The Ankle Pick is a fundamental wrestling-based takedown that has become increasingly important in modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, particularly in no-gi competition. This technique exploits an opponent’s forward pressure and weight distribution by attacking their lead ankle while simultaneously controlling their upper body. The Ankle Pick is valued for its relatively low risk profile compared to other takedown attempts, as a failed execution typically results in a neutral standing position rather than a compromised bottom position.
The effectiveness of the Ankle Pick lies in its ability to create a sudden level change combined with ankle isolation. When executed properly, the opponent’s base is completely compromised as you pull their foot forward while driving their upper body backward, creating an unstoppable rotational collapse. This takedown works particularly well against opponents who maintain an upright posture or who are reluctant to engage in tie-ups. The technique requires precise timing, as the window of opportunity occurs when your opponent steps forward with their lead leg.
In the modern BJJ meta-game, the Ankle Pick serves as both a primary offensive takedown and an excellent setup for other attacks. When opponents defend the ankle grip, they often create opportunities for arm drags, snap downs, or transitions to the clinch. The ankle pick also integrates seamlessly with guard pulling strategies, as the same forward motion can be converted into a seated guard entry if the takedown is defended. This versatility makes it an essential tool for competitors who need reliable standing techniques that complement their ground game.
Starting Position: Standing Position Ending Position: Side Control Success Rates: Beginner 35%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 65%
Key Principles
- Create forward pressure from opponent through grip fighting and posture manipulation
- Execute explosive level change while maintaining upper body control
- Isolate and control the ankle with proper hand positioning (heel cup grip)
- Drive opponent’s upper body backward while pulling ankle forward to break base
- Maintain forward pressure through the finish to prevent opponent’s recovery
- Use opponent’s defensive reactions to set up follow-up attacks or guard pulls
- Keep your head positioned on the outside of opponent’s body for proper leverage
Prerequisites
- Establish collar tie or sleeve control on opponent’s upper body
- Opponent must be in upright standing posture with weight forward on lead leg
- Create angle to access opponent’s lead ankle (typically 45 degrees off centerline)
- Sufficient space to execute level change without being immediately countered
- Opponent’s lead foot must be planted and weighted (not in motion or retreating)
- Proper stance with your back leg loaded for explosive forward drive
- Upper body control established to prevent opponent from sprawling away
- Your head position must be outside opponent’s body for correct leverage angle
Execution Steps
- Establish collar tie control: Secure a collar tie on the back of opponent’s neck with your lead hand, keeping your elbow tight to prevent them from breaking the connection. Simultaneously control their wrist or sleeve with your other hand. Apply forward pressure to load their weight onto their lead leg while maintaining your own balanced stance with your hips low and back straight. (Timing: Initial setup phase - establish before any level change)
- Create angle and forward pressure: Using the collar tie, pull opponent’s head down and forward while circling to create a 45-degree angle to their lead leg. This angle is critical as it positions your body outside their centerline and makes their ankle accessible. Push their wrist away slightly to create space for your level change. The opponent should feel pressure to step forward onto their lead leg. (Timing: Setup phase - create opportunity for attack)
- Execute explosive level change: Drop your level by bending at the knees and hips while keeping your back straight and head up. Your drop should be explosive but controlled, bringing your chest down toward your lead knee. Maintain the collar tie throughout the level change to prevent opponent from backing away or sprawling. Your trailing leg should load like a spring, ready to drive forward. (Timing: Attack initiation - explosive but controlled drop)
- Secure ankle with heel cup grip: As you drop levels, reach your trail hand (the hand not controlling the collar tie) deep around opponent’s lead ankle. Your hand should cup the back of their heel with your fingers wrapping around the Achilles tendon area. Your thumb should point toward their toes. This grip provides maximum control and prevents the foot from sliding out. Keep your elbow tight to your body. (Timing: Simultaneous with level change completion)
- Drive and pull to break base: Simultaneously execute two opposing forces: pull the ankle forward and up toward you with your cupped hand while driving your shoulder and collar tie hand backward into opponent’s upper body. Your head should be pressed firmly against the outside of their hip or thigh for additional pressure. Drive off your back leg explosively, stepping forward as you execute these opposing forces to create rotational collapse. (Timing: Power phase - maximum explosive effort)
- Follow through to top position: As opponent falls backward, maintain control of the ankle and continue driving forward. Your head should slide from their hip to their chest as they fall. Once they hit the mat, immediately establish top position by driving your hips forward and sprawling your legs back. Release the ankle only when you’ve secured a dominant position (side control, mount preparation, or passing position). Keep your weight heavy on their upper body. (Timing: Finish phase - maintain pressure until position secured)
- Consolidate top position control: After the takedown completes, quickly assess opponent’s guard reaction. If they attempt to close guard, work immediately to establish a passing position. If they remain flat, advance to side control or mount. Maintain heavy shoulder pressure on their chest and begin working your preferred passing strategy. Your goal is to prevent any guard establishment and immediately begin advancing position. (Timing: Post-takedown consolidation - first 2-3 seconds critical)
Opponent Counters
- Opponent sprawls backward when they feel level change (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Maintain collar tie pressure and transition immediately to arm drag or snap down. If they sprawl hard, you can also transition to guard pull using your forward momentum.
