Danaher Leg Lock System is a advanced difficulty Submission Chain system. Integrates 4 components.
System ID: System Type: Submission Chain Difficulty Level: Advanced
What is Danaher Leg Lock System?
The Danaher Leg Lock System represents a paradigmatic shift in modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, transforming leg attacks from opportunistic submissions into a comprehensive positional hierarchy. Developed by John Danaher and perfected by his students at the Renzo Gracie Academy, this system treats leg entanglements as positions rather than submissions, establishing control hierarchies, transition pathways, and finishing mechanics that mirror traditional upper body systems.
At its core, the system is built upon the ashi-garami family of positions—a spectrum of leg entanglements ranging from outside ashi-garami (least control) to inside sankaku (maximum control). Each position offers distinct control advantages, submission options, and transition pathways. The revolutionary aspect lies in treating these positions with the same systematic rigor as mount or back control, establishing clear objectives for control maintenance, position advancement, and systematic breaking before finishing.
The system’s effectiveness stems from its emphasis on mechanical hierarchy over opportunism. Rather than attempting submissions from weak positions, practitioners learn to recognize positional deficiencies, advance through the hierarchy systematically, and only commit to finishing attempts from positions of overwhelming control. This approach has proven devastatingly effective in competition, with Danaher’s students achieving unprecedented success through leg locks at the highest levels of no-gi grappling.
Core Principles
- Position Before Submission - Establish dominant leg entanglement before attempting finishes
- Control Hierarchy - Recognize and advance through ashi-garami positional spectrum
- Systematic Breaking - Use structured approach to compromise defensive structures
- Mechanical Advantage - Maximize leverage through proper body positioning and alignment
- Entry Systems - Establish leg entanglements through systematic guard passing and transitions
- Defensive Nullification - Remove opponent’s escape options through positional dominance
- Bite Point Optimization - Achieve ideal finishing position before applying force
Key Components
Ashi-Garami Positional Hierarchy (Establish clear positional objectives and advancement pathways in leg entanglements) The foundation of the system is the classification of leg entanglements into a spectrum from outside ashi-garami (50-50), through standard ashi-garami, to inside ashi-garami (4-11 position), saddle/honey hole position, and finally inside sankaku. Each position offers progressively greater control and finishing potential. Understanding this hierarchy allows practitioners to recognize when they have sufficient control to finish versus when they must advance position first.
Entry and Passing Integration (Create reliable pathways from common positions to leg entanglement control) Systematic entries to leg entanglements are established through guard passing sequences, X-guard transitions, and seated guard engagements. The system teaches specific pathways from common positions like single leg X-guard, de la riva guard, and headquarters position into various ashi-garami configurations. This integration ensures practitioners can reliably access leg entanglements rather than waiting for opportunistic moments.
Breaking Mechanics (Establish reliable methods for compromising defensive structures and achieving finishing positions) The systematic approach to compromising defensive leg positioning involves specific sequences for removing inside heel exposure defense, straightening the leg, clearing the knee line, and achieving the ideal bite point for submission. These mechanics apply across all heel hook, toe hold, and knee attack variations, providing a unified framework for finishing from any ashi-garami position. The breaking system emphasizes gradual, systematic pressure over explosive finishing attempts.
Transition Pathways (Enable dynamic position advancement and attack angle variation within leg entanglements) The system includes comprehensive transition sequences between different ashi-garami positions, allowing practitioners to advance the hierarchy when opponents defend or to switch attack angles when direct finishing is blocked. Key transitions include outside ashi to standard ashi, standard ashi to inside ashi, cross ashi entries, and the critical advancement to saddle position. Understanding these pathways prevents stagnation and enables systematic position improvement.
Implementation Sequence
- Conceptual Foundation: Understand the positional hierarchy of ashi-garami variations and the fundamental principle of position-before-submission in leg entanglements Key points:
- Study the spectrum from outside ashi to inside sankaku
- Recognize control indicators for each position
- Understand mechanical advantages of each configuration
- Learn to assess position quality before attempting submissions
- Entry Development: Develop reliable entries to standard ashi-garami from common guard positions and passing sequences Key points:
- Master single leg X to ashi-garami transition
- Develop seated guard pull to ashi-garami entry
- Learn leg weave pass counters into ashi positions
- Practice headquarters position entries to outside ashi
- Control Establishment: Learn to establish and maintain control in standard ashi-garami position, focusing on inside heel exposure prevention and hip control Key points:
- Perfect near leg trap with figure-four or straight configuration
- Establish far leg control with cross-body positioning
- Maintain hip-to-hip connection to prevent escape
- Control opponent’s upper body to limit defensive frames
- Breaking Sequences: Develop systematic breaking mechanics for straightening the leg, clearing the knee line, and achieving heel hook bite point Key points:
- Learn inside heel exposure clearance techniques
- Practice systematic leg extension under control
- Master knee line clearance for optimal finishing angle
- Develop sensitivity for recognizing ideal bite point achievement
- Hierarchical Advancement: Master transitions between ashi-garami positions to advance control hierarchy when opponents defend effectively Key points:
- Learn outside ashi to standard ashi advancement
- Practice standard ashi to inside ashi transition
- Master entry to saddle/honey hole position
- Develop cross ashi-garami as alternative attack angle
- Finishing Mechanics: Perfect submission finishes from dominant positions with emphasis on control maintenance during finish Key points:
