May 03, 2008
Leglocking Interview
I recently had a great discussion with Dan and Caleb from TheFightwork's Podcast about the role of leglocks in Brazilian jiu- jitsu. We discussed a lot of things leglock, including how to train them safely, how to use them to help augment your guard passing game, and how their role has changed and evolved within the sport. Check the interview out on the site or download it to your iPod.
April 18, 2008
The Four Most Common Leglock Mistakes
This is a small portion of the Introduction and Principles section from the High Percentage Leglocks DVD.
Labels: Grapplearts DVDs, leglocks
Leglock Entry from Standing Clinch
This clip is from the Ankle Lock and Heel Hook Entries section of the High Percentage Leglocks DVD, now available on this site.
Labels: Grapplearts DVDs, leglocks
The 'Hip Hop' Counter to the Anklelock
This is from the Counters and Recounters section of the High Percentage Leglocks DVD.
Labels: Grapplearts DVDs, leglocks
Counter to the Rolling Toehold vs. de la Riva Guard
This clip is from Bonus Toeholds Section of the High Percentage Leglocks DVD.
Labels: Grapplearts DVDs, leglocks
April 13, 2008
Congratulations to a Leglock Master
I'm delighted that Oleg Taktarov recently stepped back into the cage and defeated Mark Kerr with a kneebar, which has always been one of Oleg's signature moves. Oleg was very influential on my leglock game development, both in terms of technique and teaching method. He always taught in a clear, systematic manner, using examples and analogies to get his point across.
If you want to see the fight, it is floating around out there in cyberspace (hint: try dailymotion.com).
If you want to see the fight, it is floating around out there in cyberspace (hint: try dailymotion.com).
November 21, 2007
The Twister Vs. The Toehold
Q: You've previously discussed dangerous submissions. Do you think that the twister spine lock is a dangerous submission? How dangerous is the twister compared to other submissions, say something like a toehold.
Stephan's note: Just in case readers aren't familiar with these techniques you can see the twister used by Eddie Bravo many times here and the toehold taught by Chris Leben here.
A: The quick answer is that both submissions (the toehold and the twister) are dangerous.
If you were to collect injury statistics, you would probably find that more people have been hurt by toeholds than by the twister, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the twister is safer. The twister is a great submission - I use it myself whenever I get the chance - but it hasn't really hit the grappling mainstream yet. As such it is less commonly used and it's not surprising that injuries from this submission are still fairly rare.
The thing to remember about a twister is that it is a spine lock, just like other neck cranks, and that the spine, particularly the cervical spine which is targeted by this lock, is a delicate and unforgiving-once-injured body part.
One significant difference between the two techniques is the level of control necessary to apply the submission. The twister requires the victim to be pretty much immobilized and controlled, whereas the toehold can be applied with widely varying amounts of control (depending on the exact entry).
A common toehold injury scenario goes like this: one person applies a toehold on another person, but refrains from cranking it on because he knows that it can be a dangerous submission. The guy caught in the toehold decides to spin out - which is one of the correct counters - but spins in the wrong direction. Before the first person can let go something in the second person's leg goes snap, crackle, pop, and the toehold has claimed another victim.
When caught in the twister, on the other hand, it's very hard for your opponent to move this spastically. People still have egos, and it is very common for people to try and tough their way through a neck crank, only tapping after injury occurs.
I speak from personal and collective experience - neck injuries are no joke! I know a number of grapplers who have had their competitive careers cut short by neck injuries, and others who have quit the sport altogether. Severe neck injuries (or a series of less severe ones) can lead to herniated cervical disks, osteoarthritis, spondylosis, spondylitis, spondylolysis and many other nasty multi-syllabic conditions.
I use both submissions, but I treat them both with a lot of respect. If a person starts thrashing or refusing to tap I try to let go and move on to something else before they injure themselves and deprive me of a training partner.
Stephan's note: Just in case readers aren't familiar with these techniques you can see the twister used by Eddie Bravo many times here and the toehold taught by Chris Leben here.
A: The quick answer is that both submissions (the toehold and the twister) are dangerous.
If you were to collect injury statistics, you would probably find that more people have been hurt by toeholds than by the twister, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the twister is safer. The twister is a great submission - I use it myself whenever I get the chance - but it hasn't really hit the grappling mainstream yet. As such it is less commonly used and it's not surprising that injuries from this submission are still fairly rare.
The thing to remember about a twister is that it is a spine lock, just like other neck cranks, and that the spine, particularly the cervical spine which is targeted by this lock, is a delicate and unforgiving-once-injured body part.
One significant difference between the two techniques is the level of control necessary to apply the submission. The twister requires the victim to be pretty much immobilized and controlled, whereas the toehold can be applied with widely varying amounts of control (depending on the exact entry).
A common toehold injury scenario goes like this: one person applies a toehold on another person, but refrains from cranking it on because he knows that it can be a dangerous submission. The guy caught in the toehold decides to spin out - which is one of the correct counters - but spins in the wrong direction. Before the first person can let go something in the second person's leg goes snap, crackle, pop, and the toehold has claimed another victim.
When caught in the twister, on the other hand, it's very hard for your opponent to move this spastically. People still have egos, and it is very common for people to try and tough their way through a neck crank, only tapping after injury occurs.
I speak from personal and collective experience - neck injuries are no joke! I know a number of grapplers who have had their competitive careers cut short by neck injuries, and others who have quit the sport altogether. Severe neck injuries (or a series of less severe ones) can lead to herniated cervical disks, osteoarthritis, spondylosis, spondylitis, spondylolysis and many other nasty multi-syllabic conditions.
I use both submissions, but I treat them both with a lot of respect. If a person starts thrashing or refusing to tap I try to let go and move on to something else before they injure themselves and deprive me of a training partner.
September 11, 2007
To Kneel Or Stand
A few weeks ago I was practicing technique with a big, strong rock climber who had a grip from hell and tenacious isometric strength. I noticed how much he liked controlling my gi, breaking my posture and attacking with collar chokes. Since I knew we were going to spar soon I formulated a simple sparring strategy: I told myself that as soon as I ended up in his guard I would stand up and not go back down onto my knees until I was past his guard.
Why did I do this? The answer should be obvious at the end of this article.
