At the moment, leg locks are all the jazz in Jiu-Jitsu. As much as they were shunned before, now they are everywhere. Even IBJJF oriented competition teams are embracing some of them so that they even the playing field. They’re as effective, if not more, like any other submission in grappling martial arts. The problem is that because they were ignored for so long, very few people have a complete understanding of them. So, what do you do if your instructor is not a leg lock savvy person, but you really need to learn them in order not to be left behind the opposition? Well, you’re going to look to pick up a few DVDs on the subject and make sure you’re learning from the best. In those terms, nothing but the very best leg lock DVD instructionals are going to do the trick!
The reason there’s a big gap in the leg locking department is that of the witch hunt people led against them. Helio Gracie was once challenged to a 10 vs 10 match by Oswaldo Fadda. Fadda’s students won the challenge by submitting 9 out of 10 of the Gracie representatives via leg locks. many people think that he is what spurred the leg lock hatred. They were characterized as a cowardly move, only done by people who had no idea how to pass the guard. The result of this behavior is a deep hole in the knowledge of the mechanics of a very effective submission system. It was only after John Danaher figured it out, that everyone started looking for the best leg lock DVD instructionals in order to catch. We offer you a list of the best among the best to get your leg lock game up to speed.
What Is The Best Leg Lock DVD Instructional?
If you ask anyone who is part of the BJJ scene who the best leg lockers are, the answer is always going to be the same. The best in the business are the Danaher Death Squad. Since the Danaher deaths squad re-introduced leg locks in a conceptual manner, everyone has been trying to copy them. So far, only a few have gotten close. Luckily some of those that have managed to obtain certain success with leg locks have come out with DVD releases of their own. So, until any one of the Danaher Death Squad decides to put something on film, these are your best leg lock DVD instructionals:
The K.A.T.C.H. Leg Attack System by Dean Lister
Dean is the man that opened John Danaher’s eyes to leg locks in the first place. It is only fitting that he tops this list. His K.A.T.C.H. system is one of the oldest leg lock instructionals that actually makes sense. K.A.T.C.H. stands for Kneebars, Ankle Locks, Toe holds, Compression locks (AKA slicers) and Heel hooks. As you can see, there are no leg lock categories that are missing. Further, ore the level of detail is astonishing, as it is Mr. leg lock himself doing the teaching. This is the first DVD set for any BJJ leg lock enthusiast out there. Grab it and see.
Down Under Leg Attacks by Craig Jones
The one man that has risen to similar heights as Danaher’s boys is Australia’s own Craig Jones. He went from zero to hero in no time, dispatching of some of the world’s most elite grapplers with ease. How did he do it? With the help of vicious heel hooks that only took seconds to apply. Craig’s secret is not in the way he heel hooks people, but that he follows Danaher’s philosophy. He looks to obtain maximal control before applying the submission. His success in finishing people with the speed of light is mainly due to his entries. He’s got an elaborate and very cool system for getting into leg locking positions and transitioning between them. His DVD material shows all of them in great detail. A no-brainer and definitely one fo the very best leg lock DVD instructionals for any grappler!
Leg Attacks And Grappling Hacks by Dean Lister
Oh, look, he’s back again! Lister followed up on his ingenious K.A.T.C.H. system with an even more impressive one. His latest release focuses on the modern aspect of the leg lock game. He goes into every position frequently used by the Danaher Death Squad, explaining his philosophies. What really makes this worth your while is Lister’s experience on every stage of grappling. He’s leg locked the crème de la crème of grapplers without looking back. To top things off, he includes a whole leg lock seminar that has some sweet entries and concepts for hunting leg locks from the top!
The Ashi Leg Lock System by Jay Wadsworth
Admittedly, Jay is not at the same level of competition as Lister and Jones. His leg locking concepts, on the other hand, are right up there with the best. Whereas all of the above titles looked at the leg lock game as a whole, this one goes into specifics. It focuses on the two Ashi Garami variations that are the most successful. The 4/11 Ashi Garami is an equivalent to the back control in BJJ. We all know that escaping back control is a real pain. The Checkmate Aashi position is another dominant position, often compared to the mount in regular BJJ. Jay goes deep explaining entries, setups, control, and submissions from every angle. Highly recommended!
