Title: Toe Hold: Steps, Key Details & Mistakes | DARCE

Canonical: https://darce.app/techniques/bjj/toe-hold

> Toe Hold. Figure-four grip the foot and rotate it to torque the ankle and knee. Step-by-step breakdown with key details and common mistakes.

# Toe Hold

- BJJ
- Leg Locks
- advanced
- Ashi garami
- 3 steps

Figure-four grip the foot and rotate it to torque the ankle and knee. Also known as the Figure-four foot lock or the Ankle lock (toe hold). Here is the exact breakdown from the DARCE app: 3 steps, the details that make it work, and the mistakes to avoid.

## When to use it

Use the toe hold when you control a leg and the opponent’s foot turns in, or when a straight ankle lock or heel hook is defended. Grip the toes and instep with one hand and figure-four it with the other. It is quick to grab from many leg positions, including from the top. Apply it only where your rules and training partners allow it.

## Step by step

1. 01

   ### Ashi garami

   Control the leg with a strong entanglement.

2. 02

   ### Figure-four the foot

   Grab the toes/instep with one hand, thread the other under and grip your own wrist for a figure-four.

3. 03

   ### Rotate the foot

   Rotate the foot downward and in, twisting the ankle and loading the knee. Apply slowly.

## Key details

- Get a tight figure-four so the foot cannot spin out of the grip.
- Control the knee line so the rotation reaches the joint.
- Apply slowly. It stresses both ankle and knee.

## Common mistakes

- A loose grip that lets the foot rotate free.
- No knee-line control, so it only tweaks the foot.
- Cranking fast and injuring a partner.

## Common counters

Opponents straighten the foot, turn the leg to move the knee out of line, or pull the foot free from a loose grip. Without knee control it only tweaks the foot. Tighten the figure-four and keep the knee pinned before you rotate.

## How to drill it

From ashi garami, grip the figure-four and rotate slowly while your partner taps early, ten reps on each side. Then do two rounds of one minute where your partner defends a straight ankle lock and you switch to the toe hold.

## Related techniques

- [Straight Ankle Lock BJJ Trap the foot in your armpit and bridge your hips to attack the Achilles and ankle.](https://darce.app/techniques/bjj/straight-ankle-lock)
- [Heel Hook BJJ Control the leg, trap the heel and rotate it to torque the knee. Extremely dangerous, drill with care.](https://darce.app/techniques/bjj/heel-hook)
- [Kneebar BJJ Straighten the leg and bridge your hips against the back of the knee to hyperextend the joint.](https://darce.app/techniques/bjj/kneebar)

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