How To Attack Foot Locks From Single Leg X Guard By Renato Cardoso

Posted by Matt Bryers on February 13, 2019

A Nasty Foot Lock From Single Leg X Guard by The Best On It: Renato Cardoso

The foot lock is often times one of the most under rated submissions in all of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and other grappling martial arts. Many people assume that the foot lock does not actually threaten a break, and is rather a “pain” submission. But this is actually a very common misconception. When applied properly, the foot lock can very easily break your opponent’s foot, knee or ankle. The foot lock is also an incredible submission because of just how often it presents itself. You can apply this submission to any BJJ player prior to passing their guard, to sweeping them, and from bottom or top. The foot lock it is one of the submissions where it is necessary to emphasize the “position before submission” philosophy. But when you hit it right, the foot lock is absolutely lethal.

Many Brazilian Jiu Jitsu players are unaware that you can hit a nasty foot lock from a single leg X guard. When it comes to playing guard or going for leg locks, one of the best positions to get good at is the single leg X. It can be used in gi or no gi. There are some awesome techniques from single leg x, like this foot lock from Renato Cardoso that we will explore today.

The Single Leg X Guard Position Is Used Extensively By The Danaher Death Squad, And Is One Of The Major Attacking Positions For Footlocks. The is a template, a method, a science to learning the ins and outs of foot locks. The only person who has truly put it all together into one system that gives you a template to attack the foot locks, is John Danaher.

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Renato Cardoso started training martial arts through judo, when he was 13 years old. Renato made a big name for himself in late 2012 being revered by jiu jitsu’s media as the new “crown jewel” of the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Checkmat Team. This status came after a series of amazing performances in his first couple of months as a black belt, a time when Renato Cardoso conquered the medium heavy weight world jiu jitsu title. The list of Renato Cardoso’s achievements is impressive. Some of his most notable titles are IBJJF South American Champion, IBJJF Sao Paulo Open Champion, CBJJE World Champion, CBJJ Brazilian National Championship Runner up, IBJJF South American Championship Runner up, IBJJF World Championship 3rd Place, IBJJF Pan American Championship 3rd Place, CBJJ Brazilian National Championship 3rd Place, and IBJJF European Open Championship 3rd Place.

Renato is very well known in Brazil and the rest of the world as one of the best foot lockers with the gi. Today, Renato is going to show us one of the best foot locks he does from the single leg X Guard. When the person does the single Leg X Guard he goes to a very cool foot lock from there. Watch the video below of Renato Cardoso demonstrating the technique and then we will break it down. Check it out now!

As you can tell, this is a really cool foot lock and it works really well. Renato has won many of his matches by using this foot lock. This is a great submission because it is applied from single leg X. Normally this is a position where your opponent is threatening you with the foot lock.

To hit this foot lock, Renato peels the foot on his hip. He instinctively knows his training partner is going to try to put it back as quick as possible. But when his opponent goes to put his foot back on the hip it is already too late, he has already trapped the foot. To finish the foot lock Renato does a two on one gable grip on the foot using the leverage from his elbow to break the foot. This is a super tight lock that happens really quickly! So be careful when you are learning this one.

This is such a good submission because when the opponent is playing single leg X guard they are not expecting somebody to submit them so you can catch them by surprise. Renato is the best in the world at this. Anyways, I hope you found this video helpful. Be sure to give this one a try the next time you are training on the mats! Thank you Renato Cardoso for demonstrating this nasty foot lock technique for us today!