A coarse classification divides guard passes into either standing or kneeling guard passes. If you wanted to break it down a bit further you could say that there are standing and kneeling methods of opening a closed guard, and standing and kneeling methods of actually passing an opened guard. Both standing and kneeling methods have their strengths and weaknesses - I use them both, but I try to choose the appropriate approach for the situation.
Kneeling in your opponent's guard makes you a little harder to sweep because your center of gravity is closer to the ground. If you are kneeling in an opponent's guard your arms and neck are more easily available for him to attack, but it is quite difficult for him to leglock you.
If you choose to stand in order to pass the guard you make yourself a little more vulnerable to sweeps and leglocks. The advantage of standing passes is that you are more mobile and that it is harder for your opponent to attack you with chokes and armlocks.
How can you use this information?
If you have both standing and kneeling guard passes in your repertoire you can tailor your game to avoid your opponent's strengths. If your opponent specializes in chokes and/or armlocks then get to your feet whenever you end up in his guard and try to work your standing guard passes. If your opponent is a leg locking machine then consider engaging him on your knees.
Additionally, guard passing methods vary greatly from club to club. In some clubs kneeling guard passes predominate, whereas other schools tend to mix standing and kneeling guard passes. Schools that do a lot of MMA or no-gi grappling tend to use more standing passes, although few schools use standing methods exclusively.
If you know that your opponent is from a school that uses only kneeling guard passes then you could try only using standing passes against him: he is unlikely to be as skilled at defending against a standing opponent and you could soon find yourself past the guard.
Good luck with this concept!
Why did I do this? The answer should be obvious at the end of this article.
A coarse classification divides guard passes into either standing or kneeling guard passes. If you wanted to break it down a bit further you could say that there are standing and kneeling methods of opening a closed guard, and standing and kneeling methods of actually passing an opened guard. Both standing and kneeling methods have their strengths and weaknesses - I use them both, but I try to choose the appropriate approach for the situation.
Kneeling in your opponent's guard makes you a little harder to sweep because your center of gravity is closer to the ground. If you are kneeling in an opponent's guard your arms and neck are more easily available for him to attack, but it is quite difficult for him to leglock you.
If you choose to stand in order to pass the guard you make yourself a little more vulnerable to sweeps and leglocks. The advantage of standing passes is that you are more mobile and that it is harder for your opponent to attack you with chokes and armlocks.
How can you use this information?
If you have both standing and kneeling guard passes in your repertoire you can tailor your game to avoid your opponent's strengths. If your opponent specializes in chokes and/or armlocks then get to your feet whenever you end up in his guard and try to work your standing guard passes. If your opponent is a leg locking machine then consider engaging him on your knees.
Additionally, guard passing methods vary greatly from club to club. In some clubs kneeling guard passes predominate, whereas other schools tend to mix standing and kneeling guard passes. Schools that do a lot of MMA or no-gi grappling tend to use more standing passes, although few schools use standing methods exclusively.
If you know that your opponent is from a school that uses only kneeling guard passes then you could try only using standing passes against him: he is unlikely to be as skilled at defending against a standing opponent and you could soon find yourself past the guard.
Good luck with this concept!
April 08, 2007
How to Train Dangerous Submissions
The easy answer to how one should train dangerous submissions is "slowly, gently, and with control". Everybody knows this already, though, and people still get hurt, so obviously more explanation is required.
Below are some solutions used by different schools to solve the problem. None of them are perfect, but they should provide some food for thought.
-Use With Caution-
Many schools simply tell you to "be careful" when you are using dangerous submissions. What this means exactly is rarely clear in advance, but the implication is that you should moderate how hard and fast you apply your submission, which is certainly better than the applying them full force.
For this approach to work students need to be well informed about which submissions are dangerous. It's not always obvious how damaging certain submissions can be.
Ego is the enemy in this training method: ego makes you apply dangerous submissions a little too fast, or makes you tap out a little too slow when you're caught in them yourself. If there is someone in your club who just can't handle losing or tapping out then this is NOT the method of choice.
Finally, keep in mind that the level of force you might consider to be safe could be quite different from what the class spaz thinks is safe, so pick your sparring partners carefully if you are playing under these rules.
-The Complete Ban-
Another valid approach is to just to ban dangerous submissions - many clubs, for example, forbid heel hooks and neck cranks outright. This approach requires the instructor to make the ground rules clear to all new students and visitors so that there are no misunderstandings.
The problem with this approach is that you really only learn to be aware of, and defend, submissions when you are attacked with them in sparring. If you're never attacked with wristlocks, for example, then your ability to defend wristlocks will be weak. This is a particular problem if you're a competitor: if you want to compete successfully then the competition rules must be reflected in your sparring.
-The Rank-Dependent Ban-
Some schools ban certain submissions for students below a given rank or belt level. For example, you might have to be at least a purple belts to attack with, or be attacked by, neck cranks.
This approach assumes that higher ranks have greater control, awareness and discipline, which, for the most part, is true. The other assumption is that the higher belts are better able to recognize when they are caught in a dangerous submission and tap out earlier. A beginner doesn't differentiate between tapping to a triangle choke and a toehold, but the consequences of refusing to tap are very different: one results in unconsciousness, the other in torn ligaments, muscles and broken bones.
-Catch and Release-
Another approach is to use the 'catch and release' method when attacking with dangerous submissions. Here you apply the technique but don't finalize it - no pressure is actually applied against the joint. As soon as you have the submission positioned you let go and continue with your sparring.
The problem with this approach is that it could result in an argument that goes like this:
"I got you"
"No you didn't, I would have escaped"
"Yes I did get you - I was blocking your counter"
"Whatever, but my dad is still stronger than your dad"
I guess we're lucky that everyone we train with is a LOT more emotionally mature than this...
-10 Second Rule-
A variation of the catch and release method used by some schools is to have a '10 second rule', which means that holding a submission position for 10 seconds (but not actually applying it) is considered to be a successful attack. You might end up putting your opponent into a heel hook but not applying any pressure against the joint. For the next 10 seconds your opponent tries to get out while you use your arms and legs to prevent and block his escape attempts.
This method does require some emotional maturity, because initially you are going to 'tap' less people when you train like this - 10 seconds is a long time for people to work their way out of a submission. You also have to be on the lookout for somebody inadvertently cranking the the submission on tighter while they are wildly twisting around, trying to escape.
