Leg Entanglement From Passing The Single Leg X
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Leg Entanglement·Digitsu
Jason Rau: Dynamic No-Gi Passing and Attacking
Leg Entanglement
Family足絡み
TransliterationTranslation
Not yet documented
Overview
The Leg Entanglement (Ashi Garami) family covers the system of leg-on-leg control positions that serve as the platform for all modern leg lock attacks — the positional hierarchy that revolutionised submission grappling in the 2010s. [1] Ashi garami (足絡み, 'leg entanglement') positions control the opponent's leg by entangling it with both of the attacker's legs, isolating the target leg and preventing escape while creating the specific angles needed for heel hooks, kneebars, toe holds, and ankle locks. [1],[2] The four primary ashi garami positions — inside sankaku (inside triangle, the most dominant), outside ashi (standard ashi garami), 50/50 (symmetrical entanglement), and cross ashi (cross body leg entanglement) — each provide different control levels and submission options, forming a positional hierarchy parallel to the traditional mount/side control/back control hierarchy. [2],[3] John Danaher's systematisation of ashi garami positions as a coherent positional system is considered one of the most important technical innovations in modern grappling history. [3]
Ashi GaramiJPLeg Lock PositionLeg Knot50/50Inside AshiJP
History & Origin
While leg entanglements existed in catch wrestling, sambo, and earlier BJJ, they were not systematised as a positional hierarchy until John Danaher developed the ashi garami system in the 2010s. [1] Dean Lister advocated for leg lock importance before Danaher, famously telling a young Gordon Ryan 'why would you ignore 50% of the body?' [1],[2] The Danaher Death Squad (Eddie Cummings, Garry Tonon, Gordon Ryan, Nicky Ryan) proved the system's effectiveness by dominating EBI tournaments from 2014 onward, and Gordon Ryan's ADCC dominance (2019, 2022) cemented ashi garami as an essential grappling skill set. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
Ashi garami is the most effective positional system for leg lock submissions. The inside heel hook from inside sankaku is the highest-percentage submission in no-gi competition at the elite level. [1] Gordon Ryan's competitive record demonstrates that the ashi garami system can defeat the world's best grapplers. [2],[3]
Lineage
Competition Record
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Entangling the opponent's leg between both of the attacker's legs, controlling the hip line (preventing the opponent from extracting the leg) while creating the specific angles needed for leg lock submissions
Joints Involved — Attacker's legs (forming a triangle, figure-four, or X-configuration around the opponent's leg), attacker's hips (controlling the 'hip line' — the imaginary line across the opponent's hips that must be controlled to prevent escape), opponent's knee (the target for heel hooks and kneebars — the entanglement isolates the knee for attack)
Force Vector — The entanglement creates inward compression (squeezing the attacker's legs around the opponent's leg) combined with specific rotational or extension angles needed for each submission
Control Mechanic — Ashi garami positions work by controlling the opponent's hip line — the knees squeeze around the opponent's thigh above the knee, preventing them from pulling the leg free; from this controlled position, the attacker's hands are free to secure the heel or foot for the submission; the system's innovation is recognising these positions as CONTROL positions (like mount or side control) rather than just submission setups
Position & Entry
Inside sankaku from guard — From single-leg X guard or De La Riva, thread one leg between the opponent's legs and triangle the legs around their thigh — establishing the most dominant leg entanglement for inside heel hook [1]
Outside ashi from open guard — From open guard, control one of the opponent's legs with both legs in a standard ashi garami configuration — the basic entry-level entanglement
50/50 from guard play — During guard exchange, both fighters' legs become entangled symmetrically — the 50/50 position where both fighters have equal leg lock opportunities [2]
Rolling entry to inside sankaku — From standing, execute an Imanari Roll directly into inside sankaku ashi garami
Videos
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
9
Extreme9/10
Leg entanglements enable heel hooks, which can destroy the knee's ligaments (ACL, MCL, meniscus) with minimal pain warning before catastrophic failure; the danger makes proper training methodology essential
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Restricted
— IJF — Guard pulling penalized as non-combativity — ground...
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDFLegal
— IBJJF — Legal — guard is fundamental to BJJ, sweeps from ...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— ADCC — Legal, guard pull penalized -1 point in points por...
