Leg LockLeg entryBelt: blue+Risk: highADCCNo-GiSub-OnlyMMA
The Imanari Roll to Saddle is a dynamic leg entry performed from standing, allowing rapid transition into inside sankaku (saddle/411) against a standing opponent. It is a high-level entry that bypasses traditional guard engagement, making it a staple in modern no-gi leg lock systems.
Start
Standing vs standing / hand-fight
End
Inside sankaku
Prerequisites: Basic inversion mechanics · Ashigarami leg entanglement · Rolling through for leg entries · Hand-fighting for grips
Steps
1
Create Distance and Angle
From a neutral standing hand-fight, use a collar-tie or wrist control to pull opponent forward as you step your lead foot slightly outside their lead foot, creating a 30–45° angle.
2
Initiate the Drop and Roll
Release your grip and drop your level by bending your knees, tucking your chin, and reaching your near-side arm toward their far ankle while rotating your shoulders to initiate the roll.
3
Thread the Lead Leg
As you invert, shoot your lead leg between their legs, aiming to hook their far thigh with your hamstring while your foot points outward, not upward.
4
Catch the Far Leg with Your Arm
As your hips pass under their center of gravity, wrap your near-side arm deep around their far leg’s ankle, palm up, forming a tight connection above their heel.
5
Invert Fully and Rotate
Continue your roll, using your momentum to pull their leg across your body, while your far leg circles behind their near leg, forming a triangle (inside sankaku) with your legs.
6
Lock the Inside Sankaku
Cross your feet at the knees behind their far thigh, pinching your knees together and flexing your toes to secure the inside sankaku (saddle/411) position.
7
Control and Stabilize
Clamp your knees, keep your hips elevated, and control their far knee line with your top arm, using your bottom arm to post or grip their near ankle if needed to prevent them from turning out.
8
Settle into the Saddle
Adjust your angle so your hips are perpendicular to their hips, with their knee line above your groin; maintain chest-heavy pressure on their shin and prepare for leg attacks.
Key details most people miss
The initial angle (30–45°) is critical—too square and your roll is easily stuffed; too wide and you miss the leg.
Threading your lead leg deep and low under their center prevents them from sprawling or stepping away.
The arm catch must be palm-up and tight above the heel to prevent them from slipping their leg out.
Immediately clamping your knees and flexing your toes in the triangle is essential to control the knee line and prevent escapes.
Common mistakes
Failing to create an angle before rolling allows the opponent to sprawl directly onto your head, shutting down the entry.
Not threading the lead leg deep enough results in missing the far thigh, causing you to end up in a loose single leg x or open guard.
Loose arm grip on the ankle lets the opponent kick their leg free and disengage.
Not pinching the knees in the saddle allows the opponent to turn their knee and escape the entanglement.
Counters & responses
They try: Opponent sprawls hard as you drop
You do: Switch to a single leg x guard by underhooking their near ankle and using your far leg to hook their far hip, preventing full sprawl.
They try: Opponent backsteps out of the entanglement
You do: Follow their backstep by inverting further and switching to outside ashi garami or attacking the secondary leg.
They try: Opponent posts hands on your shoulders to block inversion
You do: Redirect their post by circling your arm inside and rolling toward their far leg, using their post as a lever to create space.
They try: Opponent turns knee outward to slip the knee line
You do: Immediately clamp your knees tighter and scoot your hips under their knee, re-securing the knee line before attacking.
Drill prescription
6 rounds × 2 min; partner stands and resists at 60%, alternating roles each round; goal: 4 clean saddle entries per round with full knee line control and no resets.
How the masters teach it
Masakazu Imanari
Originator of the roll, emphasizes speed and unpredictability from standing with minimal grip reliance.
ONE Championship
Garry Tonon
Focuses on chaining the roll directly into heel hook attacks, with aggressive knee line retention.