This method can actually IMPROVE your submissions, because you will learn how to control an opponent and counter his escape attempts, rather than relying on speed to obtain a quick tapout. This way of applying a submission is basically what Jean-Jacques Machado did to me the one time we ever sparred.
-The Bottom Line-
Regardless of the rules and restrictions placed around certain submissions, it all comes down to preserving your training partners. The ethic of applying submissions carefully comes from the top down. If the instructor and senior students at a school take the time to explain the dangers of certain submissions to everyone then they've just help make the training environment a whole lot safer.
It is critical that everybody is on the same page. I'd rather be sparring under anything-goes rules than be in a scenario where my opponent and I have differing assumptions about which submissions are legal. I remember one sparring session where I spun to attack my opponent's feet, secured a toehold and then stopped (basically I was using a 10 second rule). Instead of trying a technical escape my opponent applied his own vicious toehold with all his strength. I screamed in pain, yelling out "Why the hell did you do that?", "I had to", he replied, "it was the only way I could get out". Our differing assumptions resulted in my injury.
In closing, remember that, no fool-proof system of dealing with dangerous submissions is proof against a sufficiently talented fool. Even if your school bans a certain lock DON'T get complacent about it, or leave yourself vulnerable to it, or refuse to tap to it. Maybe it will be a newbie who just doesn't know, maybe it will be a visitor who just doesn't care, or maybe it will be your friend who just applied it by accident, but dangerous submissions DO get used at every school. Protect yourself at all times, and remember that protecting yourself includes tapping out early and often, whether the submission is 'legal' in your school or not.
Below are some solutions used by different schools to solve the problem. None of them are perfect, but they should provide some food for thought.
-Use With Caution-
Many schools simply tell you to "be careful" when you are using dangerous submissions. What this means exactly is rarely clear in advance, but the implication is that you should moderate how hard and fast you apply your submission, which is certainly better than the applying them full force.
For this approach to work students need to be well informed about which submissions are dangerous. It's not always obvious how damaging certain submissions can be.
Ego is the enemy in this training method: ego makes you apply dangerous submissions a little too fast, or makes you tap out a little too slow when you're caught in them yourself. If there is someone in your club who just can't handle losing or tapping out then this is NOT the method of choice.
Finally, keep in mind that the level of force you might consider to be safe could be quite different from what the class spaz thinks is safe, so pick your sparring partners carefully if you are playing under these rules.
-The Complete Ban-
Another valid approach is to just to ban dangerous submissions - many clubs, for example, forbid heel hooks and neck cranks outright. This approach requires the instructor to make the ground rules clear to all new students and visitors so that there are no misunderstandings.
The problem with this approach is that you really only learn to be aware of, and defend, submissions when you are attacked with them in sparring. If you're never attacked with wristlocks, for example, then your ability to defend wristlocks will be weak. This is a particular problem if you're a competitor: if you want to compete successfully then the competition rules must be reflected in your sparring.
-The Rank-Dependent Ban-
Some schools ban certain submissions for students below a given rank or belt level. For example, you might have to be at least a purple belts to attack with, or be attacked by, neck cranks.
This approach assumes that higher ranks have greater control, awareness and discipline, which, for the most part, is true. The other assumption is that the higher belts are better able to recognize when they are caught in a dangerous submission and tap out earlier. A beginner doesn't differentiate between tapping to a triangle choke and a toehold, but the consequences of refusing to tap are very different: one results in unconsciousness, the other in torn ligaments, muscles and broken bones.
-Catch and Release-
Another approach is to use the 'catch and release' method when attacking with dangerous submissions. Here you apply the technique but don't finalize it - no pressure is actually applied against the joint. As soon as you have the submission positioned you let go and continue with your sparring.
The problem with this approach is that it could result in an argument that goes like this:
"I got you"
"No you didn't, I would have escaped"
"Yes I did get you - I was blocking your counter"
"Whatever, but my dad is still stronger than your dad"
I guess we're lucky that everyone we train with is a LOT more emotionally mature than this...
-10 Second Rule-
A variation of the catch and release method used by some schools is to have a '10 second rule', which means that holding a submission position for 10 seconds (but not actually applying it) is considered to be a successful attack. You might end up putting your opponent into a heel hook but not applying any pressure against the joint. For the next 10 seconds your opponent tries to get out while you use your arms and legs to prevent and block his escape attempts.
This method does require some emotional maturity, because initially you are going to 'tap' less people when you train like this - 10 seconds is a long time for people to work their way out of a submission. You also have to be on the lookout for somebody inadvertently cranking the the submission on tighter while they are wildly twisting around, trying to escape.
This method can actually IMPROVE your submissions, because you will learn how to control an opponent and counter his escape attempts, rather than relying on speed to obtain a quick tapout. This way of applying a submission is basically what Jean-Jacques Machado did to me the one time we ever sparred.
-The Bottom Line-
Regardless of the rules and restrictions placed around certain submissions, it all comes down to preserving your training partners. The ethic of applying submissions carefully comes from the top down. If the instructor and senior students at a school take the time to explain the dangers of certain submissions to everyone then they've just help make the training environment a whole lot safer.
It is critical that everybody is on the same page. I'd rather be sparring under anything-goes rules than be in a scenario where my opponent and I have differing assumptions about which submissions are legal. I remember one sparring session where I spun to attack my opponent's feet, secured a toehold and then stopped (basically I was using a 10 second rule). Instead of trying a technical escape my opponent applied his own vicious toehold with all his strength. I screamed in pain, yelling out "Why the hell did you do that?", "I had to", he replied, "it was the only way I could get out". Our differing assumptions resulted in my injury.
In closing, remember that, no fool-proof system of dealing with dangerous submissions is proof against a sufficiently talented fool. Even if your school bans a certain lock DON'T get complacent about it, or leave yourself vulnerable to it, or refuse to tap to it. Maybe it will be a newbie who just doesn't know, maybe it will be a visitor who just doesn't care, or maybe it will be your friend who just applied it by accident, but dangerous submissions DO get used at every school. Protect yourself at all times, and remember that protecting yourself includes tapping out early and often, whether the submission is 'legal' in your school or not.
