• FOCUS

    New Chapter! Leg Locks are a valuable asset to a submission game. Although, the self defense mindset does not focus on leg locks, they absolutely have their place and should be understood.

    Our mission is to master reference points. Attacking the feet and knees are just some of the hundreds of reference points in a fight. Why is this a valuable tool? Legs are weak. Ankles are weak. This is a limb on the human body that can snap, tear, or strain easily.

    Over the years you will be surprised at how often a leg presents itself for your taking. Our schools philosophy is that you should not look for leg locks just as you should not look for wrist locks. But, they will be there.

    CORE MATERIAL 🔹 (BBS1)

    • Basic look at all the ways to attack the legs.

    • Terms: Ashi Garami Standard, Outside Ashi (Belly Down), Cross Ashi, 50/50, Russian Leg Knot, 411 (Inside Triangle).

    • Don’t fuss over names. Titles are used for conversation and “speaking the same language”.

    • Basic leg locks, Straight Ankle. Looked at as basic, but this is absolutely a leg lock to master. The Straight or Standard Ashi position will be used to enter into X-Guard as well.

    BONUS MATERIAL 🔸

    • Variations on how to trap the opponents leg.

    • Different hand grips for the final break.

    GOAL FOR THE WEEK

    • Control first (Ashi Garami) or a leg entanglement.

    • Safety always!!!

    • Self-defense relevance: This must always be in the discussion. If not, you drift off into a world of false security.

    • No chaotic leg locking culture in the room. There should never be a scramble that one person, or both, are desperately trying to finish a leg lock.

    • The “catch” and the control is where the mastery lives.

    VIDEOS TO WATCH

    🔹 Lesson 42: Open Guard Setup (Ch6.1: Straight Foot Locks) stripe 1

    Lesson 43: Primary Counter (Ch6.1: Straight Foot Locks) stripe 1

  • CORE MATERIAL 🔹 (BBS2)

    • Entries into leg locks

    • There will be entries that you set up specifically trying to trap legs. There will also be entries that you find off of: passes, sweeps, escapes, etc.

    BONUS MATERIAL 🔸

    • Guard Sweeps - X-Guard

    Single Leg X is a common entry point. We use the term Modified X Guard as well.

    GOAL FOR THE WEEK

    • Become more comfortable securing grips.

    • Go slow!!! You will need to become comfortable will partners grabbing your leg. Learning how to yield or alleviate pressure will be a skill to master.

    ‍ ‍

    VIDEOS TO WATCH- Stripe 1-2

    🔹 Lesson 44: Standard Toe Hold (Ch6.2: Toe Hold Foot Locks) Stripe 1

    Lesson 45: Primary Counter (Ch6.2: Toe Hold Foot Locks) stripe 1

    Lesson 41: Butterfly Guard Setup (Ch6.1: Straight Foot Locks) stripe 2

    Lesson 42: Standing Counter (Ch6.1: Straight Foot Locks) stripe 2

  • CORE MATERIAL 🔹 (BBS2 and 4)

    • Toe Holds, Knee Locks

    •Using half guard for leg locks

    BONUS MATERIAL 🔸

    • Beyond The Curriculum, other ways to finish the lock.

    • Alternative ways to hold the leg/knee. Different ways to hold your hands.

    • Knowing your reference points. Being able to pass your legs or your opponents legs to opposite sides.

    GOAL FOR THE WEEK

    Recognizing Straight ankle, Toe Holds, and knee lock entries.

    • This is another small map of a small part of the game, but knowing where you are makes the difference on which attack or attacks you can do.

    • Your opponent knows the same game you do. They also have the same map, don’t be too hard on yourself if they escape.

    VIDEOS TO WATCH- Stripe 2 and 4

    🔹 Lesson 43: Diving Toe Hold (Ch6.2: Toe Hold Foot Locks)

    Lesson 45: Reverse Cross Chest (RCC) Knee Lock (Ch6.3: Knee Locks)

    Lesson 46: RCC Knee Lock Counters (Ch6.3: Knee Locks) stripe 2

    Lesson 43: Top Half Setups (Ch6.3: Knee Locks) stripe 4

things to watch for in this video to help your understanding of leg locks and our philosophy around this submission series:

  • focus on the knee line - when you see the knee deep in the party, you know it’s going to be bad.

  • notice how bad the leg locks are when the opponent attempts to jump or run away from the lock. they are not considering the knee line and only making it worse.

  • notice how many leg locks are from a scramble or created during the moment.

  • see if you can identify all the reference points and which one happens the most.

  • i personally never study or care about leg locks when punches are not allowed. keep it real.

  • CORE MATERIAL 🔹

    • All GC Standing Techniques . Be sure you have watched GC 2.0 Standing Techniques.

    • Escapes and Counters to leg locks

    BONUS MATERIAL 🔸

    • Mindset. Don’t let people grab your legs. But, this can’t be a primary focus that changes your self defense.

    GOAL FOR THE WEEK

    Tighten up your finishing game by exploring the holes. How would someone escape the move, this should help how you hold the move.

    We will discuss the “freedom leg”. It is one thing to trap a leg a break it, it is another to trap the breaking leg AND the other leg. The “other leg” is what helps in an educated oppoenen’s escape strategies.

    VIDEOS TO WATCH- Stripe 1 and Stripe 4

    🔹Lesson 48: Standard Heel Hook (Ch6.4: Heel Hooks) stripe 1

    Lesson 49: Primary Counter (Ch6.4: Heel Hooks) stripe 1

  • CORE MATERIAL 🔹 (BBS/PBS)

    • Advanced Leg Locks

    • The concept of searching for legs and trapping legs.

    BONUS MATERIAL 🔸

    • Shoot Fighting/Inosanto Series

    • Beyond the curriculum

    GOAL FOR THE WEEK

    Tap early. Go slow. The set ups can be where you get injured.

    VIDEOS TO WATCH- Stripe 3/4

    🔹All of Stripe 3 Leg Locks should be viewed over the next 2 weeks.

    Lesson 39: Leg Knot (6.1 Straight Foot Locks) Stripe 4

    Lesson 40: Leg Knot Counters (6.1 Straight Foot Locks) stripe 4