Setup and Hip Positioning

The instructor establishes the straight ankle lock by stepping across the opponent's body with one foot placed on the hip. This positioning prevents heel hook counters while maintaining control. The placement must be precise to avoid reaping violations in tournament rulesets, which prohibit hip positioning in certain grappling contexts.

Proper Ankle Lock Depth

A common mistake among practitioners is failing to sink the lock deep enough on the ankle, instead catching only the calf muscle. The correct position requires descending low to lock the heels together and catch the Achilles tendon. The instructor uses the cue of displaying the bicep to the opponent, which ensures proper depth and ensures the feet are crunched together.

Grip and Elbow Mechanics

The leg lock is secured by pinching the elbows tight to the body in a manner similar to a guillotine choke application. The securing hand grasps and compresses with the elbow moving from down to up, creating a tight enclosure around the foot and ankle joint.

Finishing Position and Body Mechanics

The traditional finish involves rolling to the side and transitioning to a face-down position while extending the legs and shooting the hips forward. This full-body motion—combining leg extension, hip drive, and spinal arch—concentrates force against the ankle lock submission.

Countering the Escape Attempt

When the opponent pushes laterally to escape, the attacking grappler can introduce a 'spacer leg' by extending the middle leg to the opponent's hip and stomach to maintain distance. As the opponent sits down, the attacker rolls face-down to belly-down position while using the spacer leg to prevent the escape and maintain control of the ankle lock.

Transition to Belly-Down Finish

The complete escape counter involves the attacker placing their foot under the opponent's hip space while keeping both knees pinched tightly together. The roll to belly-down position combined with hip pressure allows the attacker to maintain the ankle lock even when the opponent attempts the lateral escape.

Straight Ankle Lock And Counter Against Common Escape

Chewjitsu

Ankle Lock Escape

2 min read·6 key moments·PT4M8S video

Key Takeaways

•Setup and Hip Positioning
•Proper Ankle Lock Depth
•Grip and Elbow Mechanics
•Finishing Position and Body Mechanics

www.Chewjitsu.net The straight ankle is a must have for every grappler. It is a fundamental technique that can set the stage for other more advanced leg locks later on. In this video I show a super basic straight ankle lock and then I show a counter that can be use against a common escape. I personally teach leg locks every week as part of our training regime. It's made a huge difference. I have more students using the leg locks in class and in competition. I also have fewer injuries related to leg locks. As my students have become comfortable with leg locks they've found the right way to control the position and also when to tap. If you're not working on your lower body game, you're an incomplete grappler. Period. Even if you don't want to be "The Leg Lock Guy" you can still reap the benefits of having a developed leg lock game. Either for defense or for offense. I don't really want to be a leg locker primarily. But I love knowing that I can defend them properly. Also I've found that nipping at the legs causes the guard player to become more gun shy and makes passing easier. Hope the technique helps! -Chewy Also, check out Instagram for daily drills and techniques. http://www.instagram.com/chewjitsu http://www.twitter.com/chewjitsu http://www.facebook.com/chewjitsu https://www.periscope.tv/chewjitsu Snapchat : Chewjitsu

Related Techniques

Heel Hook Escape Kneebar Escape

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this video teach about ankle lock escape?

This video covers setup and hip positioning, proper ankle lock depth, grip and elbow mechanics. It provides detailed instruction from Chewjitsu.

How long does it take to learn ankle lock escape?

The basic mechanics can be understood in a single session, but developing reliable execution requires consistent drilling over weeks of practice. This 6-part breakdown helps structure your training by isolating each phase of the technique.