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal — no penalty for playing guard
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Treat ashi garami positions as CONTROL positions, not just submissions — learn to enter, maintain, and transition between ashi garami positions before focusing on finishing submissions (Danaher's core teaching principle) [1]
✓Inside sankaku is the mount of leg locks — it is the most dominant position with the highest finish rate; prioritise achieving inside sankaku
✓Control the hip line — the knees must squeeze around the opponent's thigh to prevent extraction; losing the hip line means losing the position
✓Heel hooks must be applied SLOWLY in training — there is no safe way to apply fast heel hooks; the knee can be destroyed before pain is felt
✓Learn the positional hierarchy: inside sankaku > cross ashi > outside ashi > 50/50 — aim to advance to more dominant positions
✓Study John Danaher's Leg Lock Anthology — it is the definitive instructional resource for the modern ashi garami system [2]
✓Enter from guard — the most common ashi garami entries come from De La Riva, single-leg X, and butterfly guard
Common Mistakes
!Attacking submissions without positional control — reaching for the heel without first establishing proper ashi garami control results in the opponent escaping
!Not controlling the hip line — the knees must squeeze around the thigh; loose knees allow the opponent to extract the leg
!Applying heel hooks at full speed in training — this will injure training partners and is the most dangerous mistake in modern grappling
!Crossing the knees incorrectly — in most ashi garami positions, the inside leg (closest to the opponent's hip) should be on top
!Only training submissions, not transitions — the ability to flow between ashi garami positions (outside ashi → inside sankaku → 50/50) when the opponent defends is what makes the system work
!Ignoring the position because 'heel hooks are banned in my tournament' — ashi garami positions exist in all grappling; understanding them improves both offence and defence
Related Techniques
Leg Lock — the submissions applied from ashi garami positionsHeel Hook — the most common submission from inside sankakuRolling Entry — entries to ashi garami from standingGuard (Single-Leg X, De La Riva) — guard positions that transition to ashi garamiLeg Lock Entry — the standing-to-entanglement transition family
Counter Techniques
Boot (heel slip) — pointing toes to prevent heel hook gripHip Escape — clearing the hips past the knee lineLeg Pummeling — fighting with legs to disentangleRolling — rolling with the heel hook rotationStanding Up — driving to standing breaks the entanglementCounter Leg Lock — attacking the attacker's legs from 50/50
Setup Chain
1Enter Guard Position — establish De La Riva, single-leg X, or butterfly guard
2Thread Legs — begin entangling the opponent's leg
3Establish Ashi Garami — secure the specific entanglement position
4Control Hip Line — squeeze knees around the thigh
5Secure the Heel/Foot — trap the heel in the elbow crease
6Apply Submission — rotate (heel hook), arch (kneebar), or twist (toe hold)
Sources & References
Primary Source
Leg Lock Anthology (John Danaher, BJJ Fanatics instructional)
1BookLeg Lock Anthology (Danaher, BJJ Fanatics)
Description sources — [1] Danaher's Leg Lock Anthology system [2] Dean Lister's advocacy and Danaher Death Squad history [3] Gordon Ryan ADCC competition record
2BookEnter the System (Danaher, BJJ Fanatics)
3BookEBI and ADCC competition analysis
4OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
5CitationLeg Lock Anthology (Danaher, BJJ Fanatics)
Description sources — [1] Danaher's Leg Lock Anthology system [2] Dean Lister's advocacy and Danaher Death Squad history [3] Gordon Ryan ADCC competition record
6CitationEnter the System (Danaher, BJJ Fanatics)
7CitationEBI and ADCC competition analysis
Community
Athletics
Requires
leg dexterity (entangling), hip control (maintaining position), grip strength (securing the heel)
Favours
long legs (easier to entangle), flexible hips, strong adductors (squeezing)
Key muscles
adductors (squeezing the entanglement), hip flexors (positioning), forearms (heel grip), core (adjusting body angle)
Sub-techniques
Inside Heel Hook Entry
SubFamilyThe Inside Heel Hook Entry covers the specific pathways used to enter inside sankaku (saddle) ashi garami for the inside heel hook — the most dangerous submission in modern grappling. [1] Entries include transitions from outside ashi, inversions from guard, Imanari rolls from standing, and backsteps from passing positions. [1,2]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Inside Sankaku
SubFamilyInside Sankaku (also called the Saddle, Honey Hole, or Game Over position) is the most dominant leg entanglement position in modern grappling — a configuration where the attacker's legs form a triangle around the opponent's thigh from the inside, with the outside knee controlling the hip line, creating the optimal angle for the inside heel hook, the most devastating submission in grappling. [1] Inside sankaku is to the leg lock game what mount is to the positional game: the apex of the hierarchy, the position from which the highest-percentage finishes occur, and the position every leg lock player aspires to achieve. [1,2] The position was systematised by John Danaher and demonstrated by his students (Eddie Cummings, Gordon Ryan, Garry Tonon) who proved that inside sankaku with proper heel control produces finishes at the highest levels of no-gi competition. [2,3] Once inside sankaku is established with the heel secured, escape is extremely difficult because the triangled legs prevent the opponent from extracting their leg, and the inside heel hook attacks the knee ligaments (ACL, MCL) with minimal pain warning before catastrophic failure. [3]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Knee Knot
SubFamilyThe Knee Knot is a leg entanglement position where the attacker's legs create a complex knot-like configuration around the opponent's knee — a controlling position primarily used for kneebar attacks and as a transitional position within the ashi garami system. [1] The knee knot provides strong control of the opponent's knee joint, preventing them from straightening or bending the leg to escape. [1,2]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Reaping Heel Hook
SubFamilyThe Reaping Heel Hook covers heel hook attacks applied with a 'reaping' leg configuration — where the attacker's outside leg crosses over the opponent's hip line, creating additional rotational control that amplifies the heel hook's force. [1] 'Reaping' (placing the leg across the opponent's centre line in leg entanglements) is specifically banned in IBJJF competition due to the increased knee injury risk but is legal and commonly used in ADCC, EBI, and MMA. [1,2]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Notes
The leg entanglement system was systematized by John Danaher and his students (Gordon Ryan, Garry Tonon, Eddie Cummings) at the Rensenzo Gracie Academy blue basement. Their dominance at EBI and ADCC from 2015–2019 revolutionized leg lock grappling. (Danaher, Enter the System series)
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the biggest mistake when escaping a leg entanglement?