March 26, 2007
The Dangerous Locks
Not all submissions are created equal: some cause pain, some put you to sleep, and some do a lot of damage. Today I want to talk about the latter category, those submissions most likely to send you to the orthopedic surgeon. Knowing which locks are dangerous is important for at least two reasons: first, you need to know which submissions to tap out early to if you are caught in one yourself, and second, it helps you preserve your training partners.
Many dangerous submissions have a narrow margin between the onset of pain and the onset of damage. When you get caught in a straight armbar (which is a relatively safe submission) you initially feel pain, then more pain, then a whole lot of pain and then something goes 'pop' in your arm; in other words you have lots of warning to tap out before major damage occurs. For a Kimura, on the other hand, the situation is a bit different: pain and damage come much closer together, and the margin for error is smaller. An even more extreme example is the heel hook, where you sometimes get damage BEFORE the onset of pain, especially if the recipient is all hyped up on adrenaline. It goes something like this: the lock is applied, something goes 'pop', and then the pain starts.
So which submissions are dangerous exactly?
As I mentioned above, the Kimura isn't the safest armlock in the world, but other arm manipulations have an even higher injury rate. The two worst offenders are bicep slicers (aka bicep compression locks) and wristlocks.
Among the leglocks, anytime there is rotation or twisting to apply the lock it becomes a lot more dangerous. Twisting leglocks include heel hooks, reverse heel hooks, toeholds and steering wheel footlocks: all are very effective and efficient submissions, but they have destroyed the ligaments in many grappler's feet, ankles and knees.
When it comes to attacking the neck, most chokes and strangles are relatively safe given that you release the technique the moment the person taps out or loses consciousness. There is a slight tendancy for chokes, which attack the windpipe rather than the side of the neck, to cause bruising in the throat if applied vigorously. Neck cranks, however, are in an entirely different category. If you are not very careful and/or if they don't tap out, a neck crank can very easily damage the ligaments, muscles, nerves and/or joints of the neck. This can end someone's jiu-jitsu career, not to mention making pain-free life a distant memory.
The above is NOT an exhaustive list of all dangerous submissions, but it's a good start. I just wanted to highlight the submissions that, in my experience, have the highest percent-injury rates. Also (and this should be obvious) you can severely damage an opponent with just about any lock if you apply it irresponsibly, so don't go crazy with your armbars and ankle locks just because I consider them safer than neck cranks!
Next time I'll address how to train these dangerous submissions in a realistic way without crippling everybody in your club.
October 01, 2006
Foot Injuries in Grappling
Grapplers are a tough bunch, and generally tend to ignore injuries unless broken bones are actually protruding from a wound. I want to temper this tendency by using the Grapplearts pulpit to discuss a very serious category of orthopedic injury: strains and sprains of the lowly foot.
About 5 years ago in Judo I tried to take down a large opponent and got caught in an awkward position. There was an audible 'pop' and I collapsed in pain, holding my foot; it felt like someone had driven a spike right through it. Regular X-Rays at the local ER didn't show anything, and over several days the pain gradually decreased, all of which seemed like good news.
An extensive google search got me worried though: it seemed that there were certain types of foot injuries that were often misdiagnosed and went through a brief period of 'improvement' before getting much, much worse. There were references to fusing bones and foot amputation. Therefore, despite the assurances of the ER doctors, I pulled some strings to see my sports medicine doctor, and things started to happen.
Within the hour I had new X-Rays, weight-bearing X-Rays this time. Later that day I was in the office of a foot surgeon. One week later I was in the operating theatre and under the knife. 9 weeks later I returned to work and (light) training.
It turned out that I had suffered something called a Lisfranc injury, where certain important ligaments are torn. The foot looks and feels OK at first, but every time that foot bears weight it pancakes out to the side, there being no ligaments to hold it together. Things that shouldn't rub or move end up rubbing and moving, and before long a crippling form of arthritis sets in. Caught early - one to two weeks after injury - the prognosis is good. Untreated this injury rarely ever heals well.
So the take-home message is that if your foot ever goes 'pop' you have no choice: go see a specialist. All foot injuries are serious until proven otherwise, and most serious foot injuries are also time sensitive: early diagnosis and treatment might just save your grappling career. Hell, it might save your walking career!
About 5 years ago in Judo I tried to take down a large opponent and got caught in an awkward position. There was an audible 'pop' and I collapsed in pain, holding my foot; it felt like someone had driven a spike right through it. Regular X-Rays at the local ER didn't show anything, and over several days the pain gradually decreased, all of which seemed like good news.
An extensive google search got me worried though: it seemed that there were certain types of foot injuries that were often misdiagnosed and went through a brief period of 'improvement' before getting much, much worse. There were references to fusing bones and foot amputation. Therefore, despite the assurances of the ER doctors, I pulled some strings to see my sports medicine doctor, and things started to happen.
Within the hour I had new X-Rays, weight-bearing X-Rays this time. Later that day I was in the office of a foot surgeon. One week later I was in the operating theatre and under the knife. 9 weeks later I returned to work and (light) training.
It turned out that I had suffered something called a Lisfranc injury, where certain important ligaments are torn. The foot looks and feels OK at first, but every time that foot bears weight it pancakes out to the side, there being no ligaments to hold it together. Things that shouldn't rub or move end up rubbing and moving, and before long a crippling form of arthritis sets in. Caught early - one to two weeks after injury - the prognosis is good. Untreated this injury rarely ever heals well.
So the take-home message is that if your foot ever goes 'pop' you have no choice: go see a specialist. All foot injuries are serious until proven otherwise, and most serious foot injuries are also time sensitive: early diagnosis and treatment might just save your grappling career. Hell, it might save your walking career!
September 14, 2006
Sambo Leglocks
Q: " I have a question about the relevance of Sambo in helping improve a fighter's leglocks. Does it really help that much to practice Sambo if you want to become very skilled at leglocks?"
A: I have learned a lot about leglocks from Sambo practitioners (Oleg Taktarov, for example). Sambo has a lot of leglocks in its submission arsenal, most of which are directly relevant to submission grappling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
It is important to note, however, that not all Sambo players use leglocks, and that there are very good Sambo competitors who have very bad leglock technique. Some Sambo players look a lot like Judo players when they compete, and they never touch a leg in anger. Other Sambo practitioners are leglock fanatics, and are known for their lower body submissions. Just like any other grappling sport, different clubs and different competitors specialize in certain areas, and not everyone is good at everything.
