Leg Locks in Jiu Jitsu

There are five common leg locks taught in Shorinji Kan Jiu Jitsu (with a sixth one creeping in now and then). Each is aimed at applying pressure to the legs in order to lock the ankle, knee, hip, or spine (or a combination of the above).

Lock 1

For demonstration purposes, this lock is normally initiated by the uke kicking the tori mae geri. Tori moves inside the kick and throws o uchi gari.

Once the uke has fallen, the tori applys a figure four lock with his arms to the leg the uke kicked with - applying pressure onto the knee cap. To complete the lock, the tori should use his nearest foot to apply pressure on the uke's free leg (which should be lying on the floor). The pressure should be applied with the heel of the foot to a point a few inches below the knee on the inside of the leg - on the femoral artery.

The lock is specifically the figure four lock on the uke's kicking leg. The application of pressure on the other leg is simply to stop the uke being able to kick the tori with that leg.

Lock 2

The second leg lock may be done from the same entry into leg lock 1, or directly from leg lock 1.

With the uke on the floor, and one leg already held, tori uses his nearest foot to flick the uke's free leg into the air in order to catch it with the nearest arm. Tori should aim to have one leg under each arm.

The tori should roll the uke up onto his shoulders and lean back applying pressure to the uke's Achilles tendons with the bony part of each wrist. The tori can grab their own lapels to provide extra support for this. The lock should effectively lock the spine and cause at least a little discomfort on the Achilles tendons.

Lock 3

During a demonstration, the third leg lock is entered into in one of two ways.

The first is direcctly from leg lock 2. The tori widens his stance and twists the uke's legs one underneath the other (bending the lower one at the knee as he turns) in order to twist the uke onto his front.

The alternative entry is from uke kicking mawashi geri at tori. Tori steps inside and gathers the kick one arm under the leg, one arm over. The tori then uses the upper arm to bend the uk'es knee, and the lower arm to rotate the lower leg across in front of the uke. This should cause the uke to turn outwards and fall forwards in the direction they approached from.

Each method should now have placed the uke face down with the feet next to the tori. Tori folds one of uke's legs into the back of his other leg's knee. Tori should aim to press the (bony) ankle deep into the back of the knee. Tori should also position himself so that he is in a kneeling position - the knee nearest the folded leg is up and the knee nearest the other leg down.

Tori should take a a grip on the shin of the uke's unfolded leg and slowly bend this leg over to put the heel of the foot against the uke's thigh. The lock should be applied slowly and should more pressure be required, the tori can lean their upper body into the stretch of the leg. The full application of the lock would effectively loosen the knee cap and associated tendons.

A variation on this lock uses one of tori's ankles in the back of the knee as this can be quicker to get into, but then uke is left with a free leg.

Lock 4

The fourth lock may be entered directly from lock 3, or from the same mawashi geri defence as discussed previously.

With uke face down and tori by the uke's feet, the tori takes hold of each foot with a bar grip - i.e. the thumb on the top of the foot, and the fingers on the sole of the foot. This is often visualised as "like riding a motorcycle". With one knee up in a knelt position (as per lock 3), tori leans forwards and pushes the uke's feet out to the sides and down towards the uke's hips.

Again this is very powerful and should be applied slowly - knees and hips do not normally rotate too well in these directions. Some particularly flexible people may actually be able to bend their legs all of the way down in this position. Whilst not applying any pain, they are always trapped as their muscles cannot push their legs back into place with tori leaning into the lock.

Lock 5

The fifth lock may be entered in the same mawashi geri defence as earlier, or directly from the previous leg lock.

Uke should be face down, and tori knelt at the uke's feet. Tori kneels over one of uke's legs at the back of the knee, pinning the leg to the floor. If this is moving from the previous leg lock, the knee that was up by convention is the knee used to pin uke's leg. The back of the knee should be beneath the tori's ankle, with the toes and knee of tori's leg touching either side of uke's leg. Tori now shuffles his leg back slightly onto the top of uke's calf. This should effectively immboilise uke's leg - without this, uke could attack tori with his heel.

Next tori places the heel of his other foot in the back of uke's other knee, and gripping the bottom of the shin bends uke's leg up towards his thigh. Tori should aim to get his upper body against the shin as well to provide additional strength and control to the lock.

If uke and tori are appropriately sized, tori can also grap the collar of uke's gi with his free hand to help provide additional pressure for the lock. If the collar is to far, the belt (obi) can often help, but is far less effective than the jacket.

Last Modified: