BJJ Graph

Carni

Dec 09, 20258 min read

The Carni position is an advanced leg entanglement control position that emerged from modern no-gi grappling, particularly popularized by Australian grapplers like Lachlan Giles and adopted by Craig Jones and the B-Team. Named after the “carnivore” concept of aggressively attacking the legs, this position represents a transitional control state between standard ashi garami variants and more dominant positions like the saddle or back control. The Carni is characterized by controlling one of the opponent’s legs while maintaining inside positioning with your own legs, creating immediate threats of heel hooks, transitions to the saddle, or unexpected paths to the back.

What distinguishes the Carni from other leg entanglement positions is its versatility and the high-percentage nature of its attack paths. Unlike static leg lock positions, the Carni emphasizes dynamic control and transition, forcing opponents into defensive reactions that open up multiple submission and positional advancement opportunities. The position is particularly effective in no-gi competition where leg attacks are legal, and it has become a cornerstone of modern leg lock systems.

The Carni requires sophisticated understanding of leg entanglement mechanics, back exposure principles, and the ability to chain attacks seamlessly. Practitioners must develop the sensitivity to recognize when opponents are defending the leg attack versus when they’re creating back exposure, and the technical proficiency to capitalize on either defensive choice. This position represents the evolution of leg lock systems from isolated submissions to comprehensive control positions with multiple high-percentage finishing paths.

From the attacking perspective (bottom), the Carni offers exceptional offensive opportunities with relatively low energy expenditure. The position allows the bottom player to create constant dilemmas for their opponent while maintaining multiple high-percentage attack paths. From the defensive perspective (top), understanding the Carni is crucial for recognizing escape opportunities and preventing the attacker from establishing dominant control or finishing submissions.

Key Principles

  • Maintain inside positioning with top leg over opponent’s hip to prevent escape and create saddle entry angles

  • Control opponent’s heel and ankle with both hands to establish immediate submission threat

  • Keep hips mobile and ready to invert, roll, or transition as opponent attempts to defend or escape

  • Create constant dilemma between defending leg attack and preventing back exposure

  • Use leg configuration to control distance and prevent opponent from establishing upper body control

  • Anticipate opponent’s roll or spin attempts and follow movement to transition to back or saddle

  • Maintain tension in leg entanglement while staying relaxed in upper body to conserve energy

Top vs Bottom

 BottomTop
Position TypeOffensive/ControllingDefensive
Risk LevelMediumHigh
Energy CostMediumHigh
TimeShort to MediumShort

Key Difference: Dynamic leg control trades static security

Playing as Bottom

→ Full Bottom Guide

Key Principles

  • Maintain inside positioning with top leg over opponent’s hip to prevent escape and create saddle entry angles

  • Control opponent’s heel and ankle with both hands to establish immediate submission threat and prevent leg extraction

  • Keep hips mobile and ready to invert, roll, or transition as opponent attempts to defend or escape

  • Create constant dilemma between defending leg attack and preventing back exposure

  • Use leg configuration to control distance and prevent opponent from establishing upper body control or pressure

  • Anticipate opponent’s roll or spin attempts and follow the movement to transition to back control or saddle

  • Maintain tension in the leg entanglement while staying relaxed in upper body to conserve energy and react quickly

Primary Techniques

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Failing to maintain inside positioning with top leg, allowing opponent to step over and escape

    • Consequence: Opponent easily extracts leg and passes to top position or establishes distance control
    • ✅ Correction: Keep top leg actively hooking over opponent’s hip or threading inside, using this leg as primary control point for maintaining entanglement

  • ❌ Gripping too high on opponent’s leg (above knee) instead of controlling heel and ankle

    • Consequence: Lose immediate submission threat and allow opponent time to defend and escape safely
    • ✅ Correction: Prioritize heel and ankle control with both hands, establishing immediate finishing threat before attempting transitions

  • ❌ Remaining static and not following opponent’s defensive movements

    • Consequence: Opponent successfully rolls, spins, or extracts leg while you maintain outdated angle and lose control
    • ✅ Correction: Stay mobile and ready to invert, roll under, or rotate with opponent’s movement, treating Carni as dynamic transitional position rather than static control