So to answer your question: YES it helps to study Sambo if you want to become skilled at leglocks, IF the Sambo instructor in question has a high level of understanding about leglocks.
A: I have learned a lot about leglocks from Sambo practitioners (Oleg Taktarov, for example). Sambo has a lot of leglocks in its submission arsenal, most of which are directly relevant to submission grappling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
It is important to note, however, that not all Sambo players use leglocks, and that there are very good Sambo competitors who have very bad leglock technique. Some Sambo players look a lot like Judo players when they compete, and they never touch a leg in anger. Other Sambo practitioners are leglock fanatics, and are known for their lower body submissions. Just like any other grappling sport, different clubs and different competitors specialize in certain areas, and not everyone is good at everything.
So to answer your question: YES it helps to study Sambo if you want to become skilled at leglocks, IF the Sambo instructor in question has a high level of understanding about leglocks.
Labels: leglocks
August 12, 2006
How to Safely Practice Dangerous Leglocks
Q: Given that leglocks are dangerous, how do you train them safely and still have confidence that they will work in a 'live' setting.
A: Although ANY submission is potentially dangerous, cranking someone with a heel hook or toehold can not only end the match, it can end your opponent's athletic career. Go here if you don't know what a heel hook is. . If you don't know what a toehold is, check out the second-last photo in this article about the kneebar.
These two leglocks are dangerous because they are twisting submissions and can severely damage ligaments in the knee and foot. Furthermore, for most submissions the pain starts well before there is any damage to the joint. With twisting leglocks, however, you often don't feel much initial pain: as someone is applying it to you might not feel anything at all, then you might feel a bit of discomfort, and then BANG, you feel a lot of pain because something has popped or torn.
So how do you train these dangerous locks so that you can trust in their effectiveness? My answer has 3 parts:
1 - Master the straight anklelock and the kneebar
When applying 95% of leglocks you end up either facing your opponents head, or facing his feet. The mechanics of controlling your opponent in these two positions are relatively similar whether you are doing a 'safe' straight lock or a 'dangerous' twisting lock.
The straight anklelock teaches you how to control your opponent's legs, body and bodyweight when you are facing his head. The mechanics and techniques to control your opponent in this position translate well to controlling your opponent when attacking with a heel hook (and some variations of the toehold). The kneebar is the cornerstone leglock for learning how to control your opponent when you are facing his feet: once you master the kneebar you will have a lot more confidence maintaining positions where you are facing your opponent's feet while attacking with other techniques (the toehold, for example).
I should emphasize that just because straight anklelocks and kneebars are fairly safe submissions this DOESN'T give you permission to apply them ballistically. At full power and full speed these 'safe' submissions can still screw up someone's joints pretty badly (just like any other jointlock). Apply them with control, and remember it is far better to have someone counter your submission because you were applying it too slowly, rather than injuring them and losing a training partner.
Here are a few resources to help you understand and improve your straight anklelock and kneebar:
Most sensible people who want to include toeholds and heelhooks in their grappling practice catch-and-release sparring when it comes to these two submissions. They fight hard to get to the right body position, then hunt for the correct hand position, and then hold the submission loosely (or apply it very slowly and very gently). At this point BOTH PARTNERS STOP MOVING and acknowledge that the submission probably would probably have worked if it had been applied hard and fast.
All that is lacking in this type of sparring is the final explosion into the submission. If you understand how to control your opponent with your legs (by practicing the ankelock and kneebar), and you know how to get to the correct hand position for the heel hook and toehold (by practicing catch-and-release sparring) then you can be fairly certain that your techniques will work in a live situation.
3 - Pick your sparring partners carefully.
Obviously catch-and-release sparring doesn't work if either party is a) too caught up in their ego to stop contesting a lock once it is on, or b) too inexperienced to know that they, or their partner, are in danger. Don't do these leglocks with a newbie, or the class spaz, or the guy who won't tap out unless he hears something pop, or the guy who needs to submit everyone hard and fast.
A: Although ANY submission is potentially dangerous, cranking someone with a heel hook or toehold can not only end the match, it can end your opponent's athletic career. Go here if you don't know what a heel hook is. . If you don't know what a toehold is, check out the second-last photo in this article about the kneebar.
These two leglocks are dangerous because they are twisting submissions and can severely damage ligaments in the knee and foot. Furthermore, for most submissions the pain starts well before there is any damage to the joint. With twisting leglocks, however, you often don't feel much initial pain: as someone is applying it to you might not feel anything at all, then you might feel a bit of discomfort, and then BANG, you feel a lot of pain because something has popped or torn.
So how do you train these dangerous locks so that you can trust in their effectiveness? My answer has 3 parts:
1 - Master the straight anklelock and the kneebar
When applying 95% of leglocks you end up either facing your opponents head, or facing his feet. The mechanics of controlling your opponent in these two positions are relatively similar whether you are doing a 'safe' straight lock or a 'dangerous' twisting lock.
The straight anklelock teaches you how to control your opponent's legs, body and bodyweight when you are facing his head. The mechanics and techniques to control your opponent in this position translate well to controlling your opponent when attacking with a heel hook (and some variations of the toehold). The kneebar is the cornerstone leglock for learning how to control your opponent when you are facing his feet: once you master the kneebar you will have a lot more confidence maintaining positions where you are facing your opponent's feet while attacking with other techniques (the toehold, for example).
I should emphasize that just because straight anklelocks and kneebars are fairly safe submissions this DOESN'T give you permission to apply them ballistically. At full power and full speed these 'safe' submissions can still screw up someone's joints pretty badly (just like any other jointlock). Apply them with control, and remember it is far better to have someone counter your submission because you were applying it too slowly, rather than injuring them and losing a training partner.
Here are a few resources to help you understand and improve your straight anklelock and kneebar:
- www.grapplearts.com/Ankle-Lock-Breakdown.htm
- www.grapplearts.com/Kneebar-Mastery.htm
- www.grapplearts.com/Kneebar-Q&A.htm
Most sensible people who want to include toeholds and heelhooks in their grappling practice catch-and-release sparring when it comes to these two submissions. They fight hard to get to the right body position, then hunt for the correct hand position, and then hold the submission loosely (or apply it very slowly and very gently). At this point BOTH PARTNERS STOP MOVING and acknowledge that the submission probably would probably have worked if it had been applied hard and fast.