IBJJF Legal Leg Locks by Jose Luis Varella
Varella pulls no punches on this one, but he very smartly stays within the IBJJF boundaries. No heel hooks, no knee reaping or other illegal techniques. What you get instead is an ankle lock galore, followed by some brutal knee bar and Toe Hold finishes. For all those feeling particularly frisky, there are even some really painful calf slicing options included. All in all a real must have for any leg locker, especially those that like to hunt legs while wearing a Gi.
Hidden BJJ Secrets by Luiz Panza
Sweeps, submissions, popular open guard passes…Even if none of these interest you, you should still look to pick up this Luis Panza DVD set. First of all, you’ll learn a few stuff that goes along great with leg locks. next, you’ll learn some of the best leg locking tricks you’ll ever come across. Thirdly, Lusi is going to connect leg locking positions with sweeps and submission from everywhere. After all, it’s not only about leg locks, it’s about total control, isn’t it?
AS far as the leg lock specific DVD is concerned, be prepared to venture into the world of footlocks as never before! Gi or No-Gi, IBJJF or sub-only, these footlocks are going to work everywhere. Oh, and they’re legal as well. A kneebar or two makes its way into the bunch, but Panza is a true master of the straight footlock. Especially from the 50/50. Be ready to surprise some of the higher belts in your academy with air-tight footlocks that nobody can defend!
80/20 Leg Surfing System BY Josh Hayden
For everyone who is unaware of Josh Hayden’sleg locking prowess, this is the perfect introductory set. In all honesty, I’ve never really liked the 50/50 guard in terms of leg locks. Why give the opponent a 50% chance to attack me while I’m looking for a sub? Hayden was the answer to all my problems. His system is all about the 80/20 guard, or better said leg locking position. Hayden’s set includes an introductory DVD that focuses mostly on attacking from the outside Ashi Garami. He includes heel hooks, footlocks and toa hold as well as transitions into the 4/11 and Sambo Knot positions. While you might think you’ve struck gold with the DVD, this isn’t even his best material.
The 80/20 system is truly one of the best leg lock DVD instructionals ever put on disc! Hayden’s take on it is that you need to be safe before attacking. In those terms, he’s turned the 50/50 position into one of advantage instead of equal playing ground. Attacks, combinations, follow-ups, and re-counters are all included in this magnificent volume. It is worth buying the set alone, even without the two accompanying discs.
The third one is a defensive concepts volume. If you’ve ever seen the Hayden brothers in action you know how difficult they are to submit via leg locks. Now imagine being able to defend as well as them while always looking for an attacking opening. That’s exactly what this set delivers. A true must for every leg locker!
Worry-Free Escapes By Dean Lister
In all the leg locking madness that has engulfed the BJJ world of today, Dean Lister comes up with a cure. The man indirectly responsible for all the frenzy now gives a few answers to some of the burning leg-locking questions. Namely, Dean goes over some of the most effective escapes and defenses against leg locks. With Dean, things are always detailed, so it’s not just about defending single submissions but getting out of Ashi Garami positions of control as well.
Over 4 volumes Dean presents brilliant ways in which to put an end to the countless taps your training partners get from you each time you roll. First of all, you’re going to learn how to defend the kneebar. From everywhere. Lister leaves no stone unturned when it comes to becoming kneebar-proof. This set is also going to keep you worry-free from the dreaded heel hooks as well. Inside or outside, from any Ashi Garami position, you’ll be able to break out easily. And, while he shares his secrets, Dean also teaches how to escape toe holds, and knee compressions, which are often skipped in terms of defense. It is as complete a defensive system as K.A.T.C.H.is an offensive one.
LEG LOCK BUNDLE BY DEAN LISTER, LUIZ PANZA & JOSE BARCA (13 DVD SET)
While you’re searching for the best leg lock DVD instructional out there, why not buy in bulk? After all, this one is comprised of everything we covered earlier, only at a huge discount! You’ll get 13 discs of pure leg locking knowledge, dissected and systematized by some of the greatest names in Jiu-Jitsu! That’s hours upon hours of material to make you a true master of the leg lock game! It is simply an opportunity you can’t miss! Remember that your opponents are looking for any kind of edge over you, so be fast and grab this while it’s available!
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