Issue 064

July 2010

Peter Irving is a professional welterweight fighter and Fighters Only’s resident fight expert. Irving has fought in Europe and the USA, and currently holds the Strike & Submit European title.

The toehold submission primarily attacks the ankle joint by internally rotating the foot with a figure-four grip. The toehold can be attained from a variety of set-ups and offers another option to finish your opponent if they twist their leg out of your kneebar or heel hook attacks. 

The leg entanglement 

Although not essential to completing the toehold, with the legs triangled your feet are invulnerable to counterattack and you can easily control your opponent’s roll. 

The grip

The foot can be secured with either a no-thumb grip as shown here, or with the thumb around the foot. The no-thumb grip allows for greater pressure to be applied on the ankle, whereas the thumb grip allows for more control over the foot. 

Toe hold from half guard

1 Pete is in Ryan’s half guard. 

2 Ryan pushes Pete away and puts in the ‘knee shield’, pressing his knee on Pete’s hip, creating space and preventing the pass. 

3 Pete starts to control Ryan’s knee, pressing down to relieve pressure. 

4 Pete rotates his torso and picks up the figure-four. 

5 Pete sits up, allowing space to torque the ankle. 

6 Pete twists his torso and levers down on the ankle for the tap.

Rolling toe-hold

1 Pete is standing in Ryan’s open guard, trying to control the hooks. 

2 Ryan pushes his hook through to the De La Riva guard as Pete is trying to pass. 

3 Pete turns, trapping Ryan’s hook under his leg. He grabs a figure-four on the near foot.

4 Pete rolls forward, keeping the figure-four grip tight throughout. 

5 Pete triangles his legs when he has rolled over and applies the figure-four to finish.