toe-hold counter to a toe-hold

I often say that the best counter to leg locks is leg locks. People don't like to hear this, because they like the idea of being able to defend against something they know nothing about (like traditional martial arts guys who think that eye gouging will stop a double leg takedown.)

I constantly hear from people that to "just spin" or "pull your leg away" will stop leg locks.

Well, I recently went to a no-gi tournament and caught every competitor who tried to spin or pull away, but the one who finally stopped me (at the finals of the absolute weight division) was the one who also had a strong knowledge of leg locks.

so here is the technique he caught me with, as taught during a class at remix dojo. this technique is the same from the top of half guard as it is from the bottom. the in-class demonstration is from the bottom, but in competition the guy who did it to me was on top. enjoy!

Toe-Hold Counter

• he spins for the lg

ross is on the top or bottom of half guard and spins for the leg. he leaves his shin across owen's belly.
• the catch

owen catches his toes (palm on the blade of the foot, thumb pointing toward the heel) to stop him from being able to get the shin all the way to the other side.
• the toe hold

owen reaches his other hand behind the ankle of ross's foot and grabs his own wrist. he cranks the toes toward ross's butt and the heel toward his own face to finish the toe hold.