Straight Ankle Lock
Submission · Leg Locks
A foot lock that forces the foot into extension: the bone of your forearm digs into the Achilles while your armpit drives the foot down. It comes from outside ashi garami when his leg is straight and his foot is by your armpit. Wrap the foot under the armpit on the side of the trapped leg, toes behind you, and put the thumb-side edge of the forearm right under the heel, not up on the calf. Grab your wrist, pull the elbow to your ribs, pinch your knees on his leg and fall to the side of that leg, not straight back. Finish by arching your back while your feet push his knee away. If he points his toes and the foot slips, switch to the toe hold. Legal at all belts, but the ankle breaks without much pain: extend slowly.
How to do it
- From ashi garami on their leg, wrap their foot under your armpit on the same side as the trapped leg, their toes pointing behind you and their sole against your back ribs.
- Put the blade of your forearm, the bony thumb side, under the Achilles tendon, right under the heel and not up on the calf. Your palm faces your own chest, so the bone, not the muscle, digs into the tendon.
- Grab your own wrist or lapel with the other hand to lock the arm in place, and pull your elbow tight to your ribs. Squeeze your knees on their leg so the knee cannot slide out between your thighs.
- Fall to the side of the trapped leg rather than straight back, so they cannot sit up and pull the foot out.
- Finish: arch back, chest up and shoulders back, while your feet push their knee away. The forearm lifts up into the Achilles and your armpit drives the foot down; the foot is forced into extension. Go slowly and stop at the tap.
Key details
- The bone of the forearm goes low on the Achilles, right under the heel, not up on the calf: only there does it act as a lever against the ankle.
- Knees pinched on their leg: the leg cannot slip, and their knee cannot bend to take pressure off the ankle.
- Fall to the side of the trapped leg, not straight back: on your side they cannot sit up into you and free the foot.
- The power comes from the arch of your back and the push of your feet, not from squeezing with the arms, so the pressure grows slowly and stays controlled.
- Your outside foot cups his hip like a hand and your inside leg stays hooked under his hamstring, knees closed: with your knee open he can turn and heel hook you back.
Common mistakes
- The forearm too high on the calf. — High on the calf there is no lever on the ankle, and they pull the foot out. — Slide your forearm down his shin: the bony edge of your forearm sits on the Achilles, right above his heel. Check: if you can see his toes over your shoulder, you are still too high.
- Falling straight back. — Falling straight back lets them sit up and pull the leg free. — Fall to the side of the trapped leg so they cannot sit up.
- Loose knees. — Loose knees leave space, and they slide the leg out or bend the knee to relieve the ankle. — Pinch your knees tight on their leg before you arch.
- Your inside foot crossing over his body. — A foot crossing to his far side with his knee trapped is a reap: under IBJJF rules for lower belts it gets you disqualified, and the hold on his leg gets looser. — Keep the inside leg under his hamstring and that foot on your own side; the outside foot stays on his hip.
If they defend
- They point the toes and pull. → Pointed toes open the foot: switch to the toe hold.
- They sit up toward you. → Push them back with your foot and finish.
How to drill it
Ashi garami entries and straight ankle lock, 8 each side; then the partner pulls the foot.
Safety
Legal at all belts, but the ankle breaks without much pain: extend slowly.
What comes next
Where it comes from