Leg Lock Entry

Family

レッグロックエントリー

Transliteration

Translation

Not yet documented

Overview

The Leg Lock Entry family covers techniques for entering leg entanglement positions (ashi garami) from standing — primarily through rolling entries, sit-outs, and guard-pull-to-leg-lock transitions that bypass traditional takedown and guard-pull dynamics entirely. ^[1] These entries enable a fighter to go directly from standing to an attacking leg lock position, skipping the guard game and positional hierarchy that define traditional BJJ. ^[1],[2] The Imanari Roll (named after Japanese MMA fighter Masakazu Imanari) is the most famous leg lock entry — a forward shoulder roll that threads the legs around the opponent's lead leg, landing directly in inside sankaku ashi garami for an immediate heel hook. ^[2],[3] The Danaher Death Squad systematised these entries as part of their comprehensive leg lock game, making them a standard part of elite no-gi competition strategy. ^[3]

Also known as

Rolling Leg Lock EntryLeg Attack EntryLeg Lock Shoot

Used in

BJJ Submission Grappling MMA

History & Origin

Leg lock entries gained prominence through Masakazu Imanari in Japanese MMA (early 2000s), then were systematised by John Danaher's students (Eddie Cummings, Garry Tonon, 2014-present). ^[1],[2] Ryan Hall brought the Imanari Roll to mainstream UFC attention. ^[2],[3]

Effectiveness

Leg lock entries have produced numerous high-level finishes at EBI, ADCC, and in the UFC. Ryan Hall's Imanari Roll heel hooks are among the most analysed techniques in modern MMA. ^[1],[2]

Lineage

From Masakazu Imanari (pioneer) through Danaher Death Squad (systematisation) to Ryan Hall (UFC mainstream). ^[1],[2]

Competition Record

Leg lock entries have produced numerous submission victories at EBI, ADCC, and in the UFC. ^[1],[2]

Images

No images yet for this technique.

Biomechanical Mechanism

Primary Action — Transitioning from standing directly into ashi garami leg entanglement positions through rolling, sitting, or dropping entries that thread the legs around the opponent's leg

Joints Involved — Shoulders (absorbing rolling impact), hips (directing the roll and positioning for entanglement), legs (threading hooks around the opponent's legs to establish control)

Force Vector — Forward-downward (the entry drops below the opponent's centre of gravity) then lateral (threading legs to create the entanglement)

Entry Mechanic — The entry uses misdirection (a feint or grip attempt), then a rapid level change (rolling or sitting) that threads the legs around the opponent's lead leg; the endpoint is an ashi garami position from which leg locks are immediately available

Position & Entry

Imanari Roll — Feint a punch or collar tie, drop to a forward shoulder roll underneath the opponent, thread the near leg behind their lead leg and the far leg in front, land in inside sankaku for immediate heel hook [1]

Sit-out to single-leg X — From standing, sit down while gripping the opponent's ankle, thread the legs into single-leg X (ashi garami), and attack with heel hook or ankle lock

Guard pull to leg entanglement — Pull guard while immediately entering 50/50 or inside sankaku rather than playing traditional guard — a competition strategy popularised at ADCC [2]

Videos

TheGarageNoGi Jiu-Jitsu

Leg Lock Prevention Part 1: Entries

Leg Lock Entry·TheGarageNoGi Jiu-Jitsu

Part one looks at the keys to leg lock entries. Feel free to skip to part 2 if you feel like you have a solid knowledge …

1 video

Learn This Technique

No instructional courses yet for this technique.

Ratings

Danger Rating

Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to

High6/10

High — rolling entries carry impact risk, and failed entries leave the attacker on the ground with the opponent standing; the resulting leg lock position targets the knee (heel hooks can cause ligament damage without pain warning)

Difficulty

Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably

Advanced

Competition Legality

Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets

— IJF — Legal takedown technique

IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF

— 2 points

IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF

— UWW — Legal in freestyle, may be restricted in Greco-Roma...

UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDF

— Unified MMA — Legal takedown technique

Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF

— ADCC — Legal, scored 2-4 points in second half of match

ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF

— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal — all takedowns permitted

FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF

— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal

FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDF

— 2 points

NCAA Wrestling Rules 2025-26PDF

Training Notes

✓Practice the shoulder roll hundreds of times before adding the leg entanglement — comfort with the roll is prerequisite ^[1]

✓Misdirection is essential — a naked rolling entry without a feint is easily avoided

✓The landing position must be specific — arrive in inside sankaku, outside ashi, or 50/50; random landing positions have no offensive value

✓Study Ryan Hall's UFC fights — his Imanari Roll entries are the gold standard for MMA application ^[2]

✓Train bail-out options for failed entries

✓In MMA, account for the opponent's strikes — rolling into a knee is dangerous

Common Mistakes

!Rolling without a setup — telegraphed entries are easily defended

!Landing in the wrong position — the entry must end in a specific ashi garami

!Head-first rolling — roll on the shoulder, not the head

!Not controlling the leg immediately after entry

!Over-reliance on rolling entries as the only takedown tool

Related Techniques

Rolling Entry (Group) — the parent group Leg Lock — the submissions applied after entry Ashi Garami — the positional system entered Guard Pull — a related concept of voluntarily going to the ground