- Master inside heel hook from saddle position
- Develop outside heel hook from standard ashi
- Learn toe hold variations from all ashi positions
- Practice straight ankle lock as position-maintenance tool
- Defensive Integration: Understand defensive priorities and escape sequences to pressure-test the system and recognize vulnerabilities Key points:
- Learn inside heel exposure defense as primary priority
- Practice hip escape fundamentals from ashi positions
- Understand safe rolling directions for each configuration
- Develop sensitivity for recognizing submission danger levels
- Systematic Competition Application: Integrate complete system into live training and competition with strategic decision-making frameworks Key points:
- Develop game plans centered on leg entanglement entries
- Practice position recognition and advancement under resistance
- Build submission attempt timing based on position quality
- Integrate with upper body attacks for complete offensive system
How to Measure Your Progress
Entry Success Rate: Measure ability to reliably establish ashi-garami positions from common starting points Proficiency indicators:
- Can enter standard ashi-garami from single leg X-guard 70%+ of attempts
- Successfully transitions from seated guard to leg entanglement against resistance
- Recognizes and capitalizes on ashi-garami opportunities during guard passing sequences
- Establishes leg entanglement control within 30 seconds of engagement in training
Positional Hierarchy Recognition: Ability to accurately assess position quality and make appropriate advancement decisions Proficiency indicators:
- Correctly identifies current ashi-garami position under pressure
- Recognizes when control is insufficient for finishing attempt
- Chooses appropriate transition to advance position hierarchy
- Understands control differences between outside/standard/inside ashi configurations
Breaking Mechanics Precision: Technical execution of systematic leg straightening and bite point achievement Proficiency indicators:
- Successfully clears inside heel exposure defense without losing position
- Achieves full leg extension while maintaining ashi-garami control
- Recognizes optimal bite point before applying finishing pressure
- Maintains control during breaking sequences without creating escape opportunities
Submission Finish Rate from Position: Success rate of submission attempts when proper position has been established Proficiency indicators:
- 70%+ finish rate from saddle/honey hole position in training
- 50%+ finish rate from standard inside ashi-garami
- Rarely loses position during finishing attempts
- Can achieve tap with controlled, progressive pressure rather than explosive force
Defensive Competency: Understanding and application of proper defensive priorities in leg entanglements Proficiency indicators:
- Maintains inside heel exposure defense automatically under pressure
- Recognizes dangerous positions and taps appropriately to avoid injury
- Successfully escapes from outside ashi and 50-50 positions regularly
- Understands safe rolling directions for each ashi-garami configuration
Expert Insights
- John Danaher: The leg lock system represents the application of fundamental jiu-jitsu principles to a previously neglected area of the body. For decades, leg locks were treated as opportunistic attacks rather than positional systems, which fundamentally limited their effectiveness. By recognizing that leg entanglements could be classified into hierarchies just like upper body positions, we created a framework where position advancement, control maintenance, and systematic breaking replaced the previous emphasis on explosive finishing attempts. The key insight is that the legs can be controlled with the same systematic rigor as the upper body, creating positions from which submissions become inevitable rather than hopeful. When you establish inside ashi-garami with proper control, clear the inside heel exposure, straighten the leg, and achieve the bite point, the heel hook becomes a mechanical certainty rather than a gamble. This systematic approach, combined with comprehensive defensive training to ensure safety, has transformed leg attacks from a minor aspect of grappling into a complete positional system capable of dominating the highest levels of competition.
- Gordon Ryan: The Danaher leg lock system gave me the framework to completely dominate the no-gi competition scene because it provided systematic answers to every defensive reaction. When opponents would defend the heel hook by hiding the inside heel, I had clear pathways to advance position or switch to toe holds. When they’d try to escape, the system taught me exactly how to maintain control and shut down their movement. What makes this system so effective in competition is that it forces opponents into no-win situations - they can defend the submission but lose position, or maintain position but expose themselves to finishes. I’ve won countless matches by simply establishing ashi-garami early and systematically improving my position until the finish became unavoidable. The hierarchy aspect is crucial because it tells you exactly when you have enough control to finish versus when you need to keep advancing. Against the best guys in the world, you can’t just grab a leg and hope - you need systematic position improvement, which this system provides better than any other approach to leg locks.
- Eddie Bravo: While the Danaher system is incredibly comprehensive and systematic, I’ve found ways to integrate leg lock entries from 10th Planet positions that create unique attacking opportunities. From lockdown, from rubber guard transitions, even from the truck position, you can access ashi-garami configurations that opponents don’t expect because they’re coming from unconventional entries. The beauty of understanding the systematic approach is that once you know the positional hierarchy and control requirements, you can create your own pathways to get there. I’ve been working on transitions from calf slicer positions to ashi-garami, from twister setups to saddle entries, looking for those creative pathways that catch people off guard. The systematic breaking mechanics and finishing principles absolutely apply, but the entries can be way more creative than traditional approaches. What’s really changed the game is combining the systematic leg attack approach with 10th Planet’s already strong lower body attack emphasis - you get the best of both worlds, creative entries from unique positions combined with technical finishing that actually works at the highest levels.