In the last decade, the berimbolo has grown from a specialist technique to a must-have, especially among competitors in the lower weight classes.

The the drop seoi nage, is one of the most commonly used takedowns among some of the best heavyweights. But the traditional version of the throw is not without its faults. The textbook variation of the throw requires the attacker to turn his back to his opponent, giving the defender an opening to counter. 

With all the buzz around heel hooks and the focus on no-gi oriented leglocks, it’s easy to forget how powerful the straight ankle lock can be. The footlock is more than a way to earn the favor of the judges or score an advantage in a close match. When applied correctly, it’s a powerful submission responsible for some of the most brutal-looking breaks in jiu-jitsu.

Few techniques carry a personal stamp the way guillotines do. Guillotine artists have often found ways to put their own spin on the front headlock, and to make their variations integral to their personal brands.

The cross choke is one of the most fundamental submissions in jiu-jitsu. But it’s rarely applied successfully at the highest levels of competition. 

Jon “Thor” Blank attacked [person: Vagner Rocha] with a barrage of leg lock attempts at Who’s Number One: Duarte vs Vieira. For the most part, Rocha kept out of danger through the 15-minute match.

Kaynan Duarte may have been testing out some new tricks during his double-gold medal run at No-Gi Pans in November. He submitted four of his five opponents, remarkably, with the same submission each time.

Competitors at the heaviest weight classes are often associated with heavy, unidirectional passing. We often see the heavy, super heavy, and ultra heavyweights forcing their ways into their opponents half guards and then slowly grinding forward to earn a pass. 

The K-guard has become a favorite position for backtake specialists and leg lockers alike over the last few years. Sometimes called the keymaster guard or shallow X-guard, the position is best recognized as the root of the illustrious matrix backtake. 

The elite competitors of the lightest weight divisions are often revered for their impassible guards and their abilities to take their opponents’ backs from anywhere. Roosterweights, light featherweights, and featherweights like Mikey Musumeci, Paulo Miyao, and Mayssa Bastos are back attack artists who rely on intricate guards and techniques to get behind their opponents.

Now that the IBJJF will be allowing heel hooks in 2021, it's time to brush up on your leglock knowledge. There are several leg entanglements, and most of them have a variety of names. Need to refine on your terminology? The official FloGrappling leg entanglement reference guide is here!