Estima Lock
Submission · Leg Locks
An ankle lock that twists a flexed foot: the foot is pinned flat against you and pushed toward his shin. It is born from a failed straight ankle lock in ashi garami: he flexes his foot and pushes it into your body to block the Achilles pressure, and that flexed foot is the opening. Pull his toes toward the middle of your body, wrap your arm over the top of the foot, bicep and elbow on the toes, and lock a figure-four or rear naked grip, so the foot stays flat and flexed against you. Control his leg too — knees pinched on it in ashi garami, or from the top sit in and put a knee on it — so he cannot roll with the twist, then turn your torso slowly. If he straightens the foot, return to the straight ankle lock; if he kicks the leg free, reset ashi garami. It bites with very little pressure: push in small steps, stop at the tap, and check the rules, as many events restrict it.
How to do it
- Wait for their sole to press flat on your hip or belly: in ashi garami when they push against the straight ankle lock, or on top when they push you away from their guard.
- Pull the toes across toward the middle of your body: with the heel outside your hip and the toes pointing off to the side, the lock does not work.
- Wrap your arm over the top of the foot, the bend of the elbow and the bicep on the toes, and lock a figure-four or rear naked grip, so the foot stays flat and flexed against your body.
- Control their leg, not only the foot: in ashi garami pinch your knees on it, on top sit in close and put your knee on it. If they can roll, they unwind the twist.
- Finish: crunch the toes toward their shin with the forearm while you turn your torso and sit back; if they turn, turn with them. It bites with very little pressure, so go very slowly and stop the moment they tap.
Key details
- It comes from a straight ankle lock that failed: their defense of flexing the foot is what opens it.
- It needs very little pressure and bites quickly, so there is almost no gap between the first pain and an injury.
- Only slow and controlled: add pressure in small steps and give them time to tap.
Common mistakes
- Applying it fast. — The ankle ligaments tear before pain arrives. — Push slowly and wait for the tap.
- Leaving their leg free. — With the leg free, they roll with the twist and the lock unwinds. — Pin their leg with your knees or your knee on it, sit in close, then twist.
- Using it where it is not allowed. — Many events treat it as an illegal foot lock, and you can be disqualified. — Check the event rules before the match.
- Hips away from the foot. — With space between your body and their heel the foot is not pinned, and the twist has nothing to work against. — Sit in and pull the foot to you until the sole is glued to your body, then twist.
How to drill it
Straight ankle to Estima transition, 5 slow reps each side.
Safety
Tears the ankle with little warning. Many events restrict it: check the rules.
What comes next
Where it comes from