Jan 18, 2025
by Joshua Willis

Unlock the Secrets of BJJ Mastery: Hip Locks You Need to Know

Jan 18, 2025
by Joshua Willis

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is more than just a martial art—it's a chess game of leverage, strategy, and submission. Among its many intricate techniques, hip locks stand out as a powerful tool for both gi and no-gi practitioners. These submissions not only test an opponent's flexibility but also open up opportunities for sweeps, transitions, and dominant positions.

In this guide, we’ll explore some of the most effective hip locks in BJJ, including the Banana Split, Electric Chair, and Twister—all techniques made famous by notable practitioners like Eddie Bravo. Whether you're perfecting your game in turtle, half guard, or back control, mastering these submissions can elevate your grappling skills and make you a formidable competitor.

Join us as we dive deep into the mechanics, setups, and key positions that make these submissions essential for any BJJ arsenal. Whether you're just starting your jiu-jitsu journey or looking to add advanced moves to your repertoire, understanding hip locks will help you gain the edge on the mats.pler.

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Hip Locks

1. Banana Split Hip Lock

Type: Gi and No-Gi
Notable Practitioners: Eddie Bravo

The Banana Split is a groin stretch and hip lock initiated from turtle. The practitioner traps one of the opponent’s legs with their own and extends it in the opposite direction from the other leg.

Key Positions:

Turtle

2.Electric Chair

Type: Gi and No-Gi
Notable Practitioners: Eddie Bravo

The Electric Chair, popularized by Eddie Bravo, is both a groin stretch and a sweep. It’s initiated from the lockdown, a variation of half guard that traps the opponent’s leg.

Key Positions:

Half Guard with Lockdown

Details:

Effective against less flexible opponents.
Can transition into sweeps or guard passes if the submission fails.

Foot and Leg Locks

3. Straight Ankle Lock

Type: Gi and No-Gi
Notable Practitioners: Dean Lister, Rodrigo Cavaca, Mikey Musumeci

The Straight Ankle Lock is a foundational foot lock that targets the ankle joints and Achilles tendon. It’s performed by trapping one of the opponent’s legs between the practitioner’s own legs, wrapping an arm around the opponent's ankle, and applying pressure by arching the back.

Key Positions:

Half Guard
50-50 Guard
Leg Drag Pass
Back Control
De La Riva Guard (Caio Terra Ankle Lock)

Details:

Versatile and effective for practitioners at all skill levels.
Legal in IBJJF rules for all belt levels, making it one of the most widely taught foot locks.

4. Kneebar

Type: Gi and No-Gi
Notable Practitioners: Dean Lister

The Kneebar is a devastating submission that hyperextends the opponent’s knee joint. It requires the practitioner to isolate and control one leg while applying backward pressure against the knee.

Key Positions:

Half Guard (Top or Bottom)
Turtle Position
Closed Guard
Spider Guard
X Guard

Details:

Extremely effective but requires good positional control to avoid counters.
The entry to the kneebar is often from a rolling motion or leg entanglement.

5.Calf Slicer

Type: Gi and No-Gi
Notable Practitioners: Dean Lister
Also Known As: Calf Crusher

The Calf Slicer compresses the opponent’s calf muscle against the practitioner’s shin or forearm, causing intense pain. Like the bicep slicer, it’s illegal in IBJJF rules below the brown belt level.

Key Positions:

Half Mount
Knee on Belly
Turtle
Truck Position
X Guard

Details:

Often used as a counter to an opponent defending other leg locks.
Requires precision to ensure effectiveness without injuring training partners.

6. Toehold

Type: Gi and No-Gi
Notable Practitioners: Dean Lister

The Toehold is a figure-four footlock that applies torque to the opponent’s ankle and foot. Variations like the Estima Lock offer even tighter grips.

Key Positions:

Open Guard
Half Guard
De La Riva Guard
Side Control
Kneebar Transition

Details:

Requires secure grips to control the opponent’s leg.
Illegal in IBJJF below brown belt level but widely used in submission-only tournaments.

7. Ham Sandwich

Type: Gi and No-Gi
Notable Practitioners: Brandon McCaghren

The Ham Sandwich is a hamstring slicer often performed from bottom half guard. It involves trapping the opponent’s leg during a sweep attempt and applying compression to the hamstring.

Key Positions:

Half Guard
Open Guard

Details:

Combines well with sweeps and transitions into top control.
A creative and unexpected submission that catches many opponents off-guard.

8. Heel Hook

Type: Gi and No-Gi
Notable Practitioners: John Danaher, Dean Lister, Garry Tonon, Gordon Ryan, Eddie Cummings

The Heel Hook targets the knee ligaments by twisting the opponent’s foot. The submission can be performed as an inside heel hook (targeting the MCL and PCL) or an outside heel hook (targeting the LCL). Popularized by John Danaher and the “Danaher Death Squad,” it is one of the most feared submissions in grappling.

Key Positions:

Single Leg X Guard
Z Guard
Mount
Half Guard
Closed Guard
De La Riva Guard

Details:

Known for its potential to cause severe damage, making it illegal in IBJJF tournaments.
Requires mastery of leg entanglements for setup and control.

9. Aoki Lock

Type: Gi and No-Gi
Notable Practitioners: Shinya Aoki

The Aoki Lock is a hybrid submission targeting the inside ankle ligaments and the knee joint. It is typically performed when the opponent tries to escape a straight ankle lock by exposing their heel.

Key Positions:

Ankle Lock Escape Counter
Open Guard

Details:

Similar to an inside heel hook but with differences in grip and pressure.
Can lead to disqualifications in IBJJF competitions if not executed correctly.

Cranks

10. Can Opener

Type: Gi and No-Gi

The Can Opener is a neck crank performed by pulling the back of the opponent’s head toward their chest, often from top closed guard.

Key Positions:

Closed Guard (Top)

Details:

Primarily used to force an opponent to open their guard.
Illegal in most competitions due to the high risk of neck injuries.

Type: Gi and No-Gi

The Can Opener is a neck crank performed by pulling the back of the opponent’s head toward their chest, often from top closed guard.

Key Positions:

Closed Guard (Top)

Details:

Primarily used to force an opponent to open their guard.
Illegal in most competitions due to the high risk of neck injuries.

11. Twister

Type: Gi and No-Gi

Notable Practitioners: Eddie Bravo

The Twister is a spinal crank that targets the opponent’s neck and spine by isolating their upper and lower body. Popularized by Eddie Bravo, it’s performed from half back control by trapping the opponent’s leg and twisting their upper body in the opposite direction.

Key Positions:

Turtle
Back Control

Details:

Illegal in IBJJF but allowed in submission-only tournaments like ADCC.
Requires precise control to avoid injuring the opponent’s spine.

This comprehensive breakdown showcases the variety of foot locks, leg submissions, and cranks in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. From foundational techniques like the straight ankle lock to advanced submissions like the twister, mastering these techniques can significantly enhance your game and make you a more dangerous grappler.