Toe Lock

Last updated: June 25, 2026

What is a toe lock?

The toe lock, known just as often by its other name, the toe hold, is one of the oldest foot attacks in submission grappling. An attacker grips the opponent’s foot near the toes with one hand, loops the other arm under the shin, and joins the hands in a figure-four, the same grip used for a kimura on the arm. With the foot pinned to the chest, the attacker rotates it inward toward the hip.

That twist forces the foot past its normal range. The strain lands first on the ankle, with the talonavicular joint usually taking the most stress, and it can travel up to the knee if the opponent refuses to tap (per BJJ Heroes’ breakdown). Grapplers reach for the toe lock from leg entanglements like 50/50 and the ashi garami positions, because the entanglement isolates the leg and stops the opponent from spinning free.

In Portuguese, it has gone by “pé de vaca” and “americana no pé,” and judo knew an early version as ashi dori garami, meaning entangled leg dislocation. The names point to the same idea: control the foot, then turn it where the joint does not want to go.

How the toe lock works

The defining feature is the kimura-style figure-four. Where a kimura bends the shoulder, the toe lock applies the same lever to the foot. The hand on the toes supplies the twist, and the arm under the shin gives the grip something to rotate against.

The injury comes from rotation rather than hyperextension. The foot turns inward, loading the small ligaments of the ankle and forefoot. Those ligaments carry fewer pain receptors than larger structures, so the warning can be short and the damage sudden, which is why coaches drill early tapping (Evolve MMA notes this point from instructor Mike Piekarski). On camera, the hold reads as a tight, compact tangle around one foot, with the attacker’s body curled toward the trapped leg.

Toe lock vs. other leg locks

Most people search the toe lock because they have it confused with another leg attack. The differences come down to what each one attacks and how it finishes.

Submission	What it attacks	How it finishes
Toe lock	Ankle and foot ligaments (knee secondary)	Twists the foot inward with a figure-four grip
Straight ankle lock	Achilles and ankle	Hyperextends the foot by arching back; slower to build
Heel hook	Knee ligaments	Rotates the heel, sending torque through the knee; fastest and most damaging
Kneebar	Knee	Hyperextends the knee straight, like an armbar on the leg

The closest cousin is the heel hook. Both twist, but the heel hook routes its force into the knee, where torn ligaments mean longer recovery, while the toe lock keeps most of the strain at the ankle (BJJMore’s leg-lock guide). That gap is why many rule sets treat the toe lock as the lower-risk of the two.

Is the toe lock legal?

Legality depends on the ruleset, which is the main reason a fan might hear the move flagged in one match and waved through in another.

Under IBJJF rules, the toe lock is allowed only for brown and black belts, in both gi and no-gi divisions (BJJ Heroes). FIVE Grappling permits it from purple belt. ADCC and most submission-only events allow it at every level. The heel hook, by contrast, stays banned in the IBJJF gi entirely and is limited to brown and black belts in no-gi (per BJJMore), so the two moves rarely share the same rulebook treatment.

A brief history

Foot attacks sat at the edge of early Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Helio Gracie reportedly dismissed them as a brute, low-class technique, and for decades, the toe lock stayed on the margins. Rolls Gracie, an open-minded student who borrowed openly from other grappling styles, including judo and sambo, pushed his students to attack the legs in the 1970s, and the move had a run before fading again (BJJ Heroes).

Its modern comeback dates to 1999, when Rodrigo “Comprido” Medeiros used a toe lock to beat the favored Roberto “Roleta” in the absolute final of the world championship. As no-gi grappling grew, leg lockers like Dean Lister, a multiple-time ADCC champion, kept the technique in circulation and helped inspire the leg-lock systems that dominate the sport today (LowKick MMA).

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a toe lock injure?

It mainly strains the ankle and the ligaments of the foot, with the talonavicular joint taking most of the load. Hard cranks can push the strain up into the knee.

Is a toe lock the same as a toe hold?

Yes. “Toe hold” and “toe lock” are common alternate names for the same figure-four twisting submission.

Why is the toe lock compared to a kimura?

Both use the same figure-four grip. The kimura applies it to the shoulder, and the toe lock applies it to the foot.

Is the toe lock more dangerous than a heel hook?

Generally no. The heel hook sends rotational force into the knee, where injuries tend to be more severe, while the toe lock keeps most of the strain at the ankle.

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Sources

1. BJJ Heroes. “The Toe Hold.” Accessed June 2026.
   https://www.bjjheroes.com/techniques/toe-hold
2. NAGA Fighter. “Toe Hold: BJJ’s Powerful Submission Technique.” Accessed June 2026.
   https://www.nagafighter.com/toe-hold-bjjs-powerful-submission-technique/
3. Evolve MMA. “BJJ 101: The Toe Hold.” Accessed June 2026.
   https://evolve-mma.com/blog/bjj-101-the-toe-hold/
4. LowKick MMA. “Toe Hold – BJJ Submission Explained.” Accessed June 2026.
   https://www.lowkickmma.com/toe-hold/
5. BJJMore. “Heel Hook: The Complete Guide.” Accessed June 2026.
   https://bjjmore.com/heel-hook/

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