Learn the IMANARI ROLL | Basics to advanced
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Standard Imanari Roll·Energia Martial Arts·Added by Admin
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Standard Imanari Roll
Genus今成ロール(Imanari Rooru)
TransliterationTranslation: Imanari Roll
Overview
The Imanari roll is a rolling entry into leg entanglement positions, developed by Japanese MMA fighter Masakazu Imanari around 1998-1999. [1] The attacker grips the opponent's ankle, drops onto their shoulder, and executes an inverted roll that swings the legs around the opponent's standing leg, pulling them directly into ashi garami (leg entanglement) for heel hook, kneebar, or toe hold attacks. [2] Imanari created the technique because he 'wasn't great at wrestling or takedowns' and needed an alternative entry to leg locks. His style is purely self-taught, not sambo-derived as commonly believed. Ryan Hall famously used this entry to heel hook BJ Penn at UFC 232 (2018).
Imanari RollRolling Leg Lock EntryImanari Heel Hook EntryBoxing
History & Origin
Developed by Masakazu Imanari around 1998-1999 in Japan. Imanari created it because he was not skilled at traditional wrestling takedowns and needed an alternative entry to his leg lock game. [1] He used it extensively across DEEP, PRIDE, Shooto, and ONE Championship. Ryan Hall brought it to mainstream UFC attention with his finish of BJ Penn at UFC 232 (2018). [2]
Effectiveness
Highly effective as a surprise entry into leg entanglements, particularly against opponents who are standing. Ryan Hall's UFC 232 finish of BJ Penn demonstrated its viability at the highest level of MMA. [1] The technique is increasingly common in no-gi grappling competition (ADCC, EBI) as leg lock systems have become central to the modern meta.
Lineage
Self-developed by Masakazu Imanari (~1998-1999) in Japan. Popularized internationally through his PRIDE and DEEP career. Adapted for modern competition by Ryan Hall (50/50 variant) and Garry Tonon.
Competition Record
Masakazu Imanari: DEEP Bantamweight and 2x Featherweight Champion, approximately 40-22-2 MMA record using the roll extensively. Ryan Hall vs. BJ Penn: UFC 232, December 29, 2018 — Imanari roll to heel hook, Round 1, Performance of the Night.
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Granby roll combined with backward roll to bypass the opponent's hips and enter directly into leg entanglements
Entry Mechanic — Grip inside of opponent's ankle, drop onto shoulder of gripping arm, swing legs around in inverted rotation
Entanglement — Outer thigh connects to back of opponent's thigh; inner leg grips front of thigh, pulling opponent down into ashi garami
Critical Factor — Shoulders should be the only body part touching the ground during the roll; speed and inertia are essential before opponent can react
Position & Entry
From seated butterfly guard — Face standing opponent, grip inside ankle with same-side hand, drop and roll
From standing — Close distance, grip ankle, and drop into the roll
From open guard bottom — When opponent stands to pass, grip ankle and initiate the roll to counter
Variants
Standard Imanari roll to outside ashi garami — enables inside heel hook attacks
Ryan Hall 50/50 variation — over-rotation leads to 50/50 position for outside heel hook
Imanari roll to honey hole (inside sankaku) — outside foot positioned for inverted heel hook
Imanari roll to straight ashi garami — transfer leg across chest after bringing opponent down
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
8
Very High8/10
The leg locks accessed from the Imanari roll (particularly heel hooks) can cause severe ACL, MCL, and meniscus damage with little warning; the speed of entry means opponents often cannot react before the lock is applied
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
✓The Imanari roll was developed by Masakazu Imanari (今成正和, born 1976), nicknamed Ashikan Judan (足関十段, 'The Great Master of Leg Submissions'). His career spanned DEEP (Bantamweight and 2x Featherweight Champion), Shooto, Pancrase, PRIDE, Cage Rage, DREAM, and ONE Championship (approximately 40-22-2 MMA record). He also placed 2nd and 3rd in All-Japan Combat Wrestling championships. Imanari estimates he developed the technique around 1998-1999 and emphasizes it is self-taught, not sambo-based as commonly believed. The most famous use in the UFC was Ryan Hall vs. BJ Penn at UFC 232 (December 29, 2018), where Hall executed the roll into a heel hook for a round 1 finish, winning Performance of the Night. Hall's variation over-rotates into 50/50 position for an outside heel hook. Garry Tonon and Marvin Castelle are other noted modern practitioners. The key to success is speed and commitment — hesitation allows the opponent to sprawl away before the legs can entangle.
