Bear Trap to Saddle

Transition · Half Guard

The leg-lock entry from the bear trap, used when he backs his hips away to pull his leg out: instead of holding on, you follow the leg into the saddle and the heel hook. As he pulls, open the figure-four, put your foot on his near hip and turn your hips under his leg so it runs between your thighs. Swing your outside leg across his belly and lock your feet around his far hip, knees pinched on his thigh, his foot by your armpit. Settle the knee line first: his knee must stay past your hips before you reach for the heel. Turning without the foot on the hip lets him step over; a slow turn lets him free the knee. If he turns his knee in to roll out, the inverted heel hook; if he keeps the knee bent, the calf slicer.

How to do it

  1. From the bear trap, when he backs his hips away to pull the leg out, open the figure-four instead of holding on.
  2. Put your foot on his near hip and turn your hips under his leg so it runs between your thighs.
  3. Swing your outside leg across his belly and lock your feet around his far hip: the saddle.
  4. Pinch your knees on his thigh with his knee past your hips and his foot by your armpit before you reach for the heel.

Key details

  • Follow the leg as he pulls: his pull brings the knee to you.
  • The foot on his hip stops him stepping over while you turn.
  • Knee line first, heel second: with his knee in front of your hips, the heel hook does not work.

Common mistakes

  • Holding the lock while he pulls. — He strips the leg anyway and you are left flat. — Open the lock and go with the leg.
  • Turning without a foot on the hip. — He steps over your legs and passes. — Foot on his hip first, then turn under.
  • Grabbing the heel before the knee line is secured. — He pulls the knee out and the lock is gone. — Pinch the knees with his knee past your hips, then attack.

How to drill it

Partner pulls the leg out of your bear trap; follow into the saddle and hold it 10 seconds, 6 each side.

Safety

This is an entry to heel hooks: once in the saddle, apply any heel hook slowly and release at the tap; partners must tap early, because the knee is injured before pain is felt.

What comes next

  • Saddle
  • Inverted Heel Hook
  • Calf Slicer
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