and are holding it between your own. Now instead of fighting to finish the takedown you sit down, swing your outside leg over his thigh, and start hunting for the heel hook.
I can’t think of any examples of this technique being used in MMA but ultimately it’s just a matter of time until some fighter pulls it off. If you see it in action please let me know!
Entry 4 – Kani Basami from the Overhook or Underhook
The Kani Basami or the ‘scissors takedown’ is a very powerful attack if you’re sideways to your opponent and his legs are lined up with yours.
To do this takedown plant one hand on the ground and then bring one leg in front of his hips and another behind his knees. This makes him fall over backwards and brings his legs within range of your arms. Now you can finish with a variety of heel hooks, kneebars, and leg weave submissions.
There’s a HUGE problem with this technique though – it’s very dangerous for the person getting thrown.
It’s quite common for the recipient of the throw to have your weight land sideways on his knee or ankle which can be catastrophic. I’ve personally witnessed two very serious injuries coming from this throw and have heard of many more.
Kani Basami banned in many organisations including the IBJJF. That being said, this move IS legal in many no gi competition rulesets including ADCC, so it’s important to know this technique if for no other reason than to be ready for it.
To find out why the Kani Basami needs to be approached with such extreme caution check out The Most Dangerous Throw in Judo and BJJ.
Kani Basami – the most dangerous throw in Judo and BJJ
The most famous example of this move being used is probably when Ryo Chonan hit it on Anderson Silva in Pride and finished with a heel hook!
Ryo Chonan submits Anderson Silva with Kani Basami
Entry 5 – Victor Roll from the 2 on 1
Sambo is a grappling art that was synthesized in the early 20th century in the Soviet Union from Judo, wrestling, and Eastern European folk wrestling traditions. Modern Judo banned leglocks in competition, but they stayed legal in Sambo and became a centerpiece of the art.
Sambo’s leglocks became well known in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s as Sambo was incorporated into Japanese MMA systems like Shootwrestling and also as Russian fighter Oleg Taktarov started racking up wins in the UFC using leglocks.
The Viktor Roll was a signature move of many Japanese and Russian fighters. It was flashy, but it was also very unexpected. One moment you were standing, the next moment you were frantically defending your legs from someone who had rolled underneath you.
The Viktor Roll is made easier and safer if you first break your opponent’s posture forward. I prefer to use the 2 on 1 grip to do that (which, incidentally, also opens up many relatively easy BJJ takedowns).
Once you have him bent forward you put your head towards his far leg and roll underneath him. This brings him over you and exposes his legs to your attacks.
It should be pointed out that this entry looks superficially similar to the Kani Basami takedown that’s illegal in many organisations. So know the rules before you try the Viktor Roll.
This move has definitely shown up in MMa. Here’s Oleg Taktarov using the Viktor Roll kneebar back in 1995 (in the Ultimate Ultimate) on Dan Severn.
Oleg Taktarov Rolling Kneebar Attack
Related Leglocking Resources
The leglock game is deep, and the more knowledge you have then the better you’ll be able to attack AND defend.
Here are three of my favorite resources that are available in streaming, DVD, and app-based formats…
1, The Modern Leglock Formula with Rob Biernacki
The Modern Leglock Formula is one of the most popular Grapplearts instructionals of all time.
This ultimate guide to leglocking in the modern era by these two well-known BJJ black belts instructors is available both as a 6 DVD set, and also in an online format that you can access instantly on your computer, phone, or tablet.
This resource will give you a proven,step-by-step system for safely adding ultra-effective lower body submissions to your game. Now you can add the same leglock techniques and strategies that have transformed the grappling scene to your own submission arsenal.
Click here for more information about The Modern Leglock Formula.
2, No Gi Leglocks with Oliver Taza
No Gi Leglocks with Oliver Taza and Stephan Kesting
A leglocking system has to cover all aspects of leglocks, including how to get into them, control the positions, finish the submissions, transition into other attacks, counter other people’s attacks, and have training methods to make all those things faster, smoother and more instinctive.
In No Gi Leglocks elite competitor Oliver Taza shares the innermost details of his leglocking system honed sparring the monsters of the Danaher Death Squad and competing against the best grapplers in the world.
Click here for more information about No Gi Leglocks.
3, Thirty Second Fight Finishes with Elliott Bayev
30 Second Fight Finishes, with Elliott Bayev and Stephan Kesting
This instructional really embodies the philosophy of hunting the submission right from the beginning of the match.
By attacking with the choke, armlock or leglock from the feet you seize the initiative. Either the submission works and you win the match with efficiency, or you bring your opponent into your world where you still control the action.
Click here for more info about Thirty Second Fight Finishes.
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