Summary
Leg locks have become one of the most dominant and rapidly evolving aspects of modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Once considered a niche area, they are now widely used at all levels of competition, making it essential for every practitioner to understand how to defend and escape them.
This guide breaks down the key leg entanglement positions, such as ashi garami, cross ashi, and 50/50, and explains how these positions create control for submissions like heel hooks, ankle locks, and kneebars. It also emphasizes the importance of early defense, proper positioning, and awareness when dealing with leg attacks.
By understanding both the positions and escape principles, practitioners can stay safe, avoid submissions, and develop a more complete grappling game.
Key Takeaways
- Leg locks are a core part of modern BJJ
With the rise of submission grappling, defending leg attacks is no longer optional—it’s essential. - Understanding positions is the first step to escaping
Knowing entanglements like ashi garami and 50/50 helps you recognize danger early. - Control of the knee line is critical
If your opponent controls your knee, escaping becomes much harder—freeing it should be a priority. - Early defense is far more effective than late escapes
Once submissions like heel hooks are fully locked in, escape becomes extremely difficult. - Technique and awareness matter more than strength
Proper positioning, timing, and calm decision-making are key to successful escapes.
The Leg Lock Positions
Let’s first discuss the different leg entanglements where leg locks can be employed.
1) Irimi (Standard) Ashi Garami
Irimi ashi garami is the most basic leg lock position and is likely the first that comes to mind when the topic of leg locks is discussed. It is performed by controlling an opponent’s leg by pinching your knees together on the inside of their thigh while your outside foot is posted on their hip, and the other wraps around to clamp the opponent’s thigh in place.
2) Cross Ashi Garami
The cross ashi garami is similar in some ways to the standard ashi garami, where both your legs aren’t locked together. However, instead of clamping their leg and having their feet outside to the bottom of your hip, you have the opponent’s trapped leg across your body.
3) Outside Ashi Garami
The outside ashi garami is one of the leg entanglement positions that gives better control and finishing position. When both your feet and ankles are crossed, it provides better control. In this leg entanglement, you use your inside leg to step over the opponent’s trapped leg, which is outside of their hip. You use your outside leg to cross your ankles together, with your outside foot on top of your inside foot.
4) Inside Ashi Garami
A common way to get into the inside ashi garami is to start from the regular ashi garami. It is when you bring your outside leg over the opponent’s trapped leg, also known as the “reap,” and weave it into a configuration that entangles the opponent’s other leg.
5) Butterfly Ashi Garami
The butterfly ashi garami mixes the ashi garami and butterfly hook. It is the opposite of the ashi garami, where your inside leg comes on top of the opponent’s trapped leg, while your outside leg does a butterfly hook. Unlike in the regular ashi, where your outside leg is trapping over the opponent’s leg while your foot is on their hip, and your inside leg is hooked on their leg.
6) The 411
This leg entanglement is called the 411 because your legs trap the opponent’s leg, doing a triangle on it. Thus, your leg mimics the number “4,” while the opponent’s represents the number “11.” It is widely considered the most powerful leg lock position.
7) Fifty-Fifty (50/50)
The fifty-fifty is where both grappler’s inside legs are intertwined. This position is called as it is because both grapplers have the same options of attack, having a mirror-like position. It is an essential position to work on, especially during scrambles.
8) Eighty-Twenty (80/20)
The eighty-twenty is a better position than the fifty-fifty as the attacker now has better options, thus the name eighty, while the opponent only has twenty. Getting into this position means dropping to your side to get better leverage. This will help you separate the opponent’s legs from each other, which will usually be trapped by being triangled. You can drop your inside knee to the mat once the opponent’s legs are separated.
Escaping The Leg Locks
There are various ways to apply leg locks and different techniques to escape them. Let’s explore some of the leg locks commonly used in typical leg entanglement scenarios.
1) Standard Ashi Ankle Lock Escape
Before attempting to escape the ashi garami straight ankle lock, initially “boot” your foot by pointing your toes towards you to buy some time. If your left leg is caught, post on the mat with your left hand. Use your right hand to control the opponent’s outside leg—the leg controlling you—by pinning it on the mat. As you pin the opponent’s leg, put all your weight on your left arm and hop over the opponent’s outside leg. Once you’ve moved your glute out, start scooting and push the opponent’s inside leg knee so they can’t follow up.
“In the standard ashi ankle lock, your priority is always to clear the knee line and control your opponent’s feet. Once you remove their control, the submission disappears.”
— Rodrigo Marello, BJJ Black Belt & Instructor at Evolve MMA
2) Inside Heel Hook Escape
The inside heel hook from the inside ashi garami position is more dangerous than the outside. This escape is called the “heel slip” and must be practiced cautiously with your training partners, as the ligaments are weaker when defending from the inside heel hook. The danger is when your knee is outside the line of your ankle, making it the opponent’s goal when attacking with the inside heel hook.
To defend, take your knee inside the line by grabbing the opponent’s arm or legs, and point your toes down as you push and pull with it to slip your heel.
3) Outside Heel Hook Escape
From the outside ashi garami, the primary threat is the heel hook. The simplest way to defend this is to connect your feet together before the opponent grabs your heel. This prevents the opponent from getting under your heel. Remember that any time the top of your foot starts facing the opponent, your heel is exposed.
Always turn the sole of your foot towards the opponent and connect your feet. As the opponent begins going belly down to dig your heel using their bottom arm, reach for the opponent’s bottom forearm to control it. You can start escaping from here, as it will now be more challenging for the opponent to go belly up as his bottom arm is trapped behind. Go into your knee, control their top arm, and start sprawling to free your leg. In this position, you can now move around and take their back.
4) Knee Bar Escape
When escaping the knee bar, clear your knee line as fast as possible. Assuming the opponent has the knee bar, use your free leg to push behind their top knee (between the opponent’s calf and hamstring). Pull yourself out of the position from here to clear the knee line. Now that the knee line is clear, no matter how hard the opponent tries to finish the knee bar, you will be in a safe position. If you can reach the opponent’s top feet as you push behind their knee, escaping and pulling your leg out can be easier.
FAQs
1. Why are leg locks so dangerous in BJJ?
Leg locks attack joints like the knee and ankle, which can be damaged quickly—sometimes before pain is fully felt.
2. What is the most important rule when escaping leg locks?
Clear the knee line. If your knee is trapped, your opponent has control and can apply submissions more easily.
3. Can beginners learn leg lock escapes safely?
Yes, but it must be done under proper supervision. Controlled drilling and early tapping are essential to prevent injury.
4. What is the hardest leg lock to escape?
Heel hooks are generally considered the most dangerous and difficult to escape once fully applied due to the rotational pressure on the knee.
5. Should I focus more on defense or attack for leg locks?
Both are important, but beginners should prioritize defense first to stay safe and build awareness.
Final Thoughts
The rise of leg locks has transformed Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu into a more complete and dynamic grappling art. Today, ignoring leg locks is no longer an option, understanding them is essential for both safety and progression.
“Leg locks have changed the game in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. To be a complete grappler today, you must understand not just how to attack them, but how to defend and stay safe in every position.”
— Valdir Rodrigues, BJJ Black Belt & Instructor at Evolve MMA
For beginners, the key takeaway is simple: awareness comes first. Learn to recognize dangerous positions early, stay calm under pressure, and focus on escaping before submissions are fully locked in.
With consistent training and proper guidance, defending leg locks becomes less intimidating and more strategic, allowing you to move confidently and safely in any grappling exchange.
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