Saddle Position in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

What It Is

The saddle, also called inside sankaku, is a leg entanglement position where the attacker's legs are configured in a figure-four-style triangle around one of the opponent's legs, from the inside, providing significantly more control than basic ashi garami. It's the central control position in most modern leg lock systems, particularly for heel hook attacks, and is a large part of what changed competitive no-gi grappling over the past decade.

Why It Works

Unlike basic ashi garami, where the entangled leg can still rotate and create defensive space with effort, the saddle's inside triangle configuration locks the hip and knee line down far more securely, while also freeing both of the attacker's hands to work independently on grips and submissions rather than needing a leg or arm just to maintain the position. That combination, tighter control plus free hands, is what makes it such a dominant base for attacking.

Key Details

The figure-four leg configuration needs to be locked tightly around the opponent's leg, not loosely draped, since a loose saddle allows the same rotation and escape options that make basic ashi garami less secure. Hip proximity to the opponent's trapped leg, staying close rather than extended away, keeps the control tight and makes it significantly harder to kick free.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is establishing the saddle but leaving the outside heel exposed without controlling it, giving the opponent an escape route by rotating their foot away. Another is rushing straight to a heel hook attempt before the position itself is genuinely secure, which often costs the position entirely if the opponent capitalizes on the incomplete control.

When to Use It

The saddle is the standard entry point for heel hook attacks in modern no-gi grappling, and it's become common enough that understanding both how to attack from it and how to defend against it is close to essential for competitive no-gi grapplers. It commonly appears off failed guard passes, leg entanglement scrambles, and direct entries from open guard positions like 50/50.

Watch It in Practice

See it demonstrated by Lachlan Giles: Training and Q&A From the Saddle / Inside Sankaku →