A leglock is a joint lock that is directed at joints of the leg such as the ankle, knee or hip joint. A leglock which are directed at joints in the foot is sometimes referred to as a foot lock and a lock at the hip as a hip lock. Leglocks are featured combat sports and martial arts such as Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Catch wrestling, Mixed martial arts, Sambo, Shootwrestling and Submission wrestling, but are banned in some sports featuring joint locks such as JudoInternational Judo Federation. IJF Referee Rules. www.ijf.org. URL last accessed January 7 2006..

Leglocks are considered more difficult techniques to apply effectively than armlocks, since the legs are generally stronger limbs than the arms. Leglocks requre full body leverage to be effective since they attack large joints, such as the knee. Compared to armlocks, leglocks usually require more intricate positions than the mount, sidemount or guard, and are often considered to be risky because of the possibility of losing position.

In training or sparring, leglocks are applied in a slow and controlled manner, and are often not hyperextended such as in the case of the comparatively dangerous heel hook. Instead, submission is signalled before the lock is fully applied. In self-defense application, or when applied improperly or with excessive force, leglocks can cause muscle, tendon and ligament damage, even dislocation or bone fractures.

Kneebar

---

A kneebar (technically known as a straight legbar) is a leglock which hyperextends the knee. The basic kneebar is performed similarly to an armbar by holding the opponents leg inbetween the legs and arms so the opponent's kneecap points towards the body. By pushing the hips forward, the opponent's leg is straightened, and further leveraging hyperextends the knee.

Ankle lock

---

An ankle lock (occasionally referred to as a shin lock) is a leglock that it applied to any of the joints in the ankle, typically by hyperextending the talocrural joint through plantar hyperflexion. Ankle locks are often applied in a manner which simultaneously causes a compression lock to the achilles tendon, or sometimes also to the calf muscle.

Straight ankle lock

Toe hold

A toe hold involves using the hands to hyperextend and/or hyperrotate the ankle, typically by grabbing the foot near the toes, and twisting or pushing the foot while controlling the opponent's leg. A common type of toe hold is the figure-four toe hold, where a figure-four hold is used to hold the opponent's foot. This type of toe hold is performed by holding the foot by the toes with one hand, and putting the other hand under the opponent's achilles tendon, and grabbing the wrist. By controlling the opponent's body, and using the hands to plantar flex the foot either straight or slightly sideways, hence putting considerable torque on the ankle.

Heel hook

---

A heel hook is a leg lock affecting multiple joints, and that is applied by transversely twisting the foot either medially or laterally. The torsional force puts severe torque on the ankle, which in turn transfers torque to the knee. The heel hook is generally considered to be a very dangerous leg lock, with a high rate of injury, especially to ligaments in the knee. It subsequently banned in many combat sports featuring other leg locks such as Brazilian jiu-jitsuInternational Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Federation. Rules. www.cbjj.com.br. URL last accessed February 5 2006 and SamboAmateur Athletic Union. SOMBO competition. www.aausports.org. URL last accessed February 4 2006.. The heel hook is however an allowed technique in some submission wrestling and mixed martial arts competitions.

There are several variations of heel hooks, with the most typical being performed by placing the legs around a leg of an opponent, and holding the opponent's foot in the armpit on the same side. The legs are used to control the movement of the opponents body while the opponent's foot is twisted by holding the heel with the forearm, and using the whole body to generate a twisting motion, hence creating severe medial torque on the ankle. A similar heel hook can be performed by holding the opponen's foot in the opposite armpit, and twisting it laterally; a move which is referred to as an inverted, reverse or inside heel hook.

See also

---

• For leglocks involving a separating motion of the knee, see Leg slicer.
• Armlock
• Small joint manipulation
• Spinal lock
• Wristlock

References

---

Main references

Other references

External links

---

• Hip Locks. Hip lock techniques.

Kneebar instructions

• Knee Bar. Basic knee bar.
• Foot Pull Knee Bar. Kneebar from the half guard position.
• Counter to Opponent's Underhook Finishing with Knee Bar.
• Kneebar Leglock Q & A. Information about common problems in performing kneebars.
• Rolling Kneebar From Tie Up
• Uchi Mata -- Counter -- Knee Bar.

Ankle lock instructions

• Achilles Lock. Basic straight ankle lock.
• Quasimodo Shin Lock. An ankle lock that can be performed from the top in the guard.
• Figure 4 Toe Hold. Basic toe hold.
• Knee Crush Toe Hold. A toe hold from the top in the guard
• Tyrone Glover's Toe Hold.

Heel hook instructions

• Clinch to Inside Trip to Heel Hook vs. Punching. Basic heel hook.
• Bicep Grip Heel Hook. Variation of the grip in the heel hook
• Heel Hook. Basic inverted heel hook.
• Ankle Pick To Heel Hook. Another inverted heel hook.
• Heel Hook From Your Opponents Guard Heel hook using the legs.

Joint locks