SITUATIONS: LOWER BODY PINS

Lower body pins—often called leg entanglements—are positions designed to control your opponent’s hips, legs, and movement while setting up submission threats like leg locks. These pins aren’t just about submissions; they serve as control hubs where you can off-balance, slow down explosive opponents, or force reactions. Just like side control or mount for the upper body, lower body pins give you positional dominance over your opponent’s base and rotation. Mastering these entanglements helps you safely enter leg lock attacks, maintain control during transitions, and learn how to pin opponents without relying on upper body grips.

BASIC LOWER BODY TERMINOLOGY

This two-part system helps you quickly understand what kind of control you have, what submissions are available,
and how much risk you're exposed to, ask yourself: Where are my legs? Where is theirs?

Where Your Legs Are: Inside vs. Outside
 This describes the placement of your own legs in relation to your opponent’s legs.

Inside – Both of your legs are threaded between their legs.
Outside – Your legs stay outside the attacking leg, with one leg hooking around.

Where Their Legs Are: Straight vs. Crossed
This describes the placement of their trapped leg relative to your centerline.
Straight – The foot of leg you are attacking (Primary Leg) remains on the same side of your hip as the leg you’re attacking.

Cross – The Primary Leg foot crosses your centerline and lands on your opposite hip.

STRAIGHT ASHI POSITIONS

Straight Ashi positions are built around trapping the opponent’s leg while keeping their foot on the same side of your body as the captured leg. These are generally safer control positions and are perfect for beginners learning leg locks, especially the straight ankle lock. Because the foot stays on the same side, these positions offer more stability and reduce exposure to counters, while still allowing for solid off-balancing and entries to more advanced positions. They’re ideal for setting traps, building control, or transitioning into higher-level entanglements.

OUTSIDE ASHI

Both of your legs are on the Outside of their hips. Common attacks are Outside Heel Hooks and Toe Holds.

STRAIGHT ASHI

The most common form of Ashi. You have one leg on the outside, one leg in between their legs. Common attacks are Ankle Locks. If your opponent is standing, it is Urumi Ashi or “Single Leg X”.

INSIDE ASHI

Often referred to as “Game Over” or a “Leg Reap”, it’s the beginning process of threatening a Heel Hook.

CROSS ASHI POSITIONS

Cross Ashi positions involve pulling your opponent’s foot across your centerline to the opposite side of their trapped leg. This creates a deeper level of control and opens up powerful rotational submissions like inside heel hooks and knee bars. Because the opponent’s knee is now stretched across your body, they lose the ability to turn freely or hide their heel. These positions are more advanced and carry slightly more risk, but offer the highest reward when it comes to finishes and transitions. Mastery of Cross Ashi is essential for building a complete leg lock system.

CROSS OUTSIDE ASHI (50/50)

A position where both players have the same options. Common attacks are Inside Heel Hooks. Best to use if you feel you have a better knowledge of your leg locks than your opponent (hence 50/50).

CROSS ASHI

Often referred to as a “Leg Drag”, this position is primarily used for exiting Leg Entanglements to go into Guard Passing, or sometimes stopping a Guard Pass and dropping back into Leg Entanglements.

CROSS INSIDE ASHI (411)

Considered the “Back Control of Lower Body Pins”, a position where you can hide your legs from counter attacks. The nickname 411 refers to the attackers legs triangling, looking like the number 4, and the opponent’s legs are straight, looking like an 11. Also called the Saddle and Honey Hole from various other gyms.

LOWER BODY TIPS

- Keep their hips on the ground
-Keep the Primary Leg's knee from slipping past your Knees (Knee Line)
- Control both legs (Primary and Secondary), keep them off ground
- Aim for both your legs and their legs to go inside

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