Toe hold from 50 50
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Toe Hold·Ethan Pino
Dan Faggella teaches the details of a proper toe hold when in the 50/50 orientation of a leg lock.
Toe Hold
SubFamilyトーホールド
TransliterationTranslation
Not yet documented
Overview
The Toe Hold is a foot lock submission that attacks the ankle and foot by gripping the opponent's toes/ball of foot and rotating the foot outward (or inward) using a figure-four grip — creating torsional stress on the ankle ligaments, the small joints of the foot, and the knee. [1] The toe hold is one of the four fundamental leg lock submissions (alongside the heel hook, kneebar, and straight ankle lock) and is applicable from various ashi garami positions, 50/50, and even from top positions during guard passing. [1],[2] While considered less devastating than the heel hook, the toe hold is still a powerful submission that can cause ankle ligament tears, metatarsal fractures, and knee damage — it was the technique used by Frank Mir to break Tim Sylvia's arm (forearm, actually, but the toe hold principle applies to its foot target) and has finished numerous high-level grappling matches. [2],[3] The toe hold is legal at brown and black belt in IBJJF (both gi and no-gi), making it the most accessible rotational foot lock in mainstream BJJ competition. [3]
Toe Hold LockAshi Dori GaramiJPFigure-Four Toe Lock
History & Origin
Toe holds have existed in catch wrestling and sambo for over a century as part of these arts' comprehensive leg lock curricula. [1] In BJJ, toe holds were historically associated with 'old school' leg lock players before the modern leg lock revolution. [1],[2] The Estima lock (a toe hold variation discovered by Victor and Braulio Estima during guard passing) revitalised interest in the toe hold for IBJJF competition in the 2010s. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
Lineage
Competition Record
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Gripping the opponent's toes/ball of foot and rotating the foot using a figure-four grip, creating torsional stress on the ankle ligaments and small foot joints
Joints Involved — Ankle (the primary target — the torsional rotation stresses the anterior talofibular ligament and calcaneofibular ligament), foot (the small joints of the forefoot and midfoot are stressed by the rotational force), knee (secondary stress — the rotation transmits through the ankle to the knee, creating ACL/MCL stress)
Force Vector — Rotational — the foot is rotated outward (eversion) or inward (inversion) beyond its normal range using the figure-four grip as a lever; the entire force is concentrated on the ankle and foot
Submission Mechanic — The toe hold works by gripping the ball of the foot with one hand and securing a figure-four (kimura-style) grip with the other hand around the wrist, then rotating the foot in an arc similar to turning a steering wheel — the ankle cannot handle the rotational force and the opponent must tap or suffer ligament damage
Position & Entry
From 50/50 — In the 50/50 leg entanglement, grip the opponent's near-side foot at the ball with one hand, figure-four your grip (kimura grip on your own wrist), and rotate the foot outward — a common toe hold entry in competition [1]
From top half guard — While passing the half guard, secure the opponent's bottom foot with a figure-four grip and rotate — a surprise submission during the passing attempt
From ashi garami — From outside ashi garami (standard leg entanglement), grip the foot and apply the figure-four rotation — a fundamental leg lock combination [2]
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
7
Very High7/10
The toe hold can cause ankle ligament tears, metatarsal fractures, and knee damage; unlike straight ankle locks which have a gradual pain curve, the toe hold's rotational force can cause injury quickly; always apply slowly in training
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
— kansetsu-waza
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDFRestricted
— IBJJF — Brown and black belt only
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDFLegal
— ADCC — Legal — all submissions legal in ADCC
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal submission technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The figure-four grip is essential — without the figure-four (kimura-style grip on your own wrist), the toe hold lacks the leverage to finish [1]
✓Grip the ball of the foot, not the toes — gripping individual toes risks breaking them without submitting the opponent; grip the ball of the foot for maximum rotational leverage
✓Apply slowly in training — the toe hold can cause injury before the opponent feels proportional pain; always apply gradually
✓The Estima lock is a competition game-changer — Victor and Braulio Estima discovered a toe hold variation applied during guard passing that is extremely effective in gi competition
✓In IBJJF competition, the toe hold is the primary rotational foot lock (since heel hooks are banned in gi) — develop it as a key weapon [2]
✓Chain the toe hold with the straight ankle lock — when the ankle lock is defended by the opponent pulling the foot, transition to the toe hold which attacks from the opposite angle
✓The toe hold transmits force to the knee — in training, be aware that the rotational force affects the knee as well as the ankle; partners should tap early
Common Mistakes
!Gripping only the toes — individual toe grips are weak and risk toe injuries; grip the ball of the foot with the whole hand
!No figure-four grip — without the figure-four, the rotation lacks sufficient leverage
!Applying too fast — the toe hold can damage the ankle before the opponent registers enough pain to tap; apply gradually
!Ignoring the knee connection — the toe hold's rotational force transmits to the knee; be aware of the secondary joint stress
!Using the toe hold without positional control — attempting a toe hold without controlling the opponent's hip (through ashi garami or body positioning) allows them to simply pull the foot free
!Not chaining with other leg locks — the toe hold should flow with ankle locks and heel hooks (where legal) as part of a leg lock system
Related Techniques
Straight Ankle Lock — the fundamental leg lock that chains with toe holdsHeel Hook — the more devastating rotational leg lock (illegal in many rulesets)Kneebar — a complementary leg lock that hyperextends the kneeAshi Garami — the positional system from which toe holds are appliedEstima Lock — a specific toe hold variation
Counter Techniques
