Escape the toe hold

Before it’s locked

• Keep your foot away from their hands when your legs are tangled
• Point your toes and keep the foot long
• Watch for the figure-four grip on your foot

The main escape

1. Point your toes and straighten the foot so it’s harder to bend
2. Grab their wrist and break the figure-four before it locks
3. Roll in the direction they’re twisting to take pressure off the ankle
4. Pull the foot free, sit up and start passing

Escape roadmap

The seven stages of this escape. Work from the top: the earlier you act, the less you need the later stages.

1. 1
   Prevent

   • Keep your foot away from their hands
   • Point your toes
2. 2
   Defensive posture

   • Keep the foot long and straight
   • Sit up toward them
3. 3
   Hand fight

   • Grab their wrist
   • Break the figure-four before it locks
4. 4
   Make space

   • Turn to face the foot
   • Keep your knee close
5. 5
   Clear the structure

   • Pull the foot free
   • Clear their legs off yours
6. 6
   Late escape

   • Roll the way they’re twisting to ease the ankle
   • Tap as soon as you feel the twist
7. 7
   Back to safety

   • Sit up and start passing
   • Keep your feet out of their hands

Escape options

Drill it

My notes

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