The Counter Leg Attack from Inside Sankaku Bottom represents one of the most sophisticated defensive-offensive transitions in modern leg lock systems. When trapped in the dangerous Inside Sankaku (Honey Hole) position, rather than purely defending the heel hook threat, the bottom player can neutralize the positional disadvantage by entering their own leg entanglement on the opponent’s free leg. This strategy transforms a defensive situation into a mutual exchange where both practitioners have submission threats, often resulting in a 50-50 position or creating enough chaos to facilitate escape.
The technique requires precise timing and understanding of when the opponent’s focus shifts to the submission finish, creating windows where their free leg becomes accessible. By threading your legs around their non-entangled leg while simultaneously protecting your trapped heel, you create a dilemma: they must address your counter-attack or risk having their own leg compromised. This forces them to choose between abandoning their superior position or engaging in mutual leg lock exchanges where positional advantage is neutralized.
Strategically, the Counter Leg Attack should be viewed as a last-resort option when standard escapes have failed or when you possess superior leg lock finishing ability compared to your opponent. The transition to 50-50 Guard equalizes the position, while successful entry to your own Ashi Garami can actually reverse the positional hierarchy. Understanding the timing windows, proper leg threading mechanics, and heel protection throughout the counter-attack sequence is essential for success.
From Position: Inside Sankaku (Bottom) Success Rate: 58%
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | 50-50 Guard | 45% |
| Success | Ashi Garami | 20% |
| Failure | Inside Sankaku | 25% |
| Counter | Saddle | 10% |
Attacker vs Defender
| Attacker | Defender | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Execute technique | Prevent or counter |
| Key Principles | Maintain heel protection on your trapped leg throughout the … | Keep your free leg retracted and close to your body rather t… |
| Options | 6 execution steps | 4 defensive options |
Playing as Attacker
Key Principles
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Maintain heel protection on your trapped leg throughout the entire counter-attack sequence to prevent submission during transition
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Target the opponent’s free leg that is not part of their entanglement structure as it has minimal defensive resources
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Time the counter-attack when opponent shifts focus to submission grips rather than positional maintenance
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Use your free leg actively to hook, control, and enter the opponent’s leg structure while your trapped leg remains defensive
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Accept the transition to 50-50 as a successful outcome since it neutralizes their positional advantage
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Maintain upper body posture to facilitate leg threading rather than collapsing flat which limits mobility
Execution Steps
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Protect trapped heel: Hide your heel by pressing it tightly against your own hip, turning toes inward and knee outward. Us…
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Identify free leg target: Locate opponent’s leg that is not part of the figure-four entanglement structure. This is typically …
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Create hip angle: Shift your hips toward the opponent’s free leg to create the angle necessary for entry. Use your fre…
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Thread free leg: Insert your free leg between opponent’s legs, threading it around their free leg to begin your own e…
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Establish leg configuration: Cross your trapped leg over your free leg to complete your own figure-four configuration around oppo…
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Secure 50-50 or Ashi: Complete the transition by either accepting 50-50 Guard position where both practitioners have equal…
Common Mistakes
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Abandoning heel protection to focus on counter-attack entry
- Consequence: Opponent finishes inside heel hook while you attempt counter, resulting in serious knee injury
- Correction: Maintain heel hidden against hip throughout entire sequence - the counter-attack must work around your defensive posture, not replace it
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Attempting counter-attack when opponent has already secured submission grips
- Consequence: Catastrophic injury as heel hook is applied during your movement which adds rotational force to the submission
- Correction: Only attempt counter-attack when your heel is protected and they are still working to establish grips - tap if submission is locked
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Threading leg on wrong side creating cross-body entanglement
- Consequence: Poor mechanical position that fails to threaten opponent’s leg and exposes your back
- Correction: Thread your free leg to create inside hook on opponent’s free leg, keeping the entanglement on same side as your body
Playing as Defender
Key Principles
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Keep your free leg retracted and close to your body rather than extended or posted where it becomes accessible for counter-entanglement
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Maintain heavy hip pressure throughout to limit opponent’s ability to create the angle needed for leg threading
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Recognize early signs of counter-attack (opponent’s hip rotation, free leg movement) and address before thread completes
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Prioritize finishing the heel hook quickly when you have grips rather than allowing prolonged exchanges that create counter windows
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Use your free leg actively as a wedge or block against opponent’s threading attempts rather than leaving it passive
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Control the pace of the exchange - a patient, systematic approach to the heel hook leaves fewer openings than rushed grip hunting
Recognition Cues
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Opponent’s hips begin rotating toward your free leg side rather than escaping away from the entanglement, indicating they are creating angle for counter-entry
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Opponent’s free leg becomes active and starts probing toward your legs rather than pushing against your hip for standard escape
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Opponent stops defending the heel hook with their hands and redirects hand activity toward controlling your lower body or legs
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You feel opponent’s instep or shin beginning to hook behind your free leg’s knee or calf
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Opponent maintains composure and stops attempting standard escapes, suggesting they are setting up a more calculated counter-attack response
Defensive Options
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Retract free leg and drive knee toward your own chest to eliminate threading angle - When: As soon as you feel opponent’s free leg probing toward your non-entangled leg or see their hips rotating toward it
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Accelerate heel hook finish to force a tap before counter-entanglement completes - When: When you already have strong heel grips and opponent is in early stages of counter-entry rather than already having an established hook
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Transition to Saddle by capturing opponent’s threading leg to trap both their legs - When: When opponent has already begun threading their free leg and you can redirect it into a double leg entanglement rather than fighting the thread
Position Integration
The Counter Leg Attack represents the final defensive option in the Inside Sankaku escape hierarchy. Standard escapes (hip escape, granby roll, technical standup) should be attempted first as they carry lower risk. When those fail or when opponent’s control is too tight for traditional escapes, the counter-attack provides an offensive-defensive alternative that changes the positional dynamic entirely. Success leads to 50-50 Guard (mutual entanglement where neither has advantage) or your own Ashi Garami (positional reversal). This technique integrates with the broader leg lock game as an equalizer - when caught in disadvantaged position, attacking opponent’s legs creates chaos that neutralizes their control. Understanding when to apply standard escapes versus counter-attack is a critical decision point in modern leg lock defense. The technique also connects to back take strategies, as some practitioners use the counter-entry motion to transition behind opponent rather than into leg entanglement.