How (and Why) to Get Good at Leg Locks

Data-Driven Jiu-Jitsu 04: Rapid skill development.

Oct 30, 2023

∙ Paid

Aoki Lock at the ADCC European Trials — Warsaw, Poland — Photo by BoroJitsu

If there’s any aspect of Jiu-Jitsu I confidently think of as myself “really good at”, it’s leg locks.

But just 3 years ago, I had only ever finished one leg lock in competition — a straight ankle lock at purple that I really just cranked and got lucky on. My opponent was nice and probably afraid of getting hurt. Either way, I didn’t really know what I was doing.

It wasn’t until 2021 that I really started using leg locks in competition. I don’t believe I became a truly “high-level leg locker” until about midway through 2022. In this article, I’m going to show you how I did it.

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