According to Digitsu, putting too much weight on the leg being attacked is critical to avoid—if you drive into your opponent with a weighted leg, they can simply bump you over and you'll already be off-balance and falling.
How do I prevent my opponent from controlling my second leg in a leg entanglement?
Keep your second leg back at all times. If your opponent gets hold of it, pummle your toes out through the space between their elbow and ribs by putting your weight on that leg momentarily, circling your toes out, and stepping away.
What's the correct way to step out of a leg entanglement?
Step straight up to the ceiling rather than taking a looping step, so your foot clears the opponent's leg. As you step back, weave your leg inside and position your foot near your partner's hip to maintain control.
How do I defend against a heel reap during leg entanglement escape?
Keep your foot on the mat at all times—as long as your heel stays down, you won't get heeled. If your opponent manages to turn you across and expose your heel, use both hands with a thumb grip to secure their shin and prevent the reap.
How does the Leg Entanglement work?
The Leg Entanglement (Ashi Garami) family covers the system of leg-on-leg control positions that serve as the platform for all modern leg lock attacks — the positional hierarchy that revolutionised submission grappling in the 2010s. Ashi garami (足絡み, 'leg entanglement') positions control the opponent's leg by entangling it with both of the attacker's legs, isolating the target leg and preventing escape while creating the specific angles needed for heel hooks, kneebars, toe holds, and ankle locks.
Where does the Leg Entanglement come from?
While leg entanglements existed in catch wrestling, sambo, and earlier BJJ, they were not systematised as a positional hierarchy until John Danaher developed the ashi garami system in the 2010s. Dean Lister advocated for leg lock importance before Danaher, famously telling a young Gordon Ryan 'why would you ignore 50% of the body?
Is the Leg Entanglement legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal — Legal — guard is fundamental to BJJ, sweeps from guard score 2 points; IJF: restricted — Guard pulling penalized as non-combativity — groundwork from guard permitted …; ADCC: legal — Legal, guard pull penalized -1 point in points portion; Unified MMA: legal — Legal — no penalty for playing guard; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Leg Entanglement?
Danger rating 9/10. Very high — leg entanglements enable heel hooks, which can destroy the knee's ligaments (ACL, MCL, meniscus) with minimal pain warning before catastrophic failure; the danger makes proper training methodology essential
How do I set up the Leg Entanglement?
The standard setup chain: Enter Guard Position → Thread Legs → Establish Ashi Garami → Control Hip Line → Secure the Heel/Foot → Apply Submission.
How do I defend against the Leg Entanglement?
Standard counters include: Boot (heel slip) — pointing toes to prevent heel hook grip / Hip Escape — clearing the hips past the knee line / Leg Pummeling — fighting with legs to disentangle / Rolling — rolling with the heel hook rotation.
What are the variants of the Leg Entanglement?
Common variants: Inside sankaku (saddle/inside heel hook position) (the most dominant entanglement; legs triangled with outsi…); Outside ashi (standard ashi garami) (the basic entanglement; legs wrapped around one leg with …); 50/50 (symmetrical entanglement where both fighters have equal l…); Cross ashi (cross body) (the legs cross the opponent's body; creates a different h…); Backside 50/50 (a variation with the attacker's back facing the opponent); Game over position (Gordon Ryan's term) (inside sankaku with additional arm control [2]); Honey hole (Eddie Cummings' term for inside sankaku).
How effective is the Leg Entanglement in competition?
Ashi garami leg locks are the most common submission finish at ADCC and EBI. Gordon Ryan won 2 ADCC absolute titles using the system.
What are common mistakes when doing the Leg Entanglement?
Top errors to watch for: Attacking submissions without positional control — reaching for the heel without first establishing proper ashi garam… / Not controlling the hip line — the knees must squeeze around the thigh; loose knees allow the opponent to extract the… / Applying heel hooks at full speed in training — this will injure training partners and is the most dangerous mistake … / Crossing the knees incorrectly — in most ashi garami positions, the inside leg (closest to the opponent's hip) should….
What are other names for the Leg Entanglement?
The Leg Entanglement is also known as Ashi Garami, Leg Lock Position, Leg Knot, 50/50, Inside Ashi.