Boot (point toes) — straightening the ankle makes the rotational grip harder to maintainRoll with the rotation — rolling in the direction of the twist relieves pressurePull the foot free — extracting the foot before the figure-four is securedStraighten the leg — full leg extension reduces the angle needed for the toe holdCounter leg lock — attacking the opponent's exposed legs while they attack yours
Setup Chain
1Establish Leg Control — ashi garami, 50/50, or top position
2Identify the Foot — the near-side foot is the target
3Grip the Ball of Foot — wrap the hand around the ball of the foot
4Figure-Four Grip — secure the kimura-style wrist grip
5Rotate — twist the foot in the appropriate direction (external or internal rotation)
6Finish — maintain controlled rotational pressure until the opponent taps
Sources & References
Primary Source
Leg Lock Anthology (John Danaher, BJJ Fanatics)
1BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Description sources — [1] Catch wrestling and sambo traditions [2] Estima brothers' innovation [3] IBJJF competition rules
2BookLeg Lock Anthology (Danaher, BJJ Fanatics)
3BookEstima lock 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
5CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Description sources — [1] Catch wrestling and sambo traditions [2] Estima brothers' innovation [3] IBJJF competition rules
6CitationLeg Lock Anthology (Danaher, BJJ Fanatics)
7CitationEstima lock analysis
Community
Athletics
Requires
grip strength (figure-four grip), rotational control (applying the twist smoothly), positional control (maintaining the position while applying)
Favours
strong forearms (grip), good wrist flexibility
Key muscles
forearms (figure-four grip), shoulders (rotation force), core (maintaining position during application)
Sub-techniques
Notes
The toe hold (ashi-dori-garami) appears in 185 passages across our book corpus. It attacks the ankle through rotational force on the foot. One of the few leg locks legal at all IBJJF belt levels (from brown belt in gi). In catch wrestling, the toe hold is a fundamental finishing technique. (Jiu-Jitsu University, Ribeiro; IBJJF Rules v6.0)
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I grip the foot when setting up a toe hold?
According to Ethan Pino, you should grab high up on the toes and flex the foot, then grab over your own wrist to lock the grip. Your pinky should align with your opponent's pinky toe, and Pino emphasizes positioning your grip as high as possible on your own wrist—ideally over your own hand if possible.
What's the most important principle when applying a toe hold?
Ethan Pino stresses that you should load pressure onto the foot before cranking—don't get your grips and then start applying pressure with no bend or foot position. Your grips should do 90% of the work, with proper foot positioning and clamping of the bicep doing most of the submission, so you're not relying on muscle alone.
Why do I need to bend my opponent's foot when applying the toe hold?
According to Ethan Pino, the bend is crucial because if your opponent's leg is straight and you rotate their foot, the torque can travel all the way through to the knee. With proper foot bend, the stress stops at the ankle or knee, making the submission safer and more effective.
How does the Toe Hold work?
The Toe Hold is a foot lock submission that attacks the ankle and foot by gripping the opponent's toes/ball of foot and rotating the foot outward (or inward) using a figure-four grip — creating torsional stress on the ankle ligaments, the small joints of the foot, and the knee. The toe hold is one of the four fundamental leg lock submissions (alongside the heel hook, kneebar, and straight ankle lock) and is applicable from various ashi garami positions, 50/50, and even from top positions during guard passing.
Where does the Toe Hold come from?
Toe holds have existed in catch wrestling and sambo for over a century as part of these arts' comprehensive leg lock curricula. In BJJ, toe holds were historically associated with 'old school' leg lock players before the modern leg lock revolution.
Is the Toe Hold legal in competition?
IBJJF: restricted — Brown and black belt only; IJF: banned — Only elbow joint locks (kansetsu-waza) permitted in judo — all other joint lo…; ADCC: legal — Legal — all submissions legal in ADCC; Unified MMA: legal — Legal submission technique; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Toe Hold?
Danger rating 7/10. High — the toe hold can cause ankle ligament tears, metatarsal fractures, and knee damage; unlike straight ankle locks which have a gradual pain curve, the toe hold's rotational force can cause injury quickly; always apply slowly in training
How do I set up the Toe Hold?
The standard setup chain: Establish Leg Control → Identify the Foot → Grip the Ball of Foot → Figure-Four Grip → Rotate → Finish.
How do I defend against the Toe Hold?
Standard counters include: Boot (point toes) — straightening the ankle makes the rotational grip harder to maintain / Roll with the rotation — rolling in the direction of the twist relieves pressure / Pull the foot free — extracting the foot before the figure-four is secured / Straighten the leg — full leg extension reduces the angle needed for the toe hold.
What are the variants of the Toe Hold?
Common variants: Standard toe hold (external rotation) (rotating the foot outward; the most common variation [1]); Inverted toe hold (internal rotation) (rotating the foot inward; less common but effective); Estima lock (straight toe hold) (a toe hold variation discovered by the Estima brothers, a…); Toe hold from 50/50 (applied from the 50/50 entanglement); Toe hold from top position (applied during guard passes or from side control); Calf slicer to toe hold (combining a calf slicer with a toe hold for a two-submiss…).
How effective is the Toe Hold in competition?
The toe hold is the primary rotational foot lock in IBJJF gi competition (where heel hooks are banned). The Estima lock has produced numerous competition submissions at black belt level.
What are common mistakes when doing the Toe Hold?
Top errors to watch for: Gripping only the toes — individual toe grips are weak and risk toe injuries; grip the ball of the foot with the whol… / No figure-four grip — without the figure-four, the rotation lacks sufficient leverage / Applying too fast — the toe hold can damage the ankle before the opponent registers enough pain to tap; apply gradually / Ignoring the knee connection — the toe hold's rotational force transmits to the knee; be aware of the secondary joint….
What are other names for the Toe Hold?
The Toe Hold is also known as Toe Hold Lock, Ashi Dori Garami, Figure-Four Toe Lock.