SLC MMAExploring MMA and Jujitsu in Salt Lake City Utah

Putting It All Together: Getting To The Leg LocksFiled Under: Instruction

I know, I’ve posted a ton of leg lock information, but I don’t think it complete until you watch several guys transitioning into the leg locks from different positions. In MMA, if your jujitsu is already good you can soften up your opponent by dropping a couple of fists on him and then going for the lock.

If you’re a good wrestler, or ground and pound’er – it take a while before you can integrate different submissions into your striking game – be patient, it will pay off. Practice delivering 3 punches and then going for the lock, then 5 punches then go for the lock, and a series of 10 blows then going for it. Stay aware – while stacking a guy and hitting him he’ll try different sweeps. As soon as he opens his guard or tries to postures up, try going for the leg lock. Having dangerous leg locks will allow you be keep your dominance during those scrambles for positions.

Watch how the guys in these videos (at times) setup leg locks by striking or attempting other submissions first.

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Tags: ground and pound, leg locks

Leg Lock CountersFiled Under: Instruction

After seeing some leg locks, here’s some info on escaping and countering.

Obviously, prevention is the best defense … but so is a good offense.

Tags: jujitsu, leg locks

Leg Locks In Every Position: (aka Even More Leg Locks)Filed Under: Instruction

Leg locks are awesome submissions – especially for MMA because the positioning you can be submitting a guy without him being able to strike back. You’re out of reach.

This first video is how to enter a leg lock from standing position. I almost never see this any more in MMA, but I seem to remember Bas Rutten doing it several times.

Same technique, different angles:

A Sambo lock from the half-guard:

Half Guard attacks: Electric Chair, Stoner Control, Banana Split …

Attack from within the guard:

From the mount:

Escape from mount and transition into leglock:

Tags: leg locks

More Leg LocksFiled Under: Instruction

Let’s jump right in. Notice the foot and hip positioning of the instructor as he goes for the leg locks. The drill at the end is awesome too.

Here’s one with one of my favorite grapplers, JJ Machado showing an attack chain of leg locks.

Tags: jujitsu, leg locks

Getting High Percentage Leg LocksFiled Under: Instruction

Leg locks are an alluring, harsh mistress. Even though they can be high percentage moves, a number of them are banned in BJJ competitions. Good instruction is often rare or elusive. In some jujitsu circles, teaching leg locks to beginners is strictly taboo.

I remember learning my first ankle lock and tapping out almost all the guys at my level with it. Opportunities to try it out popped up everywhere. I’d roll with a guy and two or three minutes in, I’d slap it on and get the tap.  Personally, I’d love to seem more submissions in MMA via leg locks. Yes, they’re dangerous – but so are dozens of other moves! Train under proper guidance and be cautious. It’s better to lose the submission in practice than ruin your partners knee for 18 months.

That being said, I’m going to put up several posts concerning the topic.

For starters, this video is very illustrative, as your first step to getting the submissions is avoiding the mishaps.

So if those (see video) are the 4 most common leg lock mistakes, what are the solutions?
The upcoming posts will explore most of the technical issues, but these are the basic answers:

• Don’t telegraph – practice stacking guard and immediately going into it, or distract opponent’s awareness by attacking/feigning elsewhere as a setup.
• When applying the ankle lock, get your radius (long bone of the thumb-side forearm) under opponents Achilles tendon, past the calf muscles.
• Learn the correct leg and foot positioning for each submission.
• Accept the fact that there will be some scrapping for position, and learn how to relentlessly attack. Theoretically, every attack should be one of a potential combination of moves. Just like kickboxing – jab, cross, hook, knee. Jujitsu attack chains are great for this.

Tags: jujitsu, leg locks