Key Takeaways
- A No-Gi grappling instructional that focuses on getting that all-important bite on the hip for getting leg locks.
- Covers pathways in the straight Ashi, Cross Ashi, and 50/50, with a transition system between them.
- Features finishing mechanics of inside and outside heel hooks, ankle locks, and kneebars.
- BJJ World Expert Rating: 9 out of 10.
STANDING LEG ENTRIES ALEX WEST DVD HERE:
Leg locks are a staple these days, and getting them against standing opponents is one of the best ways to get to a submission finish. Well, at least on paper. These days, getting to a leg lock position is extremely difficult, and finishing from one is even harder.
That is why instructionals such as the Standing Leg Entries Alex West DVD that provide in-depth analysis of the optimal ways to get to a leg locking position are much more important than those sharing different ways to finish. Alex knows what he’s talking about and really does provide a ‘chet code’ system for anyone looking to master BJJ leg locks.
‘Biting’ Leg Lock Setups
What’s the key thing to focus on when hunting for leg locks in modern BJJ? The heel hook used to be the boogey submission when leg locks first took over the BJJ world, but that has changed over the past decade or so.
These days, nobody is afraid of leg locks, as most of the people competing and training have been working on them from day one. That means that to get a heel hook (or any other leg lock submission, for that matter), you need to keep the other person in a position that allows it. The old “position before submission” mantra again, only without the points.
Danaher’s Ashi leg entanglement system, although evolved and taken into many different directions, is still the best way to ensure you can trap someone when hunting for leg locks. However, the key element of the whole Ashi Garami system still seems to evade most people that go for leg locks – hip control.
The all-important thing to focus on in leg lock hunting is using your legs to get a big, chunky bite of the other person’s hip. “Biting” the hip is crucial in getting the control that is absolutely crucial for eventually wrapping up with a leg lock finish. Getting to this bite is exactly what is covered in the Standing Leg Entries Alex West DVD.
Why Does Alex West Look Familiar?
Alex West might not be too popular by name (so far), but he definitely has a face you’ve seen in grappling, but probably struggle placing. That’s common with the folks who are BJJ Fanatics Ukes, a role that Alex has had for years. To answer the question about familiarity, you probably know him from this particular video.
All jokes aside, Alex is a very proficient grappler and par to fh te coaching staff at Precision Jiu-Jitsu, along with Shanw Melanson. Their Nashua gym is No-Gi only and fosters a submission-only philosophy, perfect for modern-day professional Jiu-Jitsu.
Alex himself has been active on the competitive grappling scene, kneebaring two high calibre opponents in the Ironaman Grappling Championship so far. His leg lock hunting game is on a whole different level, one which he shares in his Standing Leg Entries Alex West DVD.
Detailed Standing Leg Entries Alex West DVD Review
The Standing Leg Entries Alex West DVD is a short and precise instructional, lasing under two hours but covering just about everything you need to become successful leg lock hunter in modern Jiu-Jitsu:
Part 1 – Single Ashi
Just a heads up before we begin: the Standing Leg Entries Alex West DVD does cover legal leg locks, but that doesn’t mean every lock is allowed at every level, so be sure to check the rules.
That said, Alex really does deliver great material on the subject of getting to positions that allow you to set up and finish different leg locks. First up is the single Ashi, probably more familiar to those who use Danaher’s systematization as the straight Ashi Garami.
Off balancing is first, just as it should be, with several different tactics offered by West, all fo them very easy to implement into an existing game. He covers different ways to capitalize off that Kuzushi using grip fighting, mostly through 2-on-1 setusp (russian tie and arm drag).
A set of useful drills, concluding inversions, features towards the end of the first volume, before Alex delivers some context by demonstrating a couple of Reverse De la Riva guard spinning entries into Single Ashi.
Part 2 – Cross Ashi
The second part of the instructional is very short but does offer lots of value in terms of the subject it covers – getting to the cross Ashi Garami. Since Alex already covered initial entanglements using the Single Ashi, he just built on it by offering Cross Ashi pathways from there.
The second portion of the Alex West Leg Entries DVD offers a few very useful direct entries to the Cross Ashi as well, with the “Oliver Twist’ becoming an instant favourite of mine after seeing Alex demonstrate it.
Part 3 – 50/50
Everyone’s favourite toy (when they can’t get to proper Ashi) is attacking distal leg locks, as Lachlan dubbed them, using the 50/50, particularly that backside variation. That is exactly what Alex focuses on in this portion of the Standing Leg Entries Alex West DVD.
The Single Ashi route is up first, as West demonstrates how to use everything he has delivered so far for a standing 50/50 entry. A kiss of the dragon inside spin features here, with West offering inopvation in the gripos that make the entry possible.
Some reaping appears toward the end of the insturctional, which once again raises the need for calling legality to the attention of those under brown belt. That said, the real and false reap options Alex uses definitely complement the spinning entries already covered, tying everything in a neat little system.
Part 4 – Finsihing Heel Hooks
The final part of this Standing Leg Entries Alex West DVD is all about finishing leg locks, mostly of the heel hook variety. With the entries provided in the first three volumes, Alex provides the cherry on top by going over inside and outside heel hooks, using all the positions covered so far.
He wraps things up going fully legal in the final couple of chapters, paying attention to the ankle lock and kneebar to ensure everyone can use his system regardless of belt rank or competition rules.
While the leg locks game has evolved substantially over the years, the ruelsets governing them have only moved a little bit in the same direction. The legality of leg locks is still an issue, given that IBJFJ and the UAEJJF are the biggest non-professional tournament promotions that offer competition platforms to people of all ranks and ages.
In all fairness, the rules have changed regarding heel hooks and reaping, with both now allowed for brown and black belt competitors in No-Gi. It is way better than before, but still not enough, and, in my opinion, overly restrictive.
That said, what you need to be aware of is what ruleset you’re training for. Even if you’re not competing at all, people in your gym might be preparing for a specific ruleset, so it is best to figure out what that is and understand what leg locks are legal based on that.
My stance is still that all leg locks should be legal at all levels and in both Gi and No-Gi, and I was glad to see that Alex West does not restrict himself just to provide more options for lower belts in the current climate. The Legally Locked Alex West DVD offers every legal leg lock you can do these days and does so in a very effective way.
DOWNLOAD: STANDING LEG ENTRIES ALEX WEST DVD
Legally Locked
Now that you understand where the grey limit of legal leg locks is, it is just a matter of drilling. Take the stuff offered to you in the Standing Leg Entries Alex West DVD, spend a couple of months working on nothing but them, and youR leg lock game is going to skyrocket. The best part is that you don’t need to spend a week going through the DVD – you can watch the entire instructional in a single sitting.
Leg Locks 101: A Guide to Positions, Submissions, Dangers, And Rules
