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Inside Ashi-Garami

Dec 09, 20258 min read

Inside Ashi-Garami is the foundational leg entanglement position in modern no-gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, serving as the entry point for systematic leg attack systems. The position is characterized by controlling one of the opponent’s legs between your own legs while maintaining inside leg position across their hip. This configuration provides direct access to straight ankle locks, heel hooks, and kneebars while serving as a transitional hub to more advanced leg entanglements like saddle and honey hole.

The “inside” designation refers to the positioning of the controlling leg closest to the opponent’s body being placed across their near hip rather than their far hip, which distinguishes it from outside ashi-garami. This inside positioning provides superior control over the opponent’s hip movement and creates direct pathways to more dominant positions. The position excels in creating offensive opportunities while maintaining relatively safe positioning for the attacker.

Inside Ashi-Garami has become essential in modern competition grappling, particularly in submission-only and ADCC rule sets where leg attacks are unrestricted. The position requires technical precision and systematic training progression, with practitioners typically mastering straight ankle locks before advancing to heel hook attacks. Understanding Inside Ashi-Garami from both bottom and top perspectives is crucial for developing a comprehensive leg lock game while maintaining safety and control throughout all engagements.

Key Principles

  • Inside leg position across opponent’s hip controls rotation and prevents defensive posturing

  • Outside leg hooks behind opponent’s knee to secure leg and prevent extraction

  • Perpendicular body alignment maximizes mechanical advantage for submissions

  • Heel control with proper gripping (C-grip or figure-four) is fundamental to all attacks

  • Position serves as transitional hub to more advanced entanglements based on opponent reactions

  • Safety-first progression: master ankle locks before attempting heel hooks under qualified instruction

Top vs Bottom

 BottomTop
Position TypeOffensiveOffensive
Risk LevelMediumMedium
Energy CostMediumMedium
TimeMediumMedium

Key Difference: Inside leg across hip for superior heel control

Playing as Bottom

→ Full Bottom Guide

Key Principles

  • Secure heel control with proper gripping - C-grip or figure-four depending on submission target

  • Use inside leg to control distance and hip positioning - this is your defensive frame

  • Maintain mobile hips for angle creation and attacks - static hips lead to escapes

  • Control opponent’s knee line with outside leg - prevent knee rotation

  • Transition fluidly between submissions and positions - leg locks are a system, not isolated techniques

  • Keep chest connection to opponent’s leg - breaking this connection loses control

  • SAFETY FIRST: Always apply leg locks slowly and progressively with constant communication

Primary Techniques

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Poor heel control with loose gripping or improper hand configuration

    • Consequence: Allows opponent to free their leg and escape the entanglement, eliminates submission opportunities and wastes positional advantage
    • ✅ Correction: Secure heel with C-grip (four fingers on heel, thumb on Achilles) or figure-four grip depending on submission target, maintain constant pressure with heel pulled against your torso, use entire upper body to control heel rather than just arms

  • ❌ Weak inside leg positioning with insufficient hip pressure

    • Consequence: Reduces distance control and allows opponent to close distance, pass over inside leg, and escape entanglement while potentially achieving top position
    • ✅ Correction: Drive inside leg across opponent’s hip with active extension, create strong frame with shin or knee, adjust angle as needed to prevent them from stepping over or collapsing distance

  • ❌ Static hips without mobility or angle adjustment

    • Consequence: Opponent can defend heel position easily, reduces finishing percentage dramatically, makes transitions to better positions difficult
    • ✅ Correction: Keep hips mobile and constantly adjust angles, practice hip rotation drills, be prepared to move entire body around opponent’s leg to maintain optimal attacking angle

  • ❌ Losing chest connection to opponent’s leg

    • Consequence: Creates space for opponent to escape, reduces control quality, makes it easier for them to defend submissions and extract their leg
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain tight chest-to-leg connection throughout the position, treat opponent’s leg like you would control an opponent’s back - constant connection with no space

  • ❌ Attempting heel hooks before mastering straight ankle locks

    • Consequence: Dangerous for training partners due to lack of control and understanding, leads to injuries and poor technical development, skips fundamental learning progression
    • ✅ Correction: Master straight ankle locks from Inside Ashi for minimum 6-12 months before attempting heel hooks, work with experienced coach, progress gradually with safety as priority

