Saddle Entry From Top

Transition

The Saddle (or Inside Sankaku/Honeyhole) entry from top is a transition where the top player threads their legs into the inside leg entanglement, triangling their legs around the opponent's thigh with the knee line captured. It is used when the top player identifies an opportunity to attack the legs from dominant or neutral top positions such as X-guard top, ashi garami, or De La Riva top.

Quick Reference

Key principles

  • · Control the knee line by pinching your knees together and keeping the opponent's trapped leg bisected between your thighs.
  • · Triangle your legs tightly around the opponent's thigh so the configuration locks itself and frees your hands.
  • · Hip-switch and backstep decisively to clear the opponent's free leg before they can re-guard or kick free.
  • · Anticipate the opponent pulling their knee back by maintaining constant forward hip pressure and grip on the ankle or foot.
  • · Keep your hips as close to the opponent's hip as possible to prevent space for escape or counter-rotation.

Execution

  1. 1 From your top position, control the target leg by gripping the ankle or foot and pinning the knee line with your near-side leg.
  2. 2 Backstep or hip-switch your far leg over and around the opponent's trapped thigh, threading it between their legs.
  3. 3 Triangle your legs by locking your outside foot behind your inside knee, securing the saddle configuration around their thigh.
  4. 4 Settle your hips low and tight against the opponent's hip, breaking any frames, and orient toward the trapped foot for heel hook or transition to cross ashi.

Common mistakes

  • × Failing to clear the opponent's free leg before locking the triangle, allowing them to use it as a frame to escape or enter into their own leg attacks.
  • × Triangling too loosely or too far from the opponent's hip, giving them space to rotate out or pummel their knee free.
  • × Neglecting to control the ankle/foot during the entry, which lets the opponent straighten their leg and slip out of the entanglement.

Do it from

Positions and situations where the Saddle Entry From Top shows up.

X-Guard Top
4 less common
Ashi Garami De La Riva Guard Top Kneebar Control Toe Hold Control

Chains into

Where to go next when the Saddle Entry From Top lands, or gets defended.

Inside Heel Hook submission

Where it lands

The position you end up in.

Back Control Top Cross Ashi Garami