All that is lacking in this type of sparring is the final explosion into the submission. If you understand how to control your opponent with your legs (by practicing the ankelock and kneebar), and you know how to get to the correct hand position for the heel hook and toehold (by practicing catch-and-release sparring) then you can be fairly certain that your techniques will work in a live situation.
3 - Pick your sparring partners carefully.
Obviously catch-and-release sparring doesn't work if either party is a) too caught up in their ego to stop contesting a lock once it is on, or b) too inexperienced to know that they, or their partner, are in danger. Don't do these leglocks with a newbie, or the class spaz, or the guy who won't tap out unless he hears something pop, or the guy who needs to submit everyone hard and fast.
May 29, 2006
Kneebarring the Top or Bottom Leg?
Someone recently asked me if they should attack the top or the bottom leg when doing a kneebar. This is actually the second or third time I've been asked this question, so I think it is worthwhile to address it here in writing.
When you are doing a kneebar, 90% of the time you will be on your side, attacking either the top or the bottom leg. Say you are attacking your opponent's right leg with a kneebar: if you are lying on your right side then his leg is in the BOTTOM position, if you are on your left side then his leg is in the TOP position.
To see pictures of what it looks like to attack the bottom leg look at the very first picture in the Kneebar Mastery article or this picture of the week.
To see photos of someone attacking the top leg check out the "Basic Leg Position #2 about halfway down the Kneebar Mastery article, OR the front cover of *ahem* my Dynamic Kneebars DVD.
Sometimes you have a choice about placing the attacked leg on top or on bottom, and sometimes the position is forced upon you. So let's cut to the chase: which side is better?
A lot comes down to personal choice: my coach, Marcus Soares, prefers to attack the TOP leg because he feels it is harder to counter. Personally I feel that attacking the BOTTOM leg is preferable, because it is more secure and allows your opponent less wiggle-room.
The answer, therefore, is that both sides are good, so long as you are comfortable there. Regardless of which side you prefer you should try to develop skill attacking both the bottom AND the top leg, because you might start out with the leg being on the bottom and then have that change as your opponent rolls around.
When you are doing a kneebar, 90% of the time you will be on your side, attacking either the top or the bottom leg. Say you are attacking your opponent's right leg with a kneebar: if you are lying on your right side then his leg is in the BOTTOM position, if you are on your left side then his leg is in the TOP position.
To see pictures of what it looks like to attack the bottom leg look at the very first picture in the Kneebar Mastery article or this picture of the week.
To see photos of someone attacking the top leg check out the "Basic Leg Position #2 about halfway down the Kneebar Mastery article, OR the front cover of *ahem* my Dynamic Kneebars DVD.
Sometimes you have a choice about placing the attacked leg on top or on bottom, and sometimes the position is forced upon you. So let's cut to the chase: which side is better?
A lot comes down to personal choice: my coach, Marcus Soares, prefers to attack the TOP leg because he feels it is harder to counter. Personally I feel that attacking the BOTTOM leg is preferable, because it is more secure and allows your opponent less wiggle-room.
The answer, therefore, is that both sides are good, so long as you are comfortable there. Regardless of which side you prefer you should try to develop skill attacking both the bottom AND the top leg, because you might start out with the leg being on the bottom and then have that change as your opponent rolls around.
Labels: leglocks
September 25, 2005
Shutting Down the Leglock Game
There is a certain type of opponent who is best described as a compulsive leglocker. You know the type: no sooner have you put him in your guard than he flings himself backwards and starts attacking your lower body with ankle locks, toe holds, kneebars and other submissions. You generally don't want to trade leglocks with this kind of opponent - he uses them all the time and will probably get to the submission first - so what can you do?
There are certain strategies that are very helpful in shutting down the game of a leglock-oriented opponent:
There are certain strategies that are very helpful in shutting down the game of a leglock-oriented opponent:
- Maintaining a closed guard if you are on the bottom. There are very few effective leglocks that can be used against a closed guard.
- Breaking your opponent's posture if they are in your guard: it is very difficult to go for a leglock if you can't posture up first.
- Maintaining your grips: if you are wrestling with the gi then sleeve and/or collar grips make it difficult for your opponent to entwine your legs with his arms and throw himself backwards.
- Passing the guard on your knees. There are quite a few leglock attacks that can be applied by an opponent who is on his back when you are standing in his guard. If you stay on your knees when passing his guard you will make yourself less vulnerable to most leglocks (at the expense of being more vulnerable to chokes and armlocks).
Labels: leglocks
May 14, 2005
Rear Mount – Crossing your Feet
The rear mount is arguably the most dominant position in grappling. When you have rear mount you can apply some very powerful chokes and locks. In MMA or self defense you can administer severe punishment without your opponent having the ability to strike you back.
The positioning of the legs in rear mount is very important because your legs allow you to follow and control your opponent’s movement. One common mistake in rear mount, made mostly by beginners, is crossing the ankles in front of the opponent’s legs: this is considered a huge no-no in BJJ and submission grappling.
Crossing your ankles and feet while rear-mounted is frowned upon because your opponent can catch you in a simple, and very painful, leglock. If he crosses his ankles (or figure 4’s his legs) on top of your ankles he can tap you out by arching his hips forward. Depending on exactly how the legs are arranged the submission may result from a pain-based Achilles tendon crush, a foot hyperextension, or a foot/knee twist. Regardless of the actual mechanism getting caught in this submission is a painful and embarrassing experience.
All this being said, I occasionally DO cross my ankles when rear mounted on an opponent. Under certain circumstances crossed ankles increase your control over your opponent (which is why people do it instinctively). I never do this for more than a second or two and always maintain a state of high alert in this position. I try to release the crossed ankles as soon as I can, returning to a more conventional rear mount position. To further minimize the risk of getting leglocked I try to cross my ankles high on his body and, if possible, slightly off to one side.
When rear-mounted you should follow the rule of not crossing your ankles at least 99% of the time. Intermediate and advanced level grapplers can sometimes break this rule, but not for very long or without a good reason!
MMA fighter Joe Doerkson displaying good form in rear mount (i.e. NOT crossing his ankles)
The positioning of the legs in rear mount is very important because your legs allow you to follow and control your opponent’s movement. One common mistake in rear mount, made mostly by beginners, is crossing the ankles in front of the opponent’s legs: this is considered a huge no-no in BJJ and submission grappling.
