What is the unspoken rules of leg locks

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Originally Posted by GBurton

We aren't supposed to do any twisting leg/foot locks at low belts, my gym goes on the competition rules of you aren't allowed to do them till you are brown or black belt. Straight leg locks and knee bars are fair game though

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That's pretty much the rule around here. You can attack with any leg lock entry but you can only obtain and hold the position for twisting locks; no applying the finish until you're a blue belt (catch and release). Straight locks like kneebars and straight ankle locks are fair game as are knee compressions like the turkey wrap, ham sandwich, etc. The rule with any submission in general is "don't do anything I haven't shown you" (though that gets a little more permissive as you progress and coach knows you have the control to not hurt anybody). If they don't even teach plain straight leg locks to white belts it's probably not a good idea to attempt them at all.

I show all the leg locks so people are familiar with them but I also explain the damage they do and why they're not allowed to do twisting leg locks until they can demonstrate control. I think straight ankle locks and kneebars are fair game for beginners, but heel hooks/inverted heel hooks and toe holds should be used at DRILLing speed only, until your experience warrants your use of those techniques in competition. I try to stress pretty frequently that cranking a twisting leg lock will require SURGERY to fix and that you will be putting your buddy out of comission for a long time. I've had my knee popped via inverted heel hook b4, not fun :(

This biggest issue with leg locks is ignorance. The more you ignore them, the greater the potential for injury. Many people fail to understand the importance of positioning while attacking the legs, without control injuries will happen. Have you ever seen this situation or similar? Partner #1 attempts a kimura without position and the two guys roll across the mat until they bump into someone,a wall or a cage and then it gets cranked on from a awkward position, causing something to get tweaked?

The focus on leg attacks should be position first, following one of the basic laws of Jiu Jitsu. However positioning with leg locks is constantly overlooked and crazy scrambles ensue ensuring a potential injury. Ego also plays a factor, no one wants to admit a deficiency, especially in one's martial art of choice, it takes very open minded individual to seek assistance and develop a skill set from outside ones own system or instructor. What you fail to acknowledge could be your demise. IMHO leg locks can be trained safely at all levels, its takes knowledge, understanding and a firm approach towards safety while training. Learn the positions first, then start with non-twisting leg attacks (under Blue Belt at our Academy), then once a level of perfeciancy in leg attack positioning is obtainied then start integrating twisting leg attack as well. (Blue Belts and above)