What is Aoki Lock in BJJ and MMA?

High-level grappling comes with a myriad of challenges, including leg locks. Some practitioners encounter hurdles because they do not understand the ethics, history, and culture of the fighters involved or the advances of BJJ itself.

One challenge that can serve as an attack or defense, even when low on leverage or even when you are in an advantageous position, is the Aoki lock. But what is it?

The Aoki lock is a submission move similar to the foot-binding type of submission. Its effect is similar to a heel hook spinning the inside of the foot outward and the heel inwards as well. The torques and forces acted upon take place in two major areas around the attacked leg: the ankle and knee joint.

The Aoki lock BJJ is not like the other legs and arms entanglement, with some submission manipulative direct to the ankle; it is easily replaced with an inside heel hook, which creates rotational pressure. It is considered one of the most disruptive techniques that imbalances the opponent. The fighter's trying to control them becomes awkward because they keep trying to submit with this technique.

The BJJ Aoki lock is a foot lock among several others, even though it looks like an inside heel hook. The technique extends the opponent’s foot tension by changing the direction of the heel. Such a non-linear positioning of an ankle that is applied in a straight position with a force.

A straight ankle lock position becomes an ankle and knee twisting lock system. In this case, both rotational and linear loads are included, and the area under attack can be up to the knee of the opponent's attacked leg.

It is worth noting that this lock’s unique submission usually attacks the medial collateral ligaments of the opponent’s ankle while applying a linear finish. In contrast, however, when applied with a rotational finish, this submission will also undercut the opponent’s knee, though not as a linear finish.

On the contrary, the Aoki lock is not a linear submission but more of an inside-heel hook submission than a straight ankle lock. The Aoki lock is more lethal than any other variations of heel hooks because of the BJJ Aoki lock submission; the fighter targets the elbow to twist or rotate it.

Even simple linear forces, such as the straight ankle locks, may almost simultaneously rotate the ankle position into an ankle submission rotator and beyond the reconcile-lock half position.

The Aoki lock is a tremendous submission named after the iconic Japanese MMA fighter and grappler Shinya Aoki.

At Dream 15, Aoki squared off against Tatsuya Kawajiri and applied a leg lock method that astonished the onlookers. Aoki was the originator of the dynamic move; later, the submission was named after him. 

More recently, one of the biggest high-level tournaments was held in the event of the "One Fight Night 15," where Mikey Musumeci was in front of Shinya Aoki. Musumeci used the most thrilling method of the Aoki lock and submitted the invention of the leg lock. It is considered one of the revolutionary moves.

Aoki lock BJJ is a proactive technique. It is a heel hook that incorporates linear angles along with rotational pressure. It is similar to the inside heel hook, which targets the ankle of the foot. The initial position of the ashi gardai is used for the execution of the aoki lock. The rotation beats the extension.

As the fighter initiates the Aoki lock, the target is to reach the foot after attacking the hip and moving the leg to the outer side. The hook is created over the foot, causing a potent effect on the entangled leg. 

BJJ Aoki lock is an incredibly powerful way to employ the ashi gramai position for the strangle. It provides an edge to the fighter as he can threaten the opponent with the seizure of the straight ankle lock. If one of the methods does not act perfectly, although the probabilities are low, the fighter can switch to another locking technique.

After setting up the trap of the leg lock, target the toes and create the underhook after securing the foot under the armpit of the same side.

The arm is placed in front of the torso, which ultimately creates the L shape. The grip is tightened with the hand to leave no space for the foot. The ribs also act as a support to fix the foot in place.

It is the counterattack that is regarded as an upgrade to the straight ankle lock. The direction of the outside foot is changed towards the thigh, and pressure is created over the heel after taking it in the outward direction. 

The fighter can take the position in which he can target the legs of his fellow fighter. The control can be taken from the most common “Ashi Garami”, which is regarded as the single-leg X guard. Ashi garami is the perfect joint lock that entangles the legs of the opponent. 

The fighter needs to target the foot after approaching the leg. In ashi configuration, the fighter needs to create space and move the hand between the gaps. Move the hand under the shin and move it downward until you reach the foot. 

Move the foot under the armpit, and the opponent’s toes are directed outwards. Remember, positioning is an essential step so that the fighter can align the angles or leverage to set up the Aoki lock BJJ. 

The next step is to slide the hand under the shin and reach the foot. This will tighten up the grip of the foot. This step lessens the area of the foot, as the ribs act like a barrier that stops the movement of the foot from going inward or outward. 

The torso plays the dominant role in blocking the path of the foot. This helps to apply the extended pressure over the three main joints, which are the foot, ankle, and knee. Lock the motion of the foot.

The fighter can employ a variety of grips to employ the Aoki lock.

• The first option is to either use the palm-to-palm method or hold one hand over the other.

• The second suggestion is to hold the shin with one hand and keep the other hand over the arm.

• The third option is to keep the hand over the bicep and move the elbow upward.

The fourth possibility is to keep one hand over the bicep and the other over the shoulder. 

If the fellow fighter wanted to pull the leg or try to move it downward, it would not move as the grip is super tight.

To maintain the prime control over the opponent, use the outer leg and place it inside. Slide the leg and place it over the leg of the opponent.

The fighter can finish the submission of Aoki's leg with the rotation of the chest or torso towards the mat. The downward movement will increase the pressure over the targeted foot and knee, and this will make the opponent to submit himself instantly. 