Crossing your ankles and feet while rear-mounted is frowned upon because your opponent can catch you in a simple, and very painful, leglock. If he crosses his ankles (or figure 4’s his legs) on top of your ankles he can tap you out by arching his hips forward. Depending on exactly how the legs are arranged the submission may result from a pain-based Achilles tendon crush, a foot hyperextension, or a foot/knee twist. Regardless of the actual mechanism getting caught in this submission is a painful and embarrassing experience.
All this being said, I occasionally DO cross my ankles when rear mounted on an opponent. Under certain circumstances crossed ankles increase your control over your opponent (which is why people do it instinctively). I never do this for more than a second or two and always maintain a state of high alert in this position. I try to release the crossed ankles as soon as I can, returning to a more conventional rear mount position. To further minimize the risk of getting leglocked I try to cross my ankles high on his body and, if possible, slightly off to one side.
When rear-mounted you should follow the rule of not crossing your ankles at least 99% of the time. Intermediate and advanced level grapplers can sometimes break this rule, but not for very long or without a good reason!
MMA fighter Joe Doerkson displaying good form in rear mount (i.e. NOT crossing his ankles)
Labels: leglocks
March 04, 2005
Double Ankle Control Position for Footlocks
Today’s topic is a slightly unusual control position for footlocks. Control positions are methods of positioning your legs while you are attempting a leglock. The purpose of a control position is to control your opponent’s legs and body while you set up and execute your leglock. First check out the below (taken at Grapplemania Seattle. January 29th 2005, by Jermiah Armstrong).
In this photo I am trying to leglock my opponent. I have chosen to use a control position where I hold BOTH his ankles. This is a great control position: it is very difficult for him to stand up because he can’t get one leg back behind himself to push up with.
From here I will discuss 3 options:
1 – Submit him: obviously this is your best option. Typically you will eventually have to let go of one of his ankles to actually finalize the lock. When you sense that the time is right release one of his legs and switch a more conventional leglock position with your arms and legs.
2 – Stand back up: if you don’t think the leglock is going to work you can get back to your own feet fairly easily. Use the instep between his legs to lift his butt off the floor a little bit: he thinks that he will get back to his feet and will usually lift up a little bit more. Then drop his butt to the floor and use his momentum to pull yourself back up to a standing position.
3 – X guard: you also have the option to let him stand up and put him in the X guard and sweep him immediately. This is exactly what I did after the photo was taken. This is one of my favorite entries into the X guard and I have used it twice in competition (readers who own Dynamic Guard Sweeps Vol. 1 have seen this technique in action already). For more information on the X guard please visit www.grapplearts.com/X-Guard.htm
Here is what I suggest you do if the double ankle grab control position is something you want to develop. When you are in your sparring partner's open guard grab BOTH his ankles and sit back. Try to clamp your legs tightly around his leg, with one foot behind his butt and the other pushing his hip. Now just hold this position; don’t let him A) stand up, or B) pull his foot out. Don’t even worry about the submission at first – just try to hold him here as long as you can, following his movement.
This drill will develop the sensitivity and pressure required to control his legs and hips. Once you can hold him in the double ankle grip position indefinitely then start playing around with trying to finish the leglock and/or getting back to the top position in his guard.
In this photo I am trying to leglock my opponent. I have chosen to use a control position where I hold BOTH his ankles. This is a great control position: it is very difficult for him to stand up because he can’t get one leg back behind himself to push up with.
From here I will discuss 3 options:
1 – Submit him: obviously this is your best option. Typically you will eventually have to let go of one of his ankles to actually finalize the lock. When you sense that the time is right release one of his legs and switch a more conventional leglock position with your arms and legs.
2 – Stand back up: if you don’t think the leglock is going to work you can get back to your own feet fairly easily. Use the instep between his legs to lift his butt off the floor a little bit: he thinks that he will get back to his feet and will usually lift up a little bit more. Then drop his butt to the floor and use his momentum to pull yourself back up to a standing position.
3 – X guard: you also have the option to let him stand up and put him in the X guard and sweep him immediately. This is exactly what I did after the photo was taken. This is one of my favorite entries into the X guard and I have used it twice in competition (readers who own Dynamic Guard Sweeps Vol. 1 have seen this technique in action already). For more information on the X guard please visit www.grapplearts.com/X-Guard.htm
Here is what I suggest you do if the double ankle grab control position is something you want to develop. When you are in your sparring partner's open guard grab BOTH his ankles and sit back. Try to clamp your legs tightly around his leg, with one foot behind his butt and the other pushing his hip. Now just hold this position; don’t let him A) stand up, or B) pull his foot out. Don’t even worry about the submission at first – just try to hold him here as long as you can, following his movement.
This drill will develop the sensitivity and pressure required to control his legs and hips. Once you can hold him in the double ankle grip position indefinitely then start playing around with trying to finish the leglock and/or getting back to the top position in his guard.
Labels: leglocks
September 25, 2004
Other Ankle Lock Mistakes
Last week I talked about the most common mistake novice leglockers make when trying to use the ankle lock. Here are a few more common errors:
Photo: Laura vs Jennifer Gibbons (closest to camera). Taken at the Defence Unlimited Submission League, August 17th, 2003 in Manchester, England. Courtesy of "Doctor Octagon" Formerly a featured Grappling and MMA Photo of the Week
- Telegraphing the attack. I often see someone decide to use an ankle lock to counter the open guard: this person then wraps his arm around the ankle, pauses, considers whether to proceed, and only then falls back into an ankle lock. This is way too telegraphic to work on a skilled opponent: there should be no pause when you decide to proceed with this attack.
- Lack of leg control. To successfully attack the ankle joint you need to control the rest of his leg (i.e. the knee, thigh and hip). If you want to become disillusioned about leglocks try this: wrap your arm around your opponent's ankle, flop back without a plan of how to control his legs, and hope for a miracle. Leg control is very important in maintaining and applying ankle locks.
- Attacking significantly longer legs. Generally speaking, if two people are trying to ankle lock each other the person with the longer legs has the advantage. It IS possible to leglock people with longer legs, but you need to have a higher level of technique than your opponent.
