From the bottom perspective, the Carni position represents one of the most potent offensive leg entanglement controls in modern no-gi grappling. The bottom player controls one of the opponent’s legs with both of their legs creating an entanglement, with the controlled leg trapped between the bottom player’s legs in a figure-four or ashi garami configuration. The bottom player maintains inside positioning with their top leg hooking over the opponent’s hip or threading inside to create saddle entry angles, while controlling the opponent’s ankle and heel with their hands.
The brilliance of the Carni from bottom lies in its ability to create an impossible defensive dilemma for the top player. Every defensive movement opens a different offensive opportunity. If the opponent pulls their knee toward their chest to defend the heel hook, the bottom player transitions to the saddle. If the opponent attempts to roll away or spin to extract their trapped leg, the bottom player follows the movement to secure back control. If the opponent turns belly down to hide their heel, the bottom player transitions to the truck position. If the opponent extends their leg to create distance, the bottom player has an immediate heel hook or kneebar finish.
What makes the Carni particularly effective from bottom is the energy efficiency of the position. Unlike scrambling guard positions that require constant movement and energy expenditure, the Carni allows the bottom player to maintain control with relatively low energy cost while forcing the opponent to expend significant energy attempting to escape. The position is sustainable for 15-45 seconds of active control, which is typically sufficient to either finish a submission or advance to a more dominant position like the saddle or back control.
The technical requirements for effective Carni play from bottom include precise heel control, the ability to maintain inside positioning with the top leg, mobility in the hips to invert or roll as needed, and the situational awareness to recognize which attack path is available based on the opponent’s defensive reactions. Advanced practitioners can chain between heel hook threats, saddle transitions, back takes, and kneebar attacks seamlessly, creating a submission system that is extremely difficult to defend against even for elite-level opponents.
Position Definition
- Bottom player controls one of top player’s legs with both of their legs creating an entanglement, with the controlled leg trapped between bottom player’s legs in a figure-four or ashi garami configuration where the ankle is isolated and the heel is exposed
- Bottom player maintains inside positioning with their top leg hooking over opponent’s hip or threading inside toward the far hip to create saddle entry angles and prevent the opponent from simply stepping over to escape
- Top player’s trapped leg is extended and isolated with heel exposed to bottom player’s grip, while top player’s upper body is typically forced forward or sideways to defend the leg attack, creating potential back exposure opportunities
- Bottom player’s hips are positioned at an angle to opponent’s hip line creating leverage for heel hooks, while maintaining the ability to invert or roll under for back takes without losing the leg entanglement
- Upper body connection maintained through grips on opponent’s pants, belt, or ankles preventing opponent from simply pulling their leg free or establishing distance control to escape the entanglement
Prerequisites
- Successful entry from Single Leg X-Guard, Reverse De La Riva Guard, or Ashi Garami position
- Control of at least one of opponent’s legs with proper foot positioning inside their hip line
- Understanding of leg entanglement hierarchy and positioning mechanics
- Opponent’s leg isolated and extended with inside positioning established
- Ability to invert or rotate to follow opponent’s defensive movements
- Knowledge of heel hook mechanics and legal submission rules for your competition ruleset
Key Defensive 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
Available Escapes
Inside Heel Hook → Heel Hook
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Saddle Entry from Top → Saddle
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Rolling Back Take → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Transition to Truck → Truck
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Calf Slicer from Truck → Calf Slicer from Truck
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Outside Ashi Entry → Outside Ashi-Garami
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Kneebar Finish → Kneebar
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Transition to North-South → North-South
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 50%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent pulls knee toward chest and creates defensive ball to protect heel:
- Execute Saddle Entry from Top → Saddle (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Outside Ashi Entry → Outside Ashi-Garami (Probability: 55%)