Common Mistakes
!Hesitating during the roll — speed and commitment are essential; half-attempts get sprawled on
!Not securing the ankle grip before dropping — without the initial grip, there is nothing to pull the opponent into the entanglement
!Rolling too slowly — inertia must carry the attacker through the rotation before the opponent reacts
!Not transitioning immediately to a submission — the entry creates a brief window that must be exploited
!Attempting against an opponent who is already moving backward — works best against stationary or advancing opponents
Related Techniques
Inside Heel Hook — primary finishing submission after the rollOutside Heel Hook — finish from 50/50 variationKneebar — available from ashi garami after the rollToe Hold — alternative finish from leg entanglementHoney Hole (Inside Sankaku) — apex control position entered via the rollGranby Roll — foundational movement pattern
Counter Techniques
Sprawl and Backstep — recognize the roll early and sprawl away before legs entangleDistance Management — maintain range to prevent initial ankle gripSprawl on the Rolling Shoulder — drive weight onto the attacker's rolling shoulder to stop the rotationBerimbolo Counter — spin to take the back of the rolling attacker
Setup Chain
1Close Distance — get within ankle-gripping range of standing opponent
2Grip Inside Ankle — secure same-side hand grip on opponent's inside ankle
3Drop onto Shoulder — commit by dropping onto the shoulder of the gripping arm
4Execute Inverted Roll — swing legs around opponent's standing leg using inertia
5Establish Leg Entanglement — pull opponent into ashi garami as they fall
6Attack Immediately — transition to heel hook, kneebar, or toe hold
Sources & References
Primary Source
Attack The Back — Imanari Roll: A History and Techniques
1OtherJapanese Martial Arts Community Terminology
Attack The Back — Imanari Roll History and Techniques (attacktheback.com) || BJJ World — Imanari Roll Breakdown (bjj-world.com) || Senso BJJ / Gracie Mag — Who is Imanari? (sensobjj.com)
2OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
Historical biography — [1] Attack The Back and Senso BJJ — Masakazu Imanari biography and technique development
Competition proof — [2] Fightful — Ryan Hall vs BJ Penn UFC 232 finish analysis
5CitationSenso BJJ / Gracie Mag — Who is Imanari? (sensobjj.com)
Community
Athletics
Requires
comfort with inversions, hip flexibility, explosive movement
Favours
smaller, more agile practitioners
Key muscles
hip flexors, core stabilizers, shoulder girdle
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the proper arm position when starting the Imanari roll with a partner?
Position yourself perpendicular to your partner and extend your arm on the inside of their knee on the far side leg, keeping your focus on that arm throughout the movement. Energia Martial Arts emphasizes keeping the arm extended as long as possible until you complete the 360-degree rotation.
How do I avoid getting stuck when doing the Imanari roll?
Keep your leg on the inside and don't pull too soon with your upper body, as pulling prematurely will cause your head to hit your partner's shin and get you stuck. Maintain a controlled pace and keep your arm extended until you've completed the full rotation.
What grip options do I have after rolling through on the Imanari roll?
You have several options: a cross grip to grab the heel, a scoop grip on the backside (useful for toe hold attacks or inversions), or a knee bar grip where you head-post and bridge to attack the knee. You can also swim through to control the second leg for positional control rather than submissions.
Can the Imanari roll be used from half guard?
Yes, the Imanari roll can be applied from half guard positions like Z guard by coming up on your elbow and inverting with a Victor roll motion, though this variation is more advanced.
How does the Standard Imanari Roll work?
The Imanari roll is a rolling entry into leg entanglement positions, developed by Japanese MMA fighter Masakazu Imanari around 1998-1999. The attacker grips the opponent's ankle, drops onto their shoulder, and executes an inverted roll that swings the legs around the opponent's standing leg, pulling them directly into ashi garami (leg entanglement) for heel hook, kneebar, or toe hold attacks.
Where does the Standard Imanari Roll come from?
Developed by Masakazu Imanari around 1998-1999 in Japan. Imanari created it because he was not skilled at traditional wrestling takedowns and needed an alternative entry to his leg lock game.
Is the Standard 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 Standard Imanari Roll?
Danger rating 8/10. The leg locks accessed from the Imanari roll (particularly heel hooks) can cause severe ACL, MCL, and meniscus damage with little warning; the speed of entry means opponents often cannot react before the lock is applied
How do I set up the Standard Imanari Roll?
The standard setup chain: Close Distance → Grip Inside Ankle → Drop onto Shoulder → Execute Inverted Roll → Establish Leg Entanglement → Attack Immediately.
How do I defend against the Standard Imanari Roll?
Standard counters include: Sprawl and Backstep — recognize the roll early and sprawl away before legs entangle / Distance Management — maintain range to prevent initial ankle grip / Sprawl on the Rolling Shoulder — drive weight onto the attacker's rolling shoulder to stop the rotation / Berimbolo Counter — spin to take the back of the rolling attacker.
What are the variants of the Standard Imanari Roll?
Common variants: Standard Imanari roll to outside ashi garami (enables inside heel hook attacks); Ryan Hall 50/50 variation (over-rotation leads to 50/50 position for outside heel hook); Imanari roll to honey hole (inside sankaku) (outside foot positioned for inverted heel hook); Imanari roll to straight ashi garami (transfer leg across chest after bringing opponent down).
How effective is the Standard Imanari Roll in competition?
Masakazu Imanari: DEEP Bantamweight and 2x Featherweight Champion, approximately 40-22-2 MMA record using the roll extensively. Ryan Hall vs.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard Imanari Roll?
Top errors to watch for: Hesitating during the roll — speed and commitment are essential; half-attempts get sprawled on / Not securing the ankle grip before dropping — without the initial grip, there is nothing to pull the opponent into th… / Rolling too slowly — inertia must carry the attacker through the rotation before the opponent reacts / Not transitioning immediately to a submission — the entry creates a brief window that must be exploited.
What are other names for the Standard Imanari Roll?
The Standard Imanari Roll is also known as Imanari Rooru, Imanari Roll, Rolling Leg Lock Entry, Imanari Heel Hook Entry.