BJJ Fundamentals

Lesson 24 – Straight Ankle Lock Escapes

Warm Up (5min)

Solo Drills

• Ashi-Garami Entry

Lesson (30min)

Straight Ankle Lock

1. Start in seated ashi-garami
2. Overwrap uke’s ankle with your arm
3. Create distance with your legs and walk your grip up high on uke’s foot
• Your grip should feel like it’s about to slip off, if you cannot see uke’s ankle then your grip is likely too deep on the shin
4. Use your second hand to reinforce your ankle grip, bringing your wrist as high as possible
5. Bridge your hips forward while maintaining your grip to finish the submission
• Ensure you are on your shoulder and not your elbow to maximise pressure

Boot Escape

1. Continue from straight ankle lock (uke is now the person applying the submission)
2. Shove your trapped ankle forward (“put on the boot”) and point your toes back to relieve pressure
• Use lapel grips to help close the distance
3. Lean onto the side opposite your trapped leg and stand up
• Put your weight on your trapped leg so that uke cannot arch backwards
4. Peel away uke’s ashi-garami by separating the legs
5. Backstep out of uke’s guard and pass (or if possible, slip forward into mount)

Sit-Out Escape – Standard Application

1. Continue from straight ankle lock
• Even if you’re not going to stand up, “putting on the boot” is always good to relieve pressure
2. Grip uke’s outside leg at the ankle and push it down to the mat, separating the legs
3. Post a hand on the mat and sit-out through uke’s legs, landing on the side of your trapped ankle
• Note that uke can no longer create enough distance to finish the submission
4. Stand up and backstep out of uke’s guard to pass

Sit-Out Escape – Inside Step

1. Continue from straight ankle lock, after sitting to the outside
2. Uke attempts to step their inside leg onto your hip, so that they can create distance
3. Before uke can step on your hip, use your free leg to step on the inside of uke’s thigh
4. Stand up and backstep out of uke’s guard to pass