  • ❌ Ignoring opponent’s free leg and allowing them to establish frames

    • Consequence: Opponent uses free leg to create distance, establish defensive frames, and potentially escape or counter with their own leg attacks
    • ✅ Correction: Monitor and control opponent’s free leg with hand fighting, use grips to prevent them from establishing strong frames, be aware of counter-entanglement threats

Playing as Top

→ Full Top Guide

Key Principles

  • Inside Leg Control: Maintain inside leg across opponent’s hip to prevent rotation and maintain inside position, blocking their ability to face you and create defensive frames

  • Outside Leg Hook: Keep outside leg hooked behind opponent’s knee to prevent leg extraction and control knee flexion, ensuring trapped leg cannot straighten

  • Hip Elevation: Elevate hips to create pressure and improve submission leverage while maintaining connection to opponent’s leg through both your legs

  • Distance Management: Control distance between bodies to facilitate attacks while preventing counters and maintaining safe positioning away from opponent’s hands

  • Progressive Control: Build from basic control to advanced entanglements systematically, advancing only when control is secure and opponent’s defensive options are limited

  • Perpendicular Alignment: Maintain approximately 90-degree body angle to opponent to maximize mechanical advantage for submissions and position advancement

Primary Techniques

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Loose leg control allowing space between your legs and opponent’s trapped leg

    • Consequence: Opponent extracts leg and escapes entanglement, losing all attacking position and control
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain tight leg control by keeping your legs clamped around opponent’s trapped leg with constant inward pressure, using inside leg across hip and outside leg hooking tightly behind their knee. If you feel any space opening, immediately squeeze legs together and adjust positioning.

  • ❌ Poor body angle with torso facing opponent’s upper body instead of perpendicular alignment

    • Consequence: Reduces submission leverage, allows opponent to defend more easily, and makes position advancement difficult
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain perpendicular body alignment at approximately 90 degrees to opponent, with your torso facing their trapped leg. Keep shoulders square to their leg and hips elevated to maximize control and submission mechanics.

  • ❌ Insufficient hip elevation leaving hips flat on mat without creating pressure

    • Consequence: Eliminates submission leverage and allows opponent to maintain defensive posture without threat
    • ✅ Correction: Keep hips elevated off the mat throughout position, creating downward pressure on opponent’s leg while maintaining ability to extend for submissions. Bridge onto shoulders when applying submissions for maximum leverage.

  • ❌ Inside leg placed too high on opponent’s torso instead of across hip

    • Consequence: Opponent easily clears leg by rotating hips, escaping to safer position or standing
    • ✅ Correction: Position inside leg precisely across opponent’s near hip with foot planted on far side, creating effective barrier to hip rotation. Adjust position lower if opponent is clearing leg easily.

  • ❌ Failing to control opponent’s upper body with grips while focusing only on leg control

    • Consequence: Opponent sits up freely, reaches for your legs, and creates scramble situations or escapes
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain upper body awareness and use grips on opponent’s collar, sleeve, or body to control their posture. When opponent attempts to sit up, immediately address upper body control before continuing leg attacks.

  • ❌ Rushing submissions before establishing secure position and control

    • Consequence: Opponent defends submission easily and escapes position during your premature attack
    • ✅ Correction: Follow systematic progression: establish leg control first, secure inside position second, then threaten submissions. Only commit to finish when control is complete and opponent’s defensive options are limited.

  • Saddle - Primary advancement target offering superior heel control and finishing position

  • Honey Hole - Advanced entanglement accessed when opponent defends inside heel

  • Outside Ashi-Garami - Alternative configuration when inside position is compromised

  • Cross Ashi-Garami - Variation position for different angle attacks

  • 50-50 Guard - Mirror entanglement that can develop from ashi positions

  • Single Leg X-Guard - Related leg control position with different strategic emphasis

  • Ashi Garami - Parent position family encompassing all ashi variations

  • Leg Entanglement - Core conceptual framework governing all leg lock positions