- Opponent lifts ankle or steps back to avoid grip (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Follow their backward movement aggressively, switching to double leg entry or transitioning to clinch. Their backward movement creates opportunity for different attacks.
- Opponent posts hand on your head to prevent level change (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Use their posted hand as an opportunity to switch to arm drag or two-on-one control. Their posting creates vulnerability in their upper body positioning.
- Opponent circles away from your attacking angle (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: Follow with your footwork and re-establish angle. Their circling often creates openings for snap downs or can tire them if you maintain pressure.
- Opponent guillotines your neck when you level change (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Keep your head positioned outside their body line (not between their legs). If caught, immediately secure your own takedown and defend the guillotine using positional pressure.
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: Why is creating a 45-degree angle critical before executing the ankle pick? A: The 45-degree angle positions your head outside the opponent’s body line rather than directly in front of them, which accomplishes three critical objectives: it makes sprawl defense much more difficult as their hips can’t effectively pressure your head; it provides you with superior leverage for the pull-and-drive mechanics; and it prevents the opponent from easily securing a guillotine choke during your level change. Without this angle, you end up directly in front of the opponent where they can easily sprawl and control your head.
Q2: What is the proper hand position for gripping the ankle, and why is this grip superior to other options? A: The proper grip is a heel cup where your hand wraps around the back of the heel with fingers curling around the Achilles tendon area and thumb pointing toward the toes. This grip is superior because it provides maximum control over the foot’s movement—the opponent cannot simply pull their foot backward or rotate it free. Gripping the top of the foot or the toes allows easy extraction, while the heel cup locks the entire foot structure and prevents any escape direction.
Q3: How should you respond if your opponent begins to sprawl backward as you initiate your level change? A: If you detect the sprawl starting, you must immediately transition rather than forcing the ankle pick. Maintain your collar tie control and convert to either an arm drag (using their backward momentum to pull them past you), a snap down (accelerating their forward fall), or pull guard using your forward momentum. The key is recognizing the sprawl early—once their hips are fully back, the ankle pick is lost and forcing it will put you in bottom turtle position.
Q4: Why must the ankle pull and upper body drive occur simultaneously rather than sequentially? A: The simultaneous opposing forces create a rotational collapse of the opponent’s base that is nearly impossible to defend. Pulling the ankle forward loads their weight onto that leg while the backward drive on their upper body shifts their center of gravity behind their base. These forces together create a moment arm that breaks their structure. If done sequentially, the opponent can compensate by hopping on one leg or posting their hands—their body can adapt to single-direction force but cannot defend against properly timed opposing rotational forces.
Q5: What are the key indicators that your opponent’s weight is properly loaded on their lead leg for ankle pick opportunity? A: The optimal timing occurs when: their lead knee is slightly bent indicating weight bearing, their heel is firmly planted on the mat (not raised), their upper body posture shows slight forward lean from your collar tie pressure, and they are not actively moving their feet (stepping or circling). Additionally, if you can feel tension in their collar tie resistance rather than them backing away, this indicates forward weight distribution. The moment right after they complete a forward step is often ideal timing.
Q6: Why is maintaining the collar tie throughout the level change considered essential for ankle pick success? A: The collar tie serves multiple critical functions: it prevents the opponent from backing away as you drop your level (maintaining the distance needed for ankle access), it provides the upper body control point for the backward drive force that completes the takedown, it helps mask your level change intention through maintained upper body contact, and it prevents the opponent from achieving dominant head control or guillotine position during your attack. Without maintained collar tie, the opponent can simply step backward and your ankle grip becomes ineffective.
Safety Considerations
When practicing the Ankle Pick, both training partners must be aware of specific safety concerns. The person executing the technique should ensure controlled descent during level changes to avoid knee injuries—dropping too quickly or with poor form can damage your own knees. Always practice on appropriate mat surfaces as the finish involves driving the opponent backward to the mat. The person being taken down should learn proper breakfall technique and avoid posting their arms rigidly to catch their fall, as this can cause wrist, elbow, or shoulder injuries. When drilling at higher resistance levels, both partners should communicate about pace and intensity. The ankle grip should be firm but not torqued—avoid twisting the ankle joint as this can cause ligament damage. When defending, avoid trying to hop excessively on one leg as this can lead to ankle rolls or knee injuries if you lose balance. Start all training at low speed and gradually increase intensity only when proper mechanics are established. Competition-level drilling should only occur after both partners have developed proper technique and understand how to safely receive takedowns.
