Illustration of defending a leg lock in no-gi: the player in orange sits with one leg trapped between their opponent's legs

Position 11 / 11

Leg entanglements

Legs tangled to attack or defend leg locks.

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8 moves

EscapesStraight ankle lock defence and escape · Clearing the knee line · 50/50 escape · +18 videos DefencesHiding the heel / boot · Heel hook defence · Calf slicer defence · +18 videos

About Leg entanglements, defending

Leg locks are now part of almost every no-gi game. If someone has your leg tangled up in their legs, heel hooks, kneebars and toe holds can injure you fast, and the damage often comes before you feel any pain. Learn the defences before you learn the attacks.

The big ideas: hide your heel, keep your knee pointed away from their hips, and free the knee before you try to pull out. Don't spin wildly. Know when to tap early.