Imanari roll
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Imanari Roll·Lobisomem BJJ
Imanari roll challenge over 100 in five minutes
Imanari Roll
SubFamily今成ロール
TransliterationTranslation
Not yet documented
Overview
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]
Imanari Roll EntryRolling Leg LockFlying Leg Lock Entry
History & Origin
The Imanari Roll was pioneered by Masakazu Imanari, a Japanese MMA fighter who competed in PRIDE, DREAM, and other Japanese MMA promotions in the early 2000s, using the rolling entry to set up heel hooks against opponents who expected traditional striking exchanges. [1] The technique gained broader adoption when the Danaher Death Squad (particularly Eddie Cummings and Garry Tonon) used it in EBI and ADCC competition from 2014 onward. [1],[2] Ryan Hall's UFC career further popularised the Imanari Roll, making it one of the most analysed and discussed techniques in modern combat sports. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
The Imanari Roll is highly effective as a surprise technique — it bypasses the entire traditional fight sequence and goes directly to the most dominant leg lock position. [1] Ryan Hall has finished multiple UFC opponents with heel hooks entered via the Imanari Roll. [2] Eddie Cummings and Garry Tonon used rolling entries to dominate early EBI tournaments. [3]
Lineage
Competition Record
Images
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Rolling forward underneath the opponent from standing, threading both legs around their lead leg, and landing in inside sankaku ashi garami
Joints Involved — Shoulder (absorbing the rolling impact), hips (directing the roll angle toward the target leg), legs (threading one leg behind the opponent's lead leg and one in front during the roll), core (controlling body position during the inversion)
Force Vector — Forward-downward (the roll drops below the opponent's centre of gravity) then inward (the legs clamp around the target leg creating the entanglement)
Roll Mechanic — The attacker feints, then drops to a forward shoulder roll aimed at the opponent's lead leg; during the roll, the legs thread around the target leg — the near leg goes behind (hooking the calf/thigh), the far leg goes in front (creating the inside sankaku triangle); the roll ends in a seated position with the opponent's leg fully entangled
Position & Entry
Standard Imanari Roll (from striking range) — Feint a jab or reach for a collar tie, then drop to a forward shoulder roll aimed at the opponent's lead leg, threading the legs during the roll and landing in inside sankaku — immediately secure the heel for a heel hook [1]
Imanari Roll from grip fighting — During standing grip fighting, use a grip attempt as misdirection, then roll to the lead leg
Imanari Roll against aggressive opponent — When the opponent steps forward aggressively, time the roll to their advancing step — the forward momentum makes the leg easier to catch [2]
Videos
Imanari Roll Tutorial
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Imanari Roll·Varun Mehrotra
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Learn This Technique
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
7
Very High7/10
The Imanari Roll leads directly to inside heel hook position, which is the most dangerous submission in grappling (knee ligament damage without pain warning); additionally, a missed Imanari Roll in MMA leaves the attacker on the ground with the opponent standing above them
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
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 2025-26PDFTraining Notes
✓Practice the shoulder roll thousands of times before adding the leg entanglement — comfort with the forward roll on both sides is prerequisite [1]
✓The feint is everything — a naked Imanari Roll without a preceding misdirection is easily defended; develop a convincing jab, collar tie reach, or level change as the setup
✓Distance must be precise — too far and you can't reach the leg; too close and you can't complete the roll; practice the distance judgment
✓Land in inside sankaku specifically — the goal is to arrive in the most dominant leg lock position; generic landing positions have limited value
✓Train bail-out options — when the roll misses, have a backup plan (guard pull, scramble to standing, immediate stand-up) [2]
✓Study Ryan Hall's UFC footage — his Imanari Roll entries against UFC-level opponents are the gold standard
✓In MMA, time the roll to the opponent's advance — a forward-stepping opponent provides their lead leg as a target
Common Mistakes
!Rolling without a feint — telegraphed Imanari Rolls are easily defended by stepping over or backing up
!Rolling head-first — the roll must be on the SHOULDER, not the head; head-first rolling risks neck injury
!Landing in the wrong position — the roll must end in a specific ashi garami; generic ground positions are useless
!Not controlling the leg immediately — the moment the roll completes, the heel must be secured; any delay allows the opponent to extract the leg
!Attempting from too far away — the roll must reach the opponent's leg; shooting from outside effective range results in landing alone on the ground
!Over-reliance on the Imanari Roll — it should be one tool in a broader system, not the only entry
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Feint — jab, collar tie reach, or level change to disguise intent
2Identify Target Leg — determine which leg to attack based on stance
