Defend Foot Locks With 3 Simple Videos

Avoid Foot Locks With 3 Simple Steps

Foot locks are a real danger in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It is a very easy joint to attack and submit with, providing your opponent a high percentage of effectiveness due to a short window of time to successfully counter the attack. Therefore, it is important to learn how to defend against foot locks. It is only a matter of time before you face an opponent who knows how to use these attacks effectively either during a live roll or in competition. So protect your fragile feet with these 3 simple steps!

Check out Kurt Osiander’s Foot Lock Defense in the video below!

Step #1: Control the opponent with cross collar and sleeve grips

You can’t afford not to have control over your opponent. The sleeve grip prevents your opponent from getting his arm across and cranking on your foot. The collar grip will maintain control over his posture and doubles as a way to pull yourself up easily if he sits back carelessly. If you do not control at least one limb on your opponent you open yourself up to many different attacks and submissions.

The ability to escape submissions and horrible positions gives you confidence to fight in any position no matter what. The master of escapes and defense is Dean Lister.

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Step #2: Clear the foot while maintaining cross collar grip

As already mentioned, maintain control of the collar is crucial. With a cross collar grip, it will be difficult for your opponent to crank at your foot so long as you control his upper body. When he starts to sit back it is time to move. Remember, your window here can be incredibly short. Timing is key, so do not delay. Use the free hand to grab the toes of your opponent’s foot on your hip. Pin the foot on the ground and use your hips to sit over his foot.

Step #3: Grab the elbow;escape in to the arm bar

Having maintained the collar grip and cleared the foot, you are in a position that prevents your opponent from hitting a successful foot lock. Better still, you have now given yourself an opportunity to get a submission of your own! With that hand that was controlling his collar, grab his elbow, move your hips up, and get the shin of your free leg to the back of his neck. From here you can turn your body and roll your opponent over onto his back and finish him with an arm bar!

Foot locks are tough to deal with. A BJJ practitioner who is good at foot locks will not hesitate to put you in one from anywhere. But with a little practice you will get good at recognizing when your opponent is about to get one and how to prevent it from happening.

For another look at foot lock defense check out this video of Caio Terra as he demos a foot lock defense on Mike Martin. Notice the similarities in his technique: Collar control, clearing the foot, getting your hips up higher on his body to clear his legs. Awesome stuff!

Dean Lister is the master of the foot lock and the master of not getting submitted. Before Josh Barnett at Metamoris, Dean has not been submitted in 16 years in competition. His defense and ability to escape "worry free" is legendary. Learn Worry Free Escapes with Dean Listers Escape DVD and On Demand Series.

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