Counter Techniques

Step Over — stepping over the rolling attacker Sprawl — dropping hips Backstep — stepping out of range Knee strike (MMA) — timing a knee to the rolling attacker Leg lock defence — ashi garami escape knowledge

Setup Chain

1Misdirect — feint a punch or grip

2Identify Target Leg

3Execute Roll — commit to rolling entry

4Thread Hooks — establish ashi garami

5Secure Control — confirm the entanglement

6Attack Submission — apply heel hook, ankle lock, or kneebar

Sources & References

Primary Source

Leg Lock Anthology (John Danaher, BJJ Fanatics)

1BookLeg Lock Anthology (Danaher, BJJ Fanatics)

Description sources — [1] Imanari fight record [2] Danaher Death Squad competition records [3] Ryan Hall UFC fights

2BookEBI/ADCC competition analysis

3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention

Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities

4CitationLeg Lock Anthology (Danaher, BJJ Fanatics)

Description sources — [1] Imanari fight record [2] Danaher Death Squad competition records [3] Ryan Hall UFC fights

5CitationEBI/ADCC competition analysis

Community

Athletics

Requires

comfort with rolling, precise distance judgment, quick leg dexterity, leg lock knowledge

Favours

flexible athletes, good spatial awareness

Key muscles

shoulders (roll impact), core (roll direction), hip flexors (threading hooks)

Sub-techniques

Imanari Roll

SubFamily

The Imanari Roll is a rolling leg lock entry named after Japanese MMA fighter Masakazu Imanari — a forward shoulder roll from standing that threads the legs around the opponent's lead leg, landing directly in inside sankaku (saddle) ashi garami for an immediate heel hook attack. [1] The Imanari Roll is the most famous and most commonly used rolling leg lock entry, demonstrated at the highest levels of MMA (Ryan Hall in the UFC), submission grappling (Eddie Cummings, Garry Tonon at EBI/ADCC), and professional grappling. [1,2] The technique bypasses the traditional takedown-to-guard-to-submission pathway entirely — from standing, the attacker goes directly to the most dominant leg lock position in a single movement, making it both the quickest and most shocking path to a heel hook. [2,3] The roll requires misdirection (a feinted punch, collar tie reach, or level change) to disguise the entry, precise distance management, and the ability to thread the legs around the opponent's leg during the rolling motion. [3]

1 genera·1 techniquesExplore

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Leg Lock Entry work?

Where does the Leg Lock Entry come from?

Leg lock entries gained prominence through Masakazu Imanari in Japanese MMA (early 2000s), then were systematised by John Danaher's students (Eddie Cummings, Garry Tonon, 2014-present). Ryan Hall brought the Imanari Roll to mainstream UFC attention.

Is the Leg Lock Entry legal in competition?

IJF: legal — Legal takedown technique; IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels, scored as takedown (2 points); UWW: legal — Legal in freestyle, may be restricted in Greco-Roman depending on technique; Unified MMA: legal — Legal takedown technique; ADCC: legal — Legal, scored 2-4 points in second half of match; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal — all takedowns permitted; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal; NCAA Folkstyle: legal — Legal, scored as takedown (2 points)

How dangerous is the Leg Lock Entry?

Danger rating 6/10. Moderate-high — rolling entries carry impact risk, and failed entries leave the attacker on the ground with the opponent standing; the resulting leg lock position targets the knee (heel hooks can cause ligament damage without pain warning)

How do I set up the Leg Lock Entry?

The standard setup chain: Misdirect → Identify Target Leg → Execute Roll → Thread Hooks → Secure Control → Attack Submission.

How do I defend against the Leg Lock Entry?

Standard counters include: Step Over — stepping over the rolling attacker / Sprawl — dropping hips / Backstep — stepping out of range / Knee strike (MMA) — timing a knee to the rolling attacker.

What are the variants of the Leg Lock Entry?

Common variants: Imanari Roll (the signature rolling entry to inside sankaku [1]); Sit-out entry (sitting to single-leg X from standing); Guard pull to 50/50 (pulling guard directly into 50/50 entanglement); Rolling kneebar entry (rolling to kneebar position); Outside ashi entry (stepping across to establish outside ashi garami [2]); Donkey guard (inverting from standing to attack the legs); Ankle pick to ashi garami (combining a takedown attempt with leg entanglement).

How effective is the Leg Lock Entry in competition?

Leg lock entries have produced numerous submission victories at EBI, ADCC, and in the UFC.

What are common mistakes when doing the Leg Lock Entry?

Top errors to watch for: Rolling without a setup — telegraphed entries are easily defended / Landing in the wrong position — the entry must end in a specific ashi garami / Head-first rolling — roll on the shoulder, not the head / Not controlling the leg immediately after entry.

What are other names for the Leg Lock Entry?

The Leg Lock Entry is also known as Rolling Leg Lock Entry, Leg Attack Entry, Leg Lock Shoot.

leg lock entry imanari roll ashi garami entry heel hook entry rolling entry single leg x 50/50 entry danaher ryan hall eddie cummings garry tonon no-gi adcc