# Toe Hold

> A figure-four foot lock that controls the toes and ankle while rotating the foot relative to a controlled knee.

- **Canonical page:** https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/toe-hold
- **Markdown:** https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/toe-hold.md
- **JSON:** https://www.ossmeta.com/api/public/techniques/toe-hold
- **Category:** submission
- **Format:** both
- **Level:** advanced
- **Aliases:** figure-four foot lock, toe lock
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-25

## What it is

The toe hold uses a figure-four grip on the foot, usually with one hand controlling near the toes and the other reinforcing at the wrist. The attack can appear during guard passing, leg entanglements, back takes, and scramble counters.

The foot is only one end of the lever. Safe, effective control also accounts for the knee and hip; twisting a free foot without controlling the leg creates unpredictable motion and injury risk.

## Key principles

- Control the knee and hip before rotating the foot.
- Connect the figure-four grip close to your body.
- Apply pressure gradually because small joints can be injured quickly.
- Use the grip positionally when the finishing direction is not aligned.

## Common entries

- **50/50:** Collect the far side of the foot while keeping the knee line controlled.
- **Guard pass:** Attack a posted or exposed foot while maintaining top balance.
- **Kneebar defense:** Counter-control the opponent's foot during a leg-lock exchange.


## Productive next actions

- **Kneebar:** Move to straight-leg control when the opponent extends the knee.
- **Sweep:** Use the figure-four grip to disrupt base and come on top.
- **Back exposure:** Follow the opponent's hip turn while maintaining leg control.


## Defensive priorities

- **Hide the foot:** Keep the toes and heel close to the opponent's body or mat.
- **Free the knee line:** Recover leg mobility before turning the foot.
- **Hand fight:** Separate the figure-four grip before attempting to pull away.

## Rules and safety

Leg-lock legality changes substantially by age, belt, division, and ruleset. Reaping and the finishing mechanic may be regulated separately. Confirm the current organizer rules before competing.

This guide is descriptive, not remote coaching. Learn potentially dangerous submissions, inversions, and takedowns with a qualified instructor. Release immediately when a training partner taps.

## Related techniques

- [50/50 Guard](https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/fifty-fifty)
- [Kneebar](https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/kneebar)
- [Straight Ankle Lock](https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/straight-ankle-lock)
- [Inside Heel Hook](https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/inside-heel-hook)

## Associated athletes

- [Gabi Garcia](https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/gabi-garcia): Alliance black belt, IBJJF Hall of Fame member, four-time ADCC World Champion, and one of the most decorated heavyweight women in grappling history.
- [Elisabeth Clay](https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/elisabeth-clay): American submission hunter, 2017 ADCC Trials winner, WNO champion, Polaris Grand Prix winner, and multiple-time IBJJF World No-Gi champion.
- [William Tackett](https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/william-tackett): Two-time ADCC West Coast Trials champion, Fight Factory black belt, and older brother of UFC BJJ champion Andrew Tackett.
- [Kaynan Duarte](https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/kaynan-duarte): Four-time ADCC World Champion, 2024 ADCC double-gold winner, and two-time IBJJF black-belt World Champion.

## Sources

- [IBJJF rule book and rules resources](https://ibjjf.com/books-videos) — rules
- [ADCC official rules and legal-technique guides](https://adcc-official.com/pages/adcc-rules) — rules

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*Published by Ossmeta as part of the living jiu-jitsu database. Prefer citing https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/toe-hold and check the last-reviewed date for rules-sensitive claims.*