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Are white belts allowed to do leg locks?

Author

Emma Payne

Published Jan 14, 2026

Thus, the IBJJF only allows white belts to perform straight ankle locks. This applies in both gi and no-gi competition. When performing a straight ankle lock, the white belt competitor must turn away from the knee of the ankle he or she is attacking. Turning towards the knee is illegal.

Are white belts allowed to do heel hooks?

Heel hooks and reaps will remain illegal for masters competitors and for purple, blue and white belts.

Are leg locks allowed in UFC?

UFC bans fighter forever for ankle lock violation.

What belt can you Kneebar?

In most jiu-jitsu competitions the only leglock that is permitted for blue and purple belts is the straight ankle lock. Toeholds and kneebars are reserved for brown and black belts only, meaning many people don't even start learning leglocks until they're already considered "advanced" jiu-jitsu practitioners.

Are Kneebars legal in gi?

For gi competition, the IBJJF is the predominant rule set and heel hooks are illegal (at all belt levels) with straight foot locks, knee bars and toe holds allowed at different belt levels.

22 related questions found

What belt is toe legal?

In IBJJF rules, jiu jitsu's main governing body, the toe hold is only allowed in competitions, for brown belt and above ranked athletes. In other tournaments, such as FIVE Grappling it is allowed from purple belt, and in another highly popular jiu jitsu tournament, the ADCC, they are fully allowed.

Are leg locks legal in BJJ gi?

In late 2020, the IBJJF announced rule changes to allow leg reaping and heel hooks for brown and black belt no-gi competitors. The IBJJF has now released the details of its updated 2021 rules.

What leg locks can blue belts do?

And like white belts, adult blue and purple belts may only perform the straight ankle lock from the straight ashi garami, outside ashi garami, and 50/50 positions. This applies in both gi and no-gi competition. Knee reaping is illegal in gi competition at all belt levels.

What is a knee reap BJJ?

The IBJJF rulebook defines knee-reaping as “when one of the athletes places his thigh behind the leg of his opponent and passes his calf on top of the opponent's body above the knee, placing his foot beyond the vertical midline of the opponent's body and applying pressure on his opponents knee from the outside, true ...

Can white belts do ankle locks?

Thus, the IBJJF only allows white belts to perform straight ankle locks. This applies in both gi and no-gi competition. When performing a straight ankle lock, the white belt competitor must turn away from the knee of the ankle he or she is attacking. Turning towards the knee is illegal.

Is the ankle lock real?

It's designed to put pressure on your opponent's ankle and is without a doubt the most painful hold there is. If applied properly, on a scale of one to 10, it's about a nine-and-a-half. In all seriousness, it's a really dangerous hold and you have to be careful when you apply it.

Are finger locks allowed in MMA?

A fighter may not gouge their fingers or thumb into their opponent's neck or trachea in an attempt to submit their opponent. If during stand up action of a fight a punch is thrown and the punch lands in the throat area of the fighter, this shall be viewed as a clean and legal blow.

Can you reap the knee in IBJJF?

Knee reaping is illegal in the IBJJF and the UAEJJF.

It is not allowed due to the perceived level of harm and injury that can (and does) occur to the knees when it is performed. However, there are some competitions like ADCC and other such no-gi grappling tournaments that do allow knee reaping.

What is an ankle lock?

An ankle lock (occasionally referred to as a shin lock) is a leglock that is applied to any of the joints in the ankle, typically by hyperextending the talocrural joint through plantar hyperflexion.

What is an Estima lock?

The Estima Lock is the name given to a specific footlock developed by two well known Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitors, commonly known as the 'Estima bros' (Victor and Braulio), during the late 2000's.

Is Honey Hole reaping?

It is illegal. Its a stupid but because the leg is going from the outside in, it's a reap.

What is a knee bar?

What is a kneebar? Kneebar n, v : is a rock climbing maneuver in which a leg “hold” is created by camming your knee/lower thigh up under or against some blocky, cracky, or roofy feature in opposition to your foot.

Can white belts use wrist locks?

The answer is, 'Mostly yes. ' The table on page 24 of the IBJJF rulebook clearly shows that wristlocks are illegal for kids, adolescents, and white belt adults. But for adults at blue belt level and above they are allowed.

Are ankle locks allowed in UFC?

Bear in mind that wrist-locks and ankle-locks are allowed in MMA, but they're often mistakenly categorised as illegal.

Are Shin locks legal in BJJ?

The only IBJJF legal leg lock allowed for white, blue, and purple belts is the straight ankle lock. It is a very effective submission, which can be devastating if done correctly. It also leads to reactions that set up many other attacks.

Are toe holds legal at blue belt?

Blue Belts & Purple Belts

Grappling Industries will now allow toe-holds and knee bars from blue belt and intermediate No-Gi competitions.

Is lockdown IBJJF legal?

No. You can "stretch the groin/crotch" even at white belt. There is one "observation" as the rulebook puts it: there is a moment that you could turn the lockdown into a "leg reap" and for that you'll be penalized. Penalty rules regarding leg reaps have been softened so it will no longer be an automatic DQ.

What is a toe lock?

The yogi toe lock is a way of holding on to the big toe during a yoga pose. To practice the yogi toe lock, you reach between the big toe and the second toe with your first two fingers and wrap them under the toe.

Are toe holds IBJJF legal?

It's tight, powerful, IBJJF legal, and can wreck someone's ankle. The toe hold. A toe hold is a simple and effective leg lock that is frequently used in competitions. Like the heel hook, The toe hold doesn't take much pressure to make your open quickly tap out.