Foundational Concepts | Straight Ankle Lock

Executing a correct straight ankle lock involves avoiding the common mistake of going too deep with the arm, which can lead to locking the ankle at the elbow bend. Instead, focus on the following technique:

1. Create a curve with your hand where the Achilles tendon should fit, using your thumb as a guide to prevent sliding too far.
2. Grab the near side collar instead of the far side to allow more shoulder movement and prevent reaching too deep, which can lead to incorrect positioning.
3. Control the opponent's pants with the other hand to stabilize their leg.
4. Practice the motion of fitting the blade of your wrist to the Achilles tendon, ensuring the thumb points to the correct spot and locking the elbow with each repetition.
5. Perform 10 repetitions of fitting the blade to the Achilles, then on the 10th repetition, lock the elbow and apply the submission.
6. Ensure the opponent's foot is bent by positioning your grip low on the Achilles, then lock your elbow to your ribs to apply the lock, which should resemble a toe hold but is a straight ankle lock.

Practice this drill in sets of 10 repetitions to develop muscle memory and precision in landing the straight ankle lock correctly.