3Drop to Roll — commit to the forward shoulder roll
4Thread Legs — during the roll, thread legs around the target leg
5Land in Inside Sankaku — arrive in the most dominant leg entanglement
6Secure Heel — immediately trap the heel in the elbow crease
7Apply Heel Hook — rotate the heel for the submission
Sources & References
Primary Source
Leg Lock Anthology (John Danaher, BJJ Fanatics)
1BookLeg Lock Anthology (Danaher, BJJ Fanatics)
Description sources — [1] Imanari fight record and technique analysis [2] Danaher Death Squad competition records [3] Ryan Hall UFC fights
2BookRyan Hall UFC fight analysis
3BookMasakazu Imanari fight record
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] Imanari fight record and technique analysis [2] Danaher Death Squad competition records [3] Ryan Hall UFC fights
6CitationRyan Hall UFC fight analysis
7CitationMasakazu Imanari fight record
Community
Athletics
Requires
comfort with forward rolling, precise distance judgment, quick leg dexterity (threading hooks during the roll), cardiovascular fitness
Favours
agile athletes, flexible, good spatial awareness
Key muscles
shoulders (absorbing roll impact), core (directing roll angle), hip flexors (threading legs), adductors (squeezing the entanglement)
Sub-techniques
Notes
The Imanari Roll is named after Masakazu Imanari, who pioneered the rolling leg lock entry in MMA and grappling. The fighter rolls forward under the opponent to entangle their legs and attack with heel hooks. A high-risk, high-reward entry that revolutionized leg lock grappling. (MMA competition records; Danaher, Enter the System)
Frequently Asked Questions
What stance positioning do I need before attempting an Imanari roll?
You need to have switched stances with your opponent—if you have your right leg forward, your opponent should have their left leg forward, and vice versa. This stance mismatch is essential for the technique to work.
How should I grip the ankle when doing an Imanari roll?
When you grab the ankle, point your thumb down to the floor and your pinky pointing up. This hand positioning is critical for proper control and execution.
What are the key body positioning details when rolling back?
Keep your chin tucked so you don't roll off your head, keep your knees up and ready for the next part, and close the distance by keeping your knee in rather than flared out so you can control your opponent's knee. Additionally, arch with your hips while locking the foot back to the floor.
Why do I keep getting stuffed when I attempt the Imanari roll?
You need to distract your opponent first, because if you go for the Imanari roll telegraphed and without setting it up, it's very easy to be stuffed and land in a bad position.
How does the Imanari Roll work?
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. 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.
Where does the Imanari Roll come from?
The Imanari Roll was pioneered by Masakazu Imanari, a Japanese MMA fighter who competed in PRIDE, DREAM, and other Japanese MMA promotions in the early 2000s, using the rolling entry to set up heel hooks against opponents who expected traditional striking exchanges. The technique gained broader adoption when the Danaher Death Squad (particularly Eddie Cummings and Garry Tonon) used it in EBI and ADCC competition from 2014 onward.
Is the Imanari Roll 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 Imanari Roll?
Danger rating 7/10. High — the Imanari Roll leads directly to inside heel hook position, which is the most dangerous submission in grappling (knee ligament damage without pain warning); additionally, a missed Imanari Roll in MMA leaves the attacker on the ground with the opponent standing above them
How do I set up the Imanari Roll?
The standard setup chain: Feint → Identify Target Leg → Drop to Roll → Thread Legs → Land in Inside Sankaku → Secure Heel → Apply Heel Hook.
How do I defend against the Imanari Roll?
Standard counters include: Step Over — stepping over the rolling attacker / Back Step — stepping backward out of range / Sprawl — dropping hips to prevent the entanglement / Knee Strike (MMA) — timing a knee as the attacker rolls.
What are the variants of the Imanari Roll?
Common variants: Standard forward Imanari Roll (rolling forward to inside sankaku [1]); Lateral Imanari Roll (rolling to the side rather than forward); Imanari Roll to outside ashi (landing in outside ashi garami instead of inside sankaku); Imanari Roll to 50/50 (landing in 50/50 entanglement); Fake shot to Imanari (using a fake takedown level change to disguise the roll); Collar tie to Imanari (using a collar tie reach as the feint before rolling [2]).
How effective is the Imanari Roll in competition?
The Imanari Roll has produced submission victories in the UFC (Ryan Hall), EBI (Eddie Cummings, Garry Tonon), and ADCC.
What are common mistakes when doing the Imanari Roll?
Top errors to watch for: Rolling without a feint — telegraphed Imanari Rolls are easily defended by stepping over or backing up / Rolling head-first — the roll must be on the SHOULDER, not the head; head-first rolling risks neck injury / Landing in the wrong position — the roll must end in a specific ashi garami; generic ground positions are useless / Not controlling the leg immediately — the moment the roll completes, the heel must be secured; any delay allows the o….
What are other names for the Imanari Roll?
The Imanari Roll is also known as Imanari Roll Entry, Rolling Leg Lock, Flying Leg Lock Entry.