- Not having a plan for opponents who stand up. It is very common for someone defending an ankle lock to stand up in an attempt to counter your ankle lock. To become an ankle lock expert you need to have several reliable solutions to this particular counter.
- Not having a "Plan B" if the ankle lock fails. Not every submission will work on every opponent. There are some hyper-flexible and super-tough people out there who just will not tap to an ankle lock. Does your leglocking strategy include a "Plan B" for this type of situation?
- Using the ankle lock too often. Some people fall in love with ankle locks and never learn to pass the guard. Leglocks are not a substitute for guard passing skills: leglock and guard passing complement each other and set each other up. Learn and use both.
Photo: Laura vs Jennifer Gibbons (closest to camera). Taken at the Defence Unlimited Submission League, August 17th, 2003 in Manchester, England. Courtesy of "Doctor Octagon" Formerly a featured Grappling and MMA Photo of the Week
Labels: leglocks
September 19, 2004
The Most Common Ankle Lock Mistake
Let's talk about the basic ankle lock (also known as the 'Achilles lock' or the 'straight foot lock') today. When I see people trying ankle locks in sparring and in competition the most common error I see is targetting, by which I mean where they are placing their forearms on their opponent's ankle.
Quite often I see people trying to apply the ankle lock by putting pressure far too high up the leg, sometimes as high as mid-calf. While this might work for some people it isn't the most efficient method to use.
The place where you want to put your forearm is right at the bottom of the leg, just above the heel bone. Try this: extend your toes and foot away from you like you are going to round kick someone with your instep. Now look at the back of your ankle - you should see a bunch of horizontal wrinkles in the skin. This is where you want to place your forearm.
Another way to figure out where your forearm should go is to take a very loose ankle lock on your practise partner. Slide your forearms down his leg until they get stopped by his foot. Take a good look at the position of your arms relative to his leg, and make a mental note of how far down his leg your arms have come.
By placing your fulcrum (your bottom forearm) at this position on the foot you will have a very powerful submission. You will be applying maximum pressure to his achilles tendon and achieving maximum leverage against the top of his foot.
Happy footlocking!
Quite often I see people trying to apply the ankle lock by putting pressure far too high up the leg, sometimes as high as mid-calf. While this might work for some people it isn't the most efficient method to use.
The place where you want to put your forearm is right at the bottom of the leg, just above the heel bone. Try this: extend your toes and foot away from you like you are going to round kick someone with your instep. Now look at the back of your ankle - you should see a bunch of horizontal wrinkles in the skin. This is where you want to place your forearm.
Another way to figure out where your forearm should go is to take a very loose ankle lock on your practise partner. Slide your forearms down his leg until they get stopped by his foot. Take a good look at the position of your arms relative to his leg, and make a mental note of how far down his leg your arms have come.
By placing your fulcrum (your bottom forearm) at this position on the foot you will have a very powerful submission. You will be applying maximum pressure to his achilles tendon and achieving maximum leverage against the top of his foot.
Happy footlocking!
Labels: leglocks
July 18, 2004
The Leglock Debate
Many Jiu-jitsu schools discourage, and even disallow, the use of leglocks while sparring. They argue that leglocks are a ‘cheap’ technique, and/or are unsafe, and/or prevent you from developing a good guard passing game.
I respectfully disagree.
The ‘cheap’ label gets used for new and unfamiliar techniques. There was a time when kicking someone was considered cheap and dirty - now with a more educated public it's considered a cool way to knock someone out (thanks Bruce Lee).
Are leglocks dangerous? Well, it depends. All submission holds are dangerous if applied in a ballistic manner and without control, regardless of whether they target the knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist, etc. Ankle locks, compression locks and kneebars are fairly safe, if applied with control.
Leglocks that TWIST the knee and ankle, such as the heel hook or toe hold, are definitely dangerous. These twisting leglocks have a very narrow safety margin: the onset of pain is often indistinguishable from onset of damage to the joint. Be very careful if you use these techniques - always being ready to release them if your opponent starts flailing or refuses to tap.
Now I agree that novices who concentrate on leglocks a lot tend not to be great guard passers. However most leglock specialists eventually figure out that they need to make their game well rounded, and then work on developing their guard passes. They get to the same place just via a different route. After a certain point leglocks and guard passing actually complement each other: for example you might fake an ankle lock and then go for the guard pass.
Leglocks are becoming much more popular in competition. To learn the offensive and defensive aspects of a technique you NEED to include it in your sparring. If the knowledge stays theoretical (i.e. you are shown the counters but never get to use them on the mat) you will never hone the sensitivity and awareness to defend leglocks at a high level. Without the threat of leglocks many beginners develop unrealistic guardwork, leaving their legs WAY too exposed. Without the threat of leglocks how will you ever learn to defend them properly?
I respectfully disagree.
The ‘cheap’ label gets used for new and unfamiliar techniques. There was a time when kicking someone was considered cheap and dirty - now with a more educated public it's considered a cool way to knock someone out (thanks Bruce Lee).
Are leglocks dangerous? Well, it depends. All submission holds are dangerous if applied in a ballistic manner and without control, regardless of whether they target the knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist, etc. Ankle locks, compression locks and kneebars are fairly safe, if applied with control.
Leglocks that TWIST the knee and ankle, such as the heel hook or toe hold, are definitely dangerous. These twisting leglocks have a very narrow safety margin: the onset of pain is often indistinguishable from onset of damage to the joint. Be very careful if you use these techniques - always being ready to release them if your opponent starts flailing or refuses to tap.
Now I agree that novices who concentrate on leglocks a lot tend not to be great guard passers. However most leglock specialists eventually figure out that they need to make their game well rounded, and then work on developing their guard passes. They get to the same place just via a different route. After a certain point leglocks and guard passing actually complement each other: for example you might fake an ankle lock and then go for the guard pass.
Leglocks are becoming much more popular in competition. To learn the offensive and defensive aspects of a technique you NEED to include it in your sparring. If the knowledge stays theoretical (i.e. you are shown the counters but never get to use them on the mat) you will never hone the sensitivity and awareness to defend leglocks at a high level. Without the threat of leglocks many beginners develop unrealistic guardwork, leaving their legs WAY too exposed. Without the threat of leglocks how will you ever learn to defend them properly?
Labels: leglocks