Outside Ashi Garami
Outside ashi garami — outside leg entanglement variant; outside heel hook is the primary submission from this position.
Adapted from InGrappling, Outside Ashi Garami. System Games did not invent this curriculum.
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Outside ashi garami is the outside variant of the single leg entanglement. Where standard ashi garami places the attacker on the inside of the opponent’s leg, outside ashi places the attacker to the outside — their body is on the far side of the opponent’s leg, with the entangling legs wrapping from the outside. This geometry directly exposes the outside of the opponent’s heel, making the outside heel hook significantly more accessible than from the standard ashi position.
Outside ashi is frequently entered from standard ashi garami when the opponent turns away, from K-guard (a seated leg entanglement position), from reap guard entries, and from the false reap. It connects to the 50/50 and backside 50/50 families, and the back take exposure is a constant threat when the opponent is turned away. Understanding outside ashi is essential for building a complete leg entanglement game because it is the most natural exit from standard ashi under defensive pressure.
Elevated RiskOutside Ashi Garami is an elevated risk technique. The outside heel hook directly loads the lateral knee structures — the LCL and the posterolateral corner — through external rotation. Outside ashi is the primary position for the outside heel hook — the heel is exposed by the leg configuration with no defensive leg between the attacker and the heel. Serious injury can occur with very little rotational movement once the heel is gripped.
If you are new to this technique: read this section before anything else. Understanding the danger is part of understanding the technique.
The person applying the technique is responsible for releasing immediately.
Communicate before drilling. Know your partner's experience level with this position.
Do not train this technique while fatigued or in live rolling without established mat culture.