These questions are primarily for Chris Herzog, but all are welcome to chime in...

My instructor recently taught the class a new leg attack the other day that Bruno Frazatto shows from another position in his super nogi techniques dvd called ankle lock from open guard and I can't find a video of it so I'll try my best to describe it. Let's say I'm on top in my opponent's reverse half guard and I'm to his left. I then reach with my right arm and underhook his left lower calf or achilles. If his legs are crossed, I'll separate them with my feet and leg lace his right leg. After this, I gable grip my hands and point my left elbow down on the outside of my opponents foot. So now I essentially have my opponent's foot in a vice grip exactly like a Japanese Necktie and all I have to do is rotate my left elbow clockwise for a toe hold like submission.


Hopefully I described that well enough to give you a visual idea of the submission so I can ask you these questions:

Is there a name for this ankle lock in Sambo?

If so, what is it called?

I've pulled this move off from 50/50 guard with some success, do you think it could make 50/50 a more relevant finishing position against a Sambo player?

If not, why?

I'm not totally following your description of the transition a video would be far more helpful in answering your question. However I think you are basically describing what I refer to as a "over/under calf crush" also sometimes referred to as the "double ankle lock". If its the same thing I'm thinking it is, its used alot as a counter submission to the 50/50 guard, and other potions where you opponent has his ankles crossed.

Sambo players like BJJ players often specialize in certain areas (like being a 1/2 guard expert vs a open guard expert) each will have their own strengths and weaknesses, some Sambo instructors focus more on throws and armlocks vs. leglocks, all depending on how they teach and what their goals are. So a more important question to ask is whether the technique can be rep'd, drilled and used against a resistant partner/opponent on a consistent basis, basically....is it functional?

Is this similar to what your talking about?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fho3nmhPwY

http://bamboowindchimeseffects.com/i...Wind_Chime.jpg

His legs aren't crossed. I still can't find a video. How 'bout I describe it from 50/50. Instead of going for the reverse heel hook, I'll underhook with the arm that isn't under the heel kind of like I'm going for a darce except underhooking the leg instead of the arm and neck, clasp my hands with a gable grip, point my outside elbow, that would usually be under the heel, down on the outside of his foot and make a toehold motion.

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Originally Posted by Chris Herzog

Is this similar to what your talking about?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fho3nmhPwY

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No that's what Ryan Hall calls the Texas Cloverleaf. I've seen that one a long time ago. :D

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Originally Posted by Jon Watkins

His legs aren't crossed. I still can't find a video. How 'bout I describe it from 50/50. Instead of going for the reverse heel hook, I'll underhook with the arm that isn't under the heel kind of like I'm going for a darce except underhooking the leg instead of the arm and neck, clasp my hands with a gable grip, point my outside elbow, that would usually be under the heel, down on the outside of his foot and make a toehold motion.

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Ahh ok I gotcha now. Its not a grip I use, however one of my leg lockers, Sarkis, does use it quite often, and to good effect. I think he got it from an Imanari video. My caution to him was to watch how much space he is creating when underhooking the leg, sweaty legs + space = good opportunity to escape.

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Originally Posted by Daniel Valdez

http://bamboowindchimeseffects.com/i...Wind_Chime.jpg

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Hahahahaha!! I actually wrote that last part for you and SponginBob, because of my Black/Brown Belt question thread from the old site.

As for a name, none that I'm aware of. Sambo, like Judo, uses generic terms to cover a variety of techniques. Example: Ude Garami or bent arm lock cover: kimuras, americanas, bicep slicers, forearm crushes,etc. all under the same umbrella. It would be considered a "variation" of an ankle lock/toe hold.

Thanks Chris. I only asked for a name to see if Igor Yakimov or Reilly Bodycomb had any videos out on it. And I usually only attempt this from the Leg Lace if I'm having trouble pulling off the generic toe hold or the achilles footlock, but I see some potential in using it from 50/50 and since you're the resident 50/50 critic, I thought maybe you'd have some interesting imput on the sub from that position. Thanks for the feedback. :D

you bet Jon, I didn't have any good advice to give but thought I would "chime in" any way.

