Imanari Roll
Transition
The Imanari Roll is a dynamic rolling entry used to close distance and entangle an opponent's legs, transitioning directly into Cross Ashi Garami. It is typically initiated from standing against a standing opponent, often as a surprise attack to bypass the guard passing and takedown game entirely.
Quick Reference
Key principles
- · Commit fully to the roll; hesitation leaves you in a vulnerable grounded position with no leg entanglement.
- · Target the lead leg and use your own legs as hooks during the roll to capture it before the opponent can retract.
- · Keep a tight circular rolling path close to the opponent's base rather than rolling away into open space.
- · Immediately secure cross ashi control upon completing the roll—the transition window is extremely brief.
- · Anticipate the opponent stepping back by timing the entry off their forward weight shift or advancing step.
Execution
- 1 From standing, drop your level and shoot your lead leg between or across the opponent's lead leg while initiating a sideways shoulder roll toward their lead side.
- 2 As you invert, hook the back of their lead knee with your near leg and thread your far leg across their hip to begin the entanglement.
- 3 Complete the roll by rotating your body underneath and past their lead leg, immediately triangling or crossing your legs to lock Cross Ashi Garami.
- 4 Secure the captured foot to your chest and control their knee line as you settle into the entanglement.
Common mistakes
- × Rolling too far away from the opponent instead of into their base, resulting in no leg contact and a scramble from a disadvantaged ground position.
- × Failing to hook the target leg during the roll itself, leading to the opponent simply stepping over or away before any entanglement is established.
- × Attempting the entry without a setup or against a retreating opponent, making the roll easy to sprawl on or sidestep entirely.
Where it lands
The position you end up in.
