Black belt · Entry · Bonus
Imanari roll to leg entanglement
A diagonal shoulder roll from standing that lands you in a leg entanglement. Use it as a surprise entry against someone standing square, only where leg locks are allowed.
Step by step
- From a collar tie or wrist control, step your near foot outside their lead foot and turn your hips toward their legs.
- Drop your near shoulder to the mat outside their lead foot and roll diagonally across your shoulder blades, chin tucked, so your legs swing up toward their hip.
- As your legs come over, hook your top leg behind their lead knee and bring your bottom leg across the front of their hip.
- Pull their leg to your chest with both arms and squeeze your knees together. They lose balance and fall.
- Settle the entanglement: hips close to their hip, knees pinched on their thigh, their foot hugged to your chest. Then work your ankle lock or finish under your rules.
Details that make it work
- Roll on the back of your shoulder with your chin tucked. Never roll over your head.
- Commit to the roll. Half rolls leave you on your back under them.
Common mistakes
- Rolling straight under them instead of diagonally across their lead leg.
- Reaching for the heel before both legs are locked on, so they step out.
Drill it
On crash pads first. 10 solo rolls each side, then 8 rolls each side on a partner who lets you take the leg.
If it fails, or what comes next
- Ashi garami / single-leg X control Control · Leg entangle
- Straight ankle lock Submission · Leg entangle
- Heel hook (know it, defend it) Submission · Leg entangle
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