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Originally Posted by Jon Watkins

Thanks Chris. I only asked for a name to see if Igor Yakimov or Reilly Bodycomb had any videos out on it. And I usually only attempt this from the Leg Lace if I'm having trouble pulling off the generic toe hold or the achilles footlock, but I see some potential in using it from 50/50 and since you're the resident 50/50 critic, I thought maybe you'd have some interesting imput on the sub from that position. Thanks for the feedback. :D

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Gotcha ;)

The problem I foresee with doing it from 50/50 is in your body positioning. When I use or counter 50/50 I want to angle my hips away from my opponent, to protect my legs and expose theirs. When reaching across with the far arm to under hook their ankle you could risk rotating towards them loosing the angle and exposing your legs. Could you get the sub? Sure, but putting yourself at risk in the process.

However doing it from the leg lace/leg knot would offer you a bit more secuirty and control, that shouldn't put you at too much risk.

I definitely like that mentality. When I'm rollling with someone better than me, I'll go leg lace all the way. I just hate to give up on the 50/50 position totally because guys at the highest level of Jiu Jitsu like Rafael Mendes, Xande Ribiero, Bruno Frazatto, Enrico Cocco, and Ryan Hall are destroying their competition from this position so there has to be some redeeming value for repping this position if for nothing else but to know what to expect from BJJ guys who come from their background in competition.

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Originally Posted by Jon Watkins

I definitely like that mentality. When I'm rollling with someone better than me, I'll go leg lace all the way. I just hate to give up on the 50/50 position totally because guys at the highest level of Jiu Jitsu like Rafael Mendes, Xande Ribiero, Bruno Frazatto, Enrico Cocco, and Ryan Hall are destroying their competition from this position so there has to be some redeeming value for repping this position if for nothing else but to know what to expect from BJJ guys who come from their background in competition.

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Don't give up on 50/50 Guard its important to learn and rep. My stance is to put the % of your rep and drill time in whats going to best suits you. Like spending your % of rep time on your different guards (Rubber Guard, 1/2 guard, 1/4 guard, closed guard, butter fly guard,etc), there was and interesting thread on here a few weeks ago about just this. Just utilize your rep time wisely and efficiently. For a number of years I spent my time about 65% on the outside leg triangle(50/50 Guard)leg attacks and about 35% on leg knots and inside triangles. Now I spent about 80-85% of the time on inside leg knots/inside triangles, 15-20% on 50/50. My % chance of finishing leg attacks have gone up considerably and I rarely even get threatened with counter attacks let alone close to being submitted, even by my best leg lockers.

Chris,

I was looking through my Marcelo book and I noticed something weird. Can every single X-Guard entry be converted into a leg attack?

Isn't every single X-Guard entry a leg attack in that you're working with the legs?

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Originally Posted by Jon Watkins

Isn't every single X-Guard entry a leg attack in that you're working with the legs?

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I wouldn't really consider x-guard an attack but okay, i guess it is.

Let me rephrase it.. can every single x-guard entry be converted into a high outside ankle lock/heel hook attack?

Sorry, I was just being facetious. And I'm not Chris, but my main X-Guard entry comes off a potential calf crank in a NoGi modified tornado guard. And if you ever get to see any of the Mendes Bros stuff, most of they're leg locks flow into X-Guard entries or back attacks. :D

I haven't seen the book yet (its on my "to read list"), so I can't answer specficily to that. But the "Reaper Series" (what we call High outside legs attacks)works off a varitey of X-guard varitaions, butterfly guard and even when being mounted. However I think it matters less how you get to X-Guard (for the Reaper Series) but rather setting it up once you get to X-Guard. So if you have 5 solid ways to transition to X-Guard. You'd have 5 solid ways top transition to X-Guard, to set up the Reaper ;)

Here'as a fun example..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiKDlfKS9vQ

At the 18 second mark he goes double knee control to butterfly to high outside heel hook. In the marcelo book this exact same setup is used for his x-guard entry. Seeing this video, I had an epiphany that possibly all of Marcelo's entries could double as submissions. Basically, rather than x-guard to ankle lock... just change the setup and go straight to the ankle lock.

Minus some details thats the reaper set up from butterfly guard.

What are the detail differences between the two variations?