Staggered Ankles
Mat mode
2:00
Tell the roomBottom keeps the ankles on two different levels.
Show full gameHide full gameRules · how to win · coach notes
TOP PLAYER
POSITION
Kneels or stands at the feet.
OBJECTIVE
Hunt to gather both ankles onto one level. Gathering both ankles and pinning them together scores at once and ends the exchange.
CONSTRAINTS
Ankles only for the passer. No grips above the knee. No hands from the bottom. Bottom manages with legs and feet only. Square ankles end it. The moment both ankles reach one level, stop and reset. Reset when the passer pins both ankles together to the mat or to the bottom's seat; when both ankles reach one level; when the bottom keeps the ankles staggered with their ankle on top of the passer's forearm; or when the bottom kicks the legs free and re-faces with the feet toward the passer. 2-3 min rounds.
WIN CONDITION
Pins both ankles together to the mat or to the bottom's seat.
BOTTOM PLAYER
POSITION
On their back, legs extended, ankles carried one high and one low.
OBJECTIVE
Keep the ankles on two different levels.
CONSTRAINTS
Same ankles-only, no-hands-from-the-bottom, square-ankles-end-it, and named reset rules. 2-3 min rounds.
WIN CONDITION
Keeps the ankles staggered with their ankle on top of the passer's forearm; or kicks the legs free and re-faces with the feet toward the passer.
Grapplers Collective, Staggered Ankles. 2-3 min rounds.
Problem
A warm-up that trains bottom players to keep their ankles on separate levels and win the ankle connection before a passer can stack both legs.
Tell the room
Bottom keeps the ankles on two different levels. Passer hunts to gather both onto one level. Gathering both ankles and pinning them together scores at once and ends the exchange.
Setup
Start with staggered ankles. Bottom lies on their back, legs extended, ankles carried one high and one low. Passer kneels or stands at the feet.
Score
Gather both ankles onto one level.
- Passer — pins both ankles together to the mat or to the bottom's seat
- Bottom — keeps the ankles staggered with their ankle on top of the passer's forearm
- Bottom — kicks the legs free and re-faces with the feet toward the passer
Rules
- Ankles only for the passer. No grips above the knee.
- No hands from the bottom. Bottom manages with legs and feet only.
- Square ankles end it. The moment both ankles reach one level, stop and reset.
Adjust
Easier
Passer kneels and moves at half speed, announcing each attempt to gather the ankles.
Harder
After gathering both ankles, the passer takes one step toward a pass instead of stopping.
If it stalls
If the bottom keeps getting stacked, widen the gap between the ankles and check the near ankle stays on top of the passer's arm.
guard