  • ❌ Applying submission pressure too early before securing proper angle and control

    • Consequence: Premature submission attempt allows opponent to recognize danger and escape before control is fully established
    • ✅ Correction: Establish solid positional control first, then gradually apply submission pressure while maintaining readiness to transition based on opponent’s defensive reactions

  • ❌ Ignoring back exposure opportunities when opponent turns away from leg attack

    • Consequence: Miss high-percentage transition to back control while fixating only on heel hook finish
    • ✅ Correction: Recognize back exposure as equal or better opportunity than leg finish, following opponent’s roll immediately to secure back control or truck position

  • ❌ Allowing opponent to establish upper body grips and create stacking pressure

    • Consequence: Lose leg entanglement structure and get passed to top position or forced to release control
    • ✅ Correction: Use leg configuration to maintain distance and prevent upper body engagement, inverting or repositioning before opponent can establish heavy pressure

  • ❌ Committing fully to heel hook without recognizing opponent’s successful defensive positioning

    • Consequence: Expend energy on low-percentage finish while missing available transitions to better positions
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain awareness of opponent’s defensive success and immediately transition to saddle, back, or truck when heel hook is well-defended

Playing as Top

→ Full Top Guide

Key Principles

  • First priority is protecting the heel and preventing immediate submission by controlling ankle position

  • Maintain leg extension to prevent saddle transition while simultaneously working to extract trapped leg

  • Create frames and distance with upper body to prevent bottom player from establishing additional control

  • Recognize when to accept positional loss rather than risk catastrophic knee injury

  • Keep free leg positioned defensively to prevent bottom player from establishing more control

  • Move decisively once escape opportunity is recognized rather than remaining static in danger

  • Be willing to give up position or accept guard passing if it means safely extracting from leg entanglement

Primary Techniques

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Panicking and attempting explosive movements without systematic escape sequence

    • Consequence: Expend energy rapidly while failing to improve position and potentially tearing own knee ligaments
    • ✅ Correction: Remain calm, protect heel first, then systematically work through escape hierarchy prioritizing safety over speed

  • ❌ Ignoring the heel hook threat while focusing only on extracting the leg

    • Consequence: Suffer catastrophic knee injury while attempting escape without first securing ankle position
    • ✅ Correction: Always address immediate submission threat first by controlling ankle and keeping toes pointed away from attacker

  • ❌ Rolling away from the leg attack without recognizing back exposure risk

    • Consequence: Give up back control to bottom player who follows the roll and secures dominant position
    • ✅ Correction: Recognize that rolling away often plays into bottom player’s strategy and consider alternative escapes

  • ❌ Remaining static in the position hoping bottom player will make mistake

    • Consequence: Allow bottom player time to perfect their controls and establish multiple attack paths
    • ✅ Correction: Begin escape sequence immediately upon recognizing position rather than waiting for opportunity

  • ❌ Using upper body strength to try to muscle out of entanglement

    • Consequence: Expend massive energy without addressing technical problems of leg isolation and control
    • ✅ Correction: Focus on technical solutions like creating angles, clearing hooks, and systematic leg extraction

  • ❌ Failing to tap when submission is locked and inevitable

    • Consequence: Suffer serious knee injury that requires surgery and extended recovery time
    • ✅ Correction: Recognize when position is lost and tap early to protect health for long-term training

  • ❌ Extending trapped leg forcefully to create distance

    • Consequence: Present perfectly extended heel for immediate heel hook finish
    • ✅ Correction: Keep slight bend in knee while defending, only extending strategically during actual escape sequence

  • Ashi Garami - Entry position - standard leg entanglement from which Carni is often accessed

  • Single Leg X-Guard - Entry position - common starting point for Carni entries with inside leg positioning

  • Saddle - Primary advancement target - most common transition when opponent defends heel

  • Truck - Back exposure transition - accessed when opponent turns belly down

  • Back Control - Alternative finish position - taken when opponent rolls to defend leg attack

  • Outside Ashi-Garami - Related entanglement - alternative leg position with different attack angles

  • Reverse De La Riva Guard - Entry position - common guard to initiate Carni entries

  • Inside Ashi-Garami - Related control position - shares similar leg entanglement principles