Toe Hold

The toe hold attacks the foot and ankle through rotation. Available from multiple leg entanglement positions. Restricted in some competitive formats.

Adapted from the original page. Grappling.Games did not write this. Sources.

The toe hold is a foot and ankle submission that applies rotational force across the ankle joint complex. The attacker grips the top of the foot and rotates it, creating a figure-four configuration around the ankle. Unlike the straight ankle lock, which loads through forced plantarflexion, the toe hold attacks through torsion.

It is available from ashi garami, cross ashi, the truck, and other entangled configurations where the foot is accessible. The torsional nature of the attack means damage can occur with relatively little movement — practitioners must apply slowly and release immediately.

It is restricted or illegal in beginner-level competition formats. Study the ruleset section before competing with this technique.

Elevated RiskToe Hold is an elevated risk technique. The toe hold applies rotational force to the ankle and foot complex. Fast application can damage ligaments with minimal warning.

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.

Games

50/50 Positional Dilemma50/50 · ankle lock · toe holdOpen game →Ankle Lock Finish Gameashi-garami · ankle-lock · leg-locks · extractionOpen game →Ankle WarsscrambleOpen game →Any Entanglement: Finish the Legs or Take the Back vs Free the Leg, Counter, or Passleg-locks · ashi · heel-exposure · back-take · submissionsOpen game →Ashi: False Grip vs Clear the Knee Lineashi · false-grip · heel-hide · ballerina-toes · leg-entanglementsOpen game →Behind the Ankles to Hips or Shouldersstanding-passing · knee-pits · hips-and-shouldersOpen game →Capture the Footleglocks · straight ankle lockOpen game →Double Octopus: Lock the Hips Plus the Shoulders or the Anklescramble · double-octopus · hip-to-hip · back-take · leg-entanglementsOpen game →Finishing Mechanicsleglocks · straight ankle lockOpen game →Inside Heel Hook Gamecross-ashi · saddle · inside-heel-hook · leg-locksOpen game →Keep Them Down From Feet Insideinside-position · ankle-grips · entanglements · wrestle-up · play-the-whole-spaceOpen game →Knee to Ankle, Then Put Them Downsingle-leg · ankle-grips · entanglements · takedowns · play-the-whole-spaceOpen game →Leg Lock Full System Gameleg-locks · full-system · ankle-lock · toe-hold · heel-hooksOpen game →Maintain Controlleglocks · straight ankle lockOpen game →Outside Heel Hook vs Extractionoutside-ashi · outside-heel-hook · leg-locks · extractionOpen game →Passing the Ankle Lineankle-line · open-guard · pinOpen game →Shooter vs Upper Body: Ankle to the Armpit, Lift, or Go Behind vs Butt or Backtakedowns · single-leg · double-leg · shot · overhook · underhook · block-and-liftOpen game →Single-Leg Guard Pull: Entangle and Stand Up vs Take the Back or Lock Hips and Ankleguard-pull · single-leg · wrestle-up · leg-entanglements · back-take · seated-guardOpen game →Single-Leg: Toes, Heel, and Hands Both Sides vs Free the Legsingle-leg · toe-capture · heel-capture · shotgun-grip · leg-entanglementsOpen game →Staggered AnklesGuardOpen game →Stand Against the AnkleGuardOpen game →Three-Quarter Mount: Free the Ankle vs Close or Reversethree-quarter-mount · half-guard · mount · side-control · knee-on-belly · closed-guard · reversalOpen game →Toe Hold Gameashi-garami · toe-hold · ankle-lock · leg-locks · extractionOpen game →Turtle Ankle AttacksturtleOpen game →