Rob Biernacki recently won gold at black belt in master’s ADCC Canada and in black M4 division at IBJJF NoGi Worlds. Here’s a breakdown of the unorthodox kneebar he used to finish the reigning champion and the training methods that allowed him to pull it off!

If you want to improve your leglock game, check out these quick videos below…

Modern Leglocks Instructional Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_sY0rUAyP8

Cutting Edge Leglocks Instructional Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV3SrGOuBi0

The 411 leglock position (aka the Saddle and/or the Honeyhole) is one of the WORST positions you can get caught in. Here Rob Biernacki (from https://www.grapplearts.com/leglocks) shows you how to systematically, methodically, and safely escape this position without getting caught in the devastating reverse heel hook submission.

How leglocks and the way to apply them have changed in the last 20 years. I filmed this while editing the Oliver Taza No Gi Leglocks instructional which is now available at https://www.grapplearts.com/taza. Much of the terminology I use comes from The Modern Leglock Formula with Rob Biernacki (https://www.grapplearts.com/leglocks).

The 12 Positions of Modern Leglocking PDF I talk about in the video can be downloaded for free here: https://www.grapplearts.com/main-positions-modern-leglocking/

Also, just to be clear, many of the these ‘innovations’ were already being used by the great leglockers in the 1990’s including Erik Paulson and Oleg Taktarov (from whom I learned a TON), so what I’m really talking about is how these ideas have trickled down and become become more mainstream in the last 25 years.

CONTENTS

0:00 Introduction
1:54 Difference #1: Refinement of Control Positions
8:03 Difference #2: Less Variety of Actual Leglock Finishes
12:52 Difference #3: Focus on the Reverse Heel Hook
14:49 Difference #4:Refined Dig Mechanics
17:51 Difference #5: Improved Breaking Mechanics
21:40 Difference #6: Transitions Between the Control Positions
23:42 Difference #7: More Entries from the Bottom

In submission grappling you have two main choices for open guard: hooks inside (e.g. the butterfly guard) or legs outside (e.g. the de la Riva guard). Which should you employ?

The right style of guard depends on the exact situation. In this video Rob Biernacki takes you through the transitions from inside hooks to legs outside and back, as well as breaking down the tactical and strategic reasons you might prefer one position over the other.

Check out Rob’s No Gi de la Riva Formula at https://www.,grapplearts.com/DLR for more on the leg outside type of guard, and Rob’s Modern Leglock Formula at https://www,grapplearts.com/leglocks for more a deep dive into the hooks inside style of guard.