Position Integration
The Ankle Pick serves as a critical bridge technique in the modern BJJ positional hierarchy, connecting standing neutral positions to top control positions. From a strategic perspective, it represents one of the lowest-risk takedown options because failed attempts typically return both athletes to neutral standing rather than resulting in bottom position. This makes it ideal for competitors whose game plan emphasizes avoiding bottom positions. The technique integrates seamlessly with guard pulling strategies—the same forward motion and collar tie control used for ankle pick setup can instantly convert to seated guard entries or butterfly guard pulls if the takedown is defended. This dual-threat capability forces opponents to defend both possibilities simultaneously.
In the broader BJJ system, the Ankle Pick functions as both a primary attack and a setup for other techniques. When opponents defend the ankle grip by backing away, they create perfect opportunities for arm drags to the back. When they sprawl to defend, snap down opportunities emerge. This makes the ankle pick an excellent ‘forcing move’ that creates reactions you can exploit. The technique also works in reverse—many other standing attacks like arm drags and snap downs create ideal angles and weight distribution for ankle pick finishes. Advanced competitors develop entire standing systems built around ankle pick chains, using feints and setups to create the specific reactions they want. The position also integrates with modern leg lock games, as the top position achieved often provides direct access to leg entanglement positions if the opponent attempts to guard.
Expert Insights
- Danaher System: The Ankle Pick represents one of the most mechanically sound takedowns in grappling because it exploits fundamental principles of base and leverage with minimal risk. The technique’s effectiveness stems from creating opposing rotational forces—the forward pull on the ankle combined with backward pressure on the upper body creates a moment arm that collapses the opponent’s structure regardless of their strength. What makes this particularly elegant is that these forces work synergistically: the more you pull the ankle forward, the more their weight loads onto that leg, which simultaneously makes the backward pressure on their upper body more effective at breaking their balance. This is pure biomechanical efficiency. The critical technical detail most practitioners miss is the importance of the angle—you must position your head outside their body line, approximately 45 degrees off center. This angle accomplishes two objectives: it makes their sprawl defense geometrically inefficient because their hips cannot effectively pressure your head, and it creates the proper leverage angle for your pull-and-drive forces. When teaching this technique systematically, I emphasize that the ankle pick should never be viewed in isolation but rather as one component of a complete standing system. The ankle pick’s true value emerges when integrated with complementary attacks—arm drags, snap downs, and guard pulls all share similar setups and can flow seamlessly together based on opponent reactions.
- Gordon Ryan: In high-level competition, the ankle pick is one of my most reliable takedown options because it’s extremely difficult for opponents to counter if you have good timing and setup. The key difference between competitors who hit this move consistently and those who don’t is the setup—you can’t just shoot in on someone’s ankle and expect it to work. You need to create the reaction first through grip fighting and pressure. What I do is establish a strong collar tie and really load my opponent’s weight forward onto their lead leg through constant forward pressure and head manipulation. Once I feel their weight settle onto that front foot, that’s when I attack—the window is only open for a second. The level change has to be explosive but disguised. I keep my upper body relatively upright during the setup so they can’t see the level change coming, then I drop fast while maintaining that collar tie pressure so they can’t back away. Against high-level opponents, you often only get one attempt before they adjust their stance, so your first shot needs to be perfect. I also use the ankle pick as a setup move—even if they defend it, the way they defend usually opens up other attacks. If they sprawl hard, I’m immediately working for the guillotine or arm drag. If they try to back out, I can chain to a single leg or pull guard. In my competition strategy, I view the ankle pick as a forcing move that creates situations I can exploit, whether the takedown lands or not.
- Eddie Bravo: The ankle pick is one of those fundamental wrestling moves that translates perfectly to no-gi jiu-jitsu, and at 10th Planet we’ve adapted it in some creative ways. Traditional wrestling ankle picks are great, but we’ve found that combining them with our rubber guard system creates some really interesting opportunities. When someone defends the ankle pick by sprawling, that’s actually when things get fun—you can maintain that collar tie control and immediately transition to the Crackhead Control position from our system, especially if they sprawl hard and you can get underneath them. The setup is where most people mess up. You can’t be obvious about it. What I teach is to use constant grip fighting and movement to mask your level change—maybe threaten an arm drag or a snap down first to get them reacting, then hit the ankle pick when they’re focused on defending something else. Another thing we do different at 10th Planet is we really emphasize the follow-through to immediate leg attack positions. When you take someone down with the ankle pick, you’re often in perfect position to enter into leg entanglements if they try to guard. We’ve developed specific drills where you hit the ankle pick and immediately transition to either saddle position or outside ashi depending on how they react. The ankle pick isn’t just a takedown for us—it’s an entry point into our leg lock system. And if someone is really defending the ankle pick well, we use it to set up our flying submissions or guard pulls. The key is being unpredictable and having multiple options from the same setup.