The 5 Core Principles of Leglocks

1. Begin with the End in Mind
   
   

   • Start by learning how to break the foot first.

   • Understand the mechanics of submissions before learning positions.

   • This gives you a functional weapon early, making it easier to develop your leglock game.

2. Stay Curled Up Like Sonic the Hedgehog
   
   

   • Keep your knees and elbows close together, maintaining a compact, rounded posture.

   • This helps retain control, prevents opponents from escaping, and allows better movement.

   • Staying tight makes it easier to shift weight, attack, and defend effectively.

3. Don’t Reach Too Early
   
   

   • Avoid stretching too soon for the submission, as it can give your opponent a chance to escape.

   • Instead, bend their leg and keep it controlled before going for the finish.

   • Control before submission ensures a much higher success rate.

4. Pin, Isolate, and Break
   
   

   • Just like other submissions (e.g., armbars), leglocks require control before breaking.

   • First, pin your opponent in place. Then, isolate the leg. Finally, apply the break.

   • Understanding leglock positions (e.g., Ashi Garami, Honey Hole, 50/50) helps with proper control.

5. Know When to Bail
   
   

   • If your opponent starts countering or feels comfortable in the position, it’s time to get out.

   • In MMA or self-defense, leglocks should often be used to create an opportunity to stand up.

   • Avoid stubbornly holding on to bad positions—escape and look for better opportunities.

These principles form the foundation of a strong leglock game and help ensure efficiency, control, and safety.

Leglock Positions: Inside vs. Outside Control

Leglock positions are categorized into Inside Control and Outside Control based on where your legs are in relation to your opponent’s leg.

Inside Control Positions

(Your legs are between the opponent’s legs)

1. Top Side Ashi Garami
   
   

   • Pros: Easy to enter, good isolation.

   • Cons: Weak pinning position—opponent can roll out.

2. Honey Hole (Inside Sankaku / 411)
   
   

   • Pros: Strongest inside control position, excellent isolation, hard to escape.

   • Cons: Requires good entries, potential risk of counters.

3. 50/50
   
   

   • Pros: Balanced position, mutual leglock attacks.

   • Cons: Can lead to stalling, and both players have equal offense.

Outside Control Positions

(Your legs are outside the opponent’s legs)

1. Ashi Garami (Single Leg X-Guard Position)
   
   

   • Pros: Easy to enter, good control over opponent’s balance.

   • Cons: Less control over opponent’s knee line.

2. Outside Reap
   
   

   • Pros: Strong leg entanglement, good for setting up heel hooks.

   • Cons: Can be illegal in some competitions, potential for DQ.

3. Double Outside Ashi
   
   

   • Pros: Strongest outside control for breaking mechanics, best for heel exposure.

   • Cons: Opponent has freedom to counter or slip out.