If opponent attempts to roll away or spin to extract trapped leg:
- Execute Rolling Back Take → Back Control (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Transition to Truck → Truck (Probability: 60%)
If opponent turns belly down to defend heel exposure:
- Execute Transition to Truck → Truck (Probability: 75%)
- Execute Calf Slicer from Truck → Calf Slicer from Truck (Probability: 55%)
If opponent extends leg and attempts to create distance:
- Execute Inside Heel Hook → Heel Hook (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Kneebar Finish → Kneebar (Probability: 60%)
If opponent establishes upper body pressure and attempts to stack:
- Execute Granby Roll → Half Guard Recovery (Probability: 50%)
- Execute Outside Ashi Entry → Outside Ashi-Garami (Probability: 45%)
Escape and Survival Paths
Direct Heel Hook Path
Carni Bottom → Inside Heel Hook → Won by Submission
Saddle Transition Path
Carni Bottom → Saddle Entry from Top → Saddle → Inside Heel Hook → Won by Submission
Back Exposure Path
Carni Bottom → Rolling Back Take → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke → Won by Submission
Truck to Calf Slicer Path
Carni Bottom → Transition to Truck → Truck → Calf Slicer from Truck → Won by Submission
Kneebar Transition Path
Carni Bottom → Kneebar Finish → Kneebar → Won by Submission
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 35% | 40% | 30% |
| Intermediate | 55% | 60% | 50% |
| Advanced | 70% | 75% | 65% |
Average Time in Position: 15-45 seconds
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
The Carni position represents a critical evolution in leg entanglement theory, serving as a dynamic nexus point between multiple attack systems. What makes this position theoretically significant is its emphasis on opponent dilemma creation rather than isolated submission mechanics. When you establish Carni control, you’re not merely attacking one leg - you’re forcing your opponent to make an impossible choice between defending the immediate leg attack and preventing back exposure. The biomechanical principle underlying Carni effectiveness is the inverse relationship between heel defense and spinal defense. As the opponent pulls their knee toward their chest to protect the heel, they necessarily curl their spine and expose their back. Conversely, if they extend and flatten to prevent back exposure, they present the heel for attack. Understanding this fundamental dilemma allows you to approach Carni not as a static position but as a transitional control state where you systematically eliminate the opponent’s defensive options through positional chess rather than athletic scrambling.
Gordon Ryan
In competition, the Carni position has become one of my highest percentage setups for finishing opponents who are otherwise extremely difficult to submit. What I’ve found through hundreds of matches is that even world-class grapplers struggle with the back-or-legs dilemma that Carni creates. The key to making this position work at elite levels is speed and decisiveness in your transitions - you can’t give opponents time to problem-solve their way out. When I establish Carni, I’m already anticipating their defensive movement and following it immediately. If they roll, I’m on their back before they complete the rotation. If they defend the heel, I’m in the saddle before they recognize the transition. The position works because it exploits a fundamental weakness in human defensive psychology - people tend to commit fully to defending one attack, and that commitment opens the other. Against high-level opponents, I’ve found that the back take from Carni is often higher percentage than the heel hook itself, because they’re so focused on protecting their knee ligaments that they’ll give up position to do it.
Eddie Bravo
The Carni is basically the modern no-gi version of what we were trying to do with the Truck and Twister system years ago - create positions where the opponent is screwed no matter what they do. What’s beautiful about Carni is how it fits into the 10th Planet philosophy of aggressive submission hunting while maintaining positional advancement. We integrate Carni heavily into our lockdown and deep half systems because it’s a perfect destination from those bottom positions. One innovation we’ve developed is using the Carni as a reset position when other leg attacks fail - instead of conceding position when your heel hook gets defended, you use Carni positioning to maintain control and immediately threaten something else. The electric chair setup from Carni is particularly nasty because opponents aren’t expecting that submission threat from what looks like a standard leg entanglement. The key to Carni effectiveness is staying creative and not getting locked into the obvious attack patterns - sometimes the calf slicer or the back take is there before the heel hook, and you’ve got to have the awareness to recognize and capitalize on those opportunities in real time.