In this variation, the fighter needs to block the path of the opponent after grabbing the legs of the opponent. The uniqueness increases with the distinguished method, as the fighter targets two legs instead of one.

In BJJ Aoki lock from Z lock, the fighter targets the secondary foot. The execution is from the position of ashi garami. Take a look at the step-by-step guide for the execution of the Aoki lock.

• The first step is to take the position of the ashi garami.

• The outer leg is used to reap over the opponent’s leg. After that, the hook is created under the bottom leg.

• The hand is inserted under the shin, and the hook is created.

• Keep the foot under the armpit.

• The foot is targeted and trapped along the side of the ribcage.

• The fighter bends to the side of the mat to increase the pressure.

• The other hand is placed over the knee of the targeted leg.

• The fighter will create the side of the hip as a base.

• The best part is that the fighter can attack one of his two legs.

• The underhook is created over the outer leg to rotate the foot.

           Or,

• Slide the downward foot and rotate it along with the torso.

411 is often called as a saddle, inside sankaku or even named as the honey hole. It is the most popular and dominant position that is usually used in the configuration of the leg locks. The fighter gets control over the legs after making the underhook over the upper part of the foot. The BJJ Aoki lock is applied over the secondary leg, making it almost impossible to escape the leg entanglement.

• Hold two of the legs with the grip of the hands.

• One leg of an opponent is over the other, whereas the fighter has a complete grip over the upper leg.

• Create an under hook after moving the hand under the opponent's shin.

• Keep the other arm on the leg.

• The foot is kept over the upper part of the leg (this step ensures to restrict the movement of the opponent’s leg).

• Keep one hand over the bicep and the other on the shoulder.

• Move the torso towards the side to finish the submission.

          Or,

• Slide to the side of the legs on the mat to apply the pressure over the trapped foot. 

Butterfly ashi is used to grab the legs for the entanglements. The fighter grips one leg of the opponent and applies the submission to it. Unlike 411, in which the control is taken over both legs.

• Target one leg of the opponent with the grip of the hands.

• Keep the foot under the armpit, and fold the arm in front of the chest to secure the grip.

• A shadow hook or butterfly ashi is created by keeping the upper side of the foot over the upper area of the opponent's leg.

• Stamp on the hip to prevent the motion.

• Lock the hands in place by keeping one hand over the shoulder and the other over the bicep.

• To finish the submission of the aoki lock, rotate toward the downward motion. 

Despite popular belief, the BJJ Aoki Lock is more than just a variation of an ankle roll. These two submissions are very different in terms of performance.

As for the tap-out mechanics of the straight ankle lock, the main and only sources of more violent interaction in that submission are the foot being bent backward and the squeezing of the Achilles tendon.

Depending on the exact grip you are using, forearm size, and physiology of your opponent, one or both of these pressures mess with the individual in some way or the other.

A takeaway from this discussion is that the straight ankle lock technique allows for a submission win in as far as what lies in the center is up to your opponent is won within the center of the submission hold axis, which is the Aoki lock.

One of the Aoki lock's key distinctions is the angle placement to trap the opponent. However, the common and difficult distinction is that the Aoki lock is actually a  heel hook  only to the inside. It is also the most effective submission that is applied by twisting the leg in the outward direction.

In this case, such an attack can also affect a wide array of other ligamentous structures located in the foot and knee, and bones of the ankle can also be fractured.

This component of rotation thus makes it more effective for an Aoki lock. This is why I straightened the locking and attempted a straight ankle lock while an Aoki strives in the advanced row.

The Aoki lock is not a good fit for IBJJF rules. Under rulesets that allow heel hooks and knee reaping, the submission is a fair game without question, but as per the IBJJF rules, it raises a question.

The rules do not say anything about the Aoki lock, right? It should be legal. However, as a rule, it is considered knee destruction, which means that for gi grappling, all levels are banned from straight foot locks in jiu-jitsu as out.

Should the force be applied only laterally to the ankle, then this move can technically be considered legal in many instances. It is one common example of a previously unseen, more extreme-looking attack. The only thing is that you cannot rotate outward during the finish, which would make it an illegal move.

But for the most part, when it comes to balancing out the likelihood of disqualification by doing an Aoki lock-in competition,

BJJ Aoki lock is the most effective and powerful submission. It combines rotational power with linear pressure to create the ultimate powerful effect of submitting the opponent. It is a proactive attack that can cause severe destruction. 

Both submission methods target the opponent's leg, with pressure created over the ankle and on the knee. In a straight ankle lock, the fighter works on grabbing the arm, and pressure is created to extend it.

In an Aoki lock, the fighter grips the foot in the armpit, and the rotation is done in an outward motion. That creates intense pain in the leg, which causes the fighter to tap out. 

The Aoki lock is an extremely compelling way to submit the opponent with leg locks. It is regarded as the most useful leg lock strangle method, often causing severe damage to opponents if executed correctly with proper mechanics.

Be sure to stay sensitive and tactful during training so you don't cause unnecessary injury to your training partners. Be patient and use the correct angles that require the grip of the hands over the shin and ankle. BJJ Aoki Lock fits into your offensive and counter-attacking arsenal.

While this method of leg entanglement is not often seen in the BJJ or MMA tournaments. Aoki locks are an integral part of the high-level leg-locking exchange. Even if the fighter is not proficient in leg lock attacks, applying the Aoki lock will enhance your observer experience in tournaments.

The best part is that Aoki Lock is suitable for BJJ NO Gi tournaments. It can be the best fit to increase the diversity of the entanglements and take the game to higher levels.