Leg entanglement refers to the positioning and control of an opponent’s legs using your own legs to limit their movement, attack submissions, or off-balance them for sweeps. Unlike traditional top control positions, leg entanglement allows you to control an opponent even from underneath by isolating and manipulating their lower body.

A strong leg entanglement requires securing your legs around your opponent’s in a way that restricts their ability to move freely while keeping your own position structurally sound. This could involve trapping one or both of their legs between yours, controlling their knee line to limit escapes, or using hooks and grips to off-balance them. The key is to maintain enough control to prevent them from simply pulling free while positioning yourself to transition into sweeps or submissions.

Defensively, escaping leg entanglements requires understanding how to free your legs without exposing yourself to further attacks. Proper posture, hand fighting, and disengaging before the entanglement is fully locked in are crucial to avoiding danger. Because leg entanglements introduce unique control mechanics, they add an extra layer of complexity to a grappler’s game, making them an essential area of study for both offense and defense.