Reversing the entanglement to Outside Ashi represents one of the most critical defensive counters in modern leg lock warfare. When caught in Leg Knot Bottom, the practitioner faces immediate submission threats while simultaneously having unique opportunities to invert the positional hierarchy. This technique capitalizes on the inherent instability of the Leg Knot configuration, where neither player has achieved complete dominance, to execute a systematic reversal that transforms defensive crisis into offensive opportunity.
The reversal mechanics rely on exploiting the transitional nature of Leg Knot position. By controlling the opponent’s attacking leg while simultaneously clearing your own trapped leg through precise hip rotation, you create the angle necessary to establish Outside Ashi-Garami. This position grants superior attacking capability with access to heel hooks, ankle locks, and kneebar entries while neutralizing the opponent’s previous offensive momentum.
Strategic timing is paramount for this technique. The optimal window occurs when the opponent commits weight forward for a submission attempt or during their transition between leg lock setups. Attempting the reversal while the opponent maintains neutral balance significantly reduces success probability. Advanced practitioners recognize micro-transitions in the opponent’s weight distribution and capitalize on these brief windows to execute the reversal with maximum efficiency.
From Position: Leg Knot (Bottom) Success Rate: 58%
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | Outside Ashi-Garami | 65% |
| Failure | Leg Knot | 25% |
| Counter | Saddle | 10% |
Attacker vs Defender
| Attacker | Defender | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Execute technique | Prevent or counter |
| Key Principles | Control the opponent’s far leg before initiating any reversa… | Deny the far leg grip by keeping your legs tight and your fa… |
| Options | 6 execution steps | 4 defensive options |
Playing as Attacker
Key Principles
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Control the opponent’s far leg before initiating any reversal movement to prevent their counter-rotation
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Use hip rotation rather than leg strength to clear entanglement and create reversal angle
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Maintain constant connection throughout the reversal to prevent opponent from disengaging to neutral
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Time the reversal during opponent’s weight shift or submission commitment for maximum success
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Establish outside control on opponent’s leg before completing the transition to secure attacking position
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Keep your heel protected throughout the reversal sequence to prevent late submission attempts
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Commit fully once initiated as half-attempts create worse positions than maintaining defensive Leg Knot
Execution Steps
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Secure far leg control: While defending in Leg Knot Bottom, reach across and grip opponent’s far leg at the knee or lower th…
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Establish hip angle: Turn your hips toward the opponent while keeping your heel protected by pointing toes toward their h…
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Clear trapped leg: Using the angle created, pump your knee toward your chest while rotating hips further into opponent…
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Hip switch rotation: Execute a decisive hip switch that rotates your body 180 degrees, bringing your hips underneath oppo…
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Establish outside hook: As rotation completes, secure your outside leg hook behind opponent’s knee, triangling if possible. …
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Consolidate attacking position: Secure grips on opponent’s foot and ankle, controlling heel exposure. Pinch knees together to preven…
Common Mistakes
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Attempting reversal without controlling opponent’s far leg
- Consequence: Opponent easily counter-rotates and maintains or improves their attacking position, often transitioning to Saddle
- Correction: Always establish grip on far leg before initiating any reversal movement; this grip is the foundation of the entire technique
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Exposing heel during leg extraction phase
- Consequence: Opponent capitalizes with heel hook finish during your reversal attempt, ending the exchange in their favor
- Correction: Keep toes pointed toward opponent’s hip throughout extraction; use limp leg mechanics rather than pulling straight back
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Half-committing to the rotation and stopping midway
- Consequence: Creates scramble position where you have no established guard and opponent can advance to dominant position
- Correction: Once initiated, commit fully to completing the rotation; incomplete reversals are worse than staying in defensive position
Playing as Defender
Key Principles
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Deny the far leg grip by keeping your legs tight and your far knee away from the bottom player’s reaching hand
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Maintain forward hip pressure into the entanglement to prevent the bottom player from creating the rotation angle needed for the reversal
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Monitor the bottom player’s hip orientation constantly, as turning onto their side is the first preparatory step for the reversal
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Keep the bottom player flat on their back through chest pressure and leg crossing tension, which eliminates the hip mobility they need
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React to grip attempts immediately rather than waiting for the full reversal sequence to develop, as early intervention is far more effective than late defense
Recognition Cues
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Bottom player reaches across your body with their far hand attempting to grip your far knee or lower thigh, indicating they are establishing the primary reversal grip
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Bottom player turns onto their side facing you and angles their hips approximately 45 degrees, creating the rotation platform needed for the hip switch
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Bottom player begins pumping their trapped knee toward their chest with limp leg mechanics rather than pulling explosively, signaling systematic leg extraction rather than panic escape
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Bottom player’s free leg disengages from defensive framing against your hip and repositions to assist with rotation, indicating commitment to the reversal rather than continued passive defense
Defensive Options
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Widen base and post hands to block rotation - When: When you detect the bottom player establishing hip angle and reaching for your far leg, before they have secured the grip
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Drive forward and stack to collapse rotation angle - When: When the bottom player has turned onto their side and begun the hip switch but has not yet completed the 180-degree rotation
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Counter-rotate and advance to Saddle - When: When the bottom player has partially cleared their trapped leg and the standard Leg Knot configuration is compromised
Position Integration
The reversal to Outside Ashi fits within the broader defensive leg lock system as the primary offensive counter from Leg Knot Bottom. It represents the transition point where defensive survival transforms into attacking initiative. Once established in Outside Ashi-Garami, you gain access to the full outside heel hook finishing sequence, ankle lock attacks, and kneebar entries. This technique chains naturally with 50-50 entries when the Outside Ashi angle is blocked, and integrates with Single Leg X as a follow-up if opponent disengages. Understanding this reversal is essential for any practitioner engaging in leg lock exchanges, as it provides the pathway from defensive crisis to offensive opportunity that defines high-level leg entanglement warfare.