Inside Ashi-Garami Bottom is the foundational leg entanglement position where the attacker controls one of the opponent’s legs between their own legs while positioned on their back or side. The position is characterized by the outside leg hooking around the opponent’s trapped leg with control of the heel, while the inside leg is positioned across the opponent’s hip to control distance and prevent escape.
Inside Ashi-Garami serves as the foundational position for modern leg lock attacks and is the entry point for more advanced leg entanglements. The position requires technical precision and safety awareness, particularly when applying heel hooks. Proper training progression emphasizes mastering straight ankle locks before advancing to heel hook attacks.
This position has become increasingly prominent in modern no-gi competition, serving as both an attacking platform and a transitional hub to more dominant leg entanglement configurations. Understanding Inside Ashi-Garami is essential for any practitioner seeking to develop a comprehensive leg lock game while maintaining safety and control throughout the engagement.
Position Definition
- Your outside leg (same side as opponent’s trapped leg) hooks around their leg with your foot positioned near their heel, creating a secure grip on their lower leg with your calf and hamstring muscles actively squeezing to maintain control
- Your inside leg is positioned across opponent’s hip or thigh, with your shin or knee creating a frame that controls distance and prevents them from pulling their leg free or closing distance to pass
- Your upper body is positioned to face their trapped leg with torso angled, hands securing their heel with C-grip or figure-four grip configuration, creating a triangle-like control structure around their leg
- Your hips remain mobile and can adjust angles for attacking heel hooks or ankle locks, with the ability to turn your entire body to increase pressure on the leg joint
- Opponent’s leg is trapped between your legs with their knee controlled by your outside leg, preventing them from rotating their knee line away from danger
Prerequisites
- Understanding of leg lock safety protocols and tap awareness
- Basic leg entanglement mechanics and positional hierarchy
- Ankle lock proficiency before progressing to heel hooks
- Training with experienced partners under qualified instruction
- Knowledge of IBJJF and competition rule sets regarding leg attacks
- Fundamental understanding of hip movement and angle creation
Key Defensive 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
Available Escapes
Inside Heel Hook → Saddle
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 50%
Straight Ankle Lock → Straight Ankle Lock Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Saddle Entry from Top → Saddle
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 70%
Outside Ashi Entry → Outside Ashi-Garami
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
50-50 Entry from Standing → 50-50 Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Kneebar Finish → Kneebar Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Toe Hold → Toe Hold Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 50%
X-Guard to Ashi Transition → Cross Ashi-Garami
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 65%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent has strong heel defense and keeps knee rotated away from you:
- Execute Saddle Entry from Top → Saddle (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Outside Ashi Entry → Outside Ashi-Garami (Probability: 55%)
If opponent extends leg to create distance and escape:
- Execute Straight Ankle Lock → Straight Ankle Lock Control (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Kneebar → Kneebar Control (Probability: 50%)
If opponent’s heel is exposed and knee line is controlled:
- Execute Inside Heel Hook → Saddle (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Toe Hold → Toe Hold Control (Probability: 45%)
If opponent attempts to establish mirror entanglement:
- Execute 50-50 Entry from Standing → 50-50 Guard (Probability: 60%)
- Execute X-Guard to Ashi Transition → Cross Ashi-Garami (Probability: 50%)
If opponent successfully begins extracting heel:
- Execute Outside Ashi Entry → Outside Ashi-Garami (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Re-Guard → Open Guard (Probability: 40%)
Escape and Survival Paths
Direct heel hook path
Inside Ashi-Garami → Inside Heel Hook → Won by Submission (fastest but requires advanced skill and proper safety training)
Progressive ankle lock path
Inside Ashi-Garami → Straight Ankle Lock Control → Straight Ankle Lock → Won by Submission (safest path for beginners, builds fundamental control)
Saddle transition path
Inside Ashi-Garami → Saddle → Inside Heel Hook → Won by Submission (highest percentage for advanced practitioners)
Kneebar combination path
Inside Ashi-Garami → Kneebar Control → Kneebar → Won by Submission (effective when opponent extends leg defensively)
Outside Ashi switching path
Inside Ashi-Garami → Outside Ashi-Garami → Outside Heel Hook → Won by Submission (useful when inside heel is defended)
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 30% | 30% | 20% |
| Intermediate | 50% | 50% | 35% |
| Advanced | 70% | 70% | 50% |
Average Time in Position: 20-45 seconds before submission or position change
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
Inside Ashi-Garami is the foundational position of the entire leg lock system and represents the entry point that every student must master before progressing to more advanced entanglements. The critical element that determines success or failure in this position is heel control - without proper heel control achieved through correct gripping mechanics, no leg lock can be truly effective regardless of other technical elements. I emphasize a strict hierarchical approach to learning: first establish Inside Ashi with perfect positional control, then perfect that control through extensive drilling, then attack straight ankle locks exclusively until the mechanics become automatic, and only after demonstrating consistent control and proper safety awareness should a student progress to heel hook attacks under proper instruction. The position must be understood not as an isolated technique but as the hub of an interconnected system where transitions to Outside Ashi, Cross Ashi, Saddle, and 50-50 flow naturally based on opponent defensive reactions.
Gordon Ryan
Inside Ashi is a position I use dynamically rather than as a static control position - I’m constantly transitioning between different leg entanglements to keep my opponent defending and reacting rather than settling into defensive structure. My preference is to use Inside Ashi as a quick entry point to establish initial leg control, then immediately begin working towards Saddle position which I view as significantly more dominant for finishing heel hooks in competition. In high-level matches, I rarely finish directly from Inside Ashi because experienced opponents defend the inside heel well, but the position serves perfectly as a transitional platform. The key is recognizing that opponent’s defensive reactions to Inside Ashi create opportunities - when they turn their knee away to defend the inside heel, that opens the Saddle entry; when they try to extract the heel, that’s when Outside Ashi becomes available. Modern competition demands this type of fluid, reactive approach rather than static position holding.
Eddie Bravo
While the traditional 10th Planet system historically focused on other positions and attacking strategies, the integration of modern leg lock techniques including Inside Ashi has become essential in the current competitive landscape. What’s critical to understand is that Inside Ashi, like all leg lock positions, requires immense respect and proper instruction due to the inherently dangerous nature of heel hooks and leg attacks in general. I emphasize to my students that safety in training must always be the absolute priority - these techniques can cause career-ending injuries if applied carelessly or practiced without proper progression. Inside Ashi should be learned systematically with a focus on control first, then ankle locks for extended period, and only then progressing to heel hooks under experienced supervision. The position fits well within the 10th Planet philosophy of being comfortable in unconventional positions, but it demands technical precision and safety awareness above all else.