Leg Locks

Here is a description of the five leg locks. These were taken from a post on the forum a long while back, so no promises for accuracy.

As with anything, if there is any discrepancy between what you know and what's here, go with whatever you were taught by the highest grade currently on the mat.

Leg lock 1

Defend from kick with o-uchi gari. Wrap left arm over and around uke's left leg. Use the right hand to apply pressure to the side of the knee cap sliding it out of position. While doing this use your right leg to pin uke's other leg to the floor, using the nerve point behind the femoral artery.

Leg lock 2

Same defence as 1 and grab uke's right leg in the same way, slide right foot under uke's left leg and flick up under your right arm and grab in a similar way to the other leg. Slide both grips down towards the ankle and place the boney parts of your wrists under uke's Achilles tendons. Bend knees and lean back putting pressure on to the tendons. This can also be done further up the leg driving pressure in to the weak point of the calf muscle (unofficial).

Leg lock 3

Defend from kick by blocking inside, grab hold of the underside of uke's right knee by passing your hand over the top of his knee and grabbing *the far underside*;. Rotate over and drop on to your right knee forcing uke to do a front drop. Control right leg with right hand and using lots of pressure force uke's left ankle in to the back of his right knee. Force his right foot forward and then grab his collar with your free hand and pull.

Leg lock 4

Defend as in lock 3. Bend both knees grab both feet as if you're holding a motorcycle, thumbs underneath fingers on top. Push each foot out to the side and then up towards uke's shoulders in a circular motion.

Leg lock 5

Defend as in lock 3. Slide your left knee over uke's left knee effectively trapping the leg under the lower half of your left leg. Place your right foot over uke's right leg with heel against the outside of uke's kneecap. Grab uke's right foot with your right hand palm up, thumb on the upperside towards the toes, fingers underneath. Mirror this grab with your left hand. Rotate the leg out and towards uke's head as in leg lock 4.

Remember locks 3 to 5 should all be done one knee up one knee down, head up looking around.