Sambo leg locks for your grappling game
BJJ Breaker: Sambo Leg Locks for BJJ, Grappling & MMA brings together 11 lessons with Kostya Zhyvanov on BORETS LAB. The course draws on sambo and grappling, moving through straight ankle locks, kneebars, calf slicers, Kani Basami and hip locks. The complete running time is 36 minutes and 53 seconds.
The opening module spends four lessons on the straight ankle lock. It separates the grip and finish from the belly-down variation, control while an opponent turns, and the entry from top position. That gives you a concrete sequence to study when reaching the leg is easier than keeping it.
The full 11-lesson curriculum
The five modules group the lessons by technique. Use the list to find a position you already encounter in training; the course page opens each lesson directly.
Start with the straight ankle lock
Watch Lesson 1 to establish the grip, control and finish, then compare it with Lesson 3 if your main problem is losing the position when a partner turns. Return to the same exchange in your own training footage. Where does the position first change? Which part of the lesson addresses that moment?
Add the belly-down finish and top-position entry once you can follow the opening explanation. You do not need to memorize the entire course before taking one useful question to your coach. A short, specific practice task makes it easier to notice what has changed.
Choose the next module from a position you use
The kneebar module pairs grip, control and finishing work with an entry from standing. The calf slicer module covers turtle and finishing from bottom. The final modules cover Kani Basami and two hip-lock lessons, including coming up to finish.
These are distinct topics in the curriculum. Study the module that matches your current work with your coach, then review the others as your training develops. The course includes explanations of common mistakes, transitions and demonstrations in motion, so return to the relevant clip when a detail is unclear.
Check the rules before taking a technique into competition
Sambo and BJJ do not share one universal list of permitted leg attacks. In BJJ and submission grappling, the rules depend on the organization, gi or no-gi format, age and belt or skill division. Kani Basami is a scissor takedown, not a submission hold. Do not assume that every technique in a sambo-influenced course is permitted in your next tournament.
Check the current IBJJF or FIAS rules for the event you are entering, and agree with your coach which techniques are appropriate for your experience and practice. New submissions and standing entries need qualified supervision, controlled partners and suitable mats.
If you train MMA, work with your coach on how the positions fit your striking and grappling practice. This curriculum covers leg attacks and entries; choosing when to use them in a fight is a separate training task.
Use the course between regular training sessions
The 11 lessons run from just over two minutes to five minutes and twenty seconds. Pick one, watch the demonstration, and note the starting position and the point you want to revisit. After practice, compare what happened with the recording and bring a precise question back to your coach.
The course is included in a BORETS LAB subscription. Open the curriculum, choose your first lesson, and continue from there. For the control problem described at the start of this guide, begin with the straight ankle lock module.
Study the techniques in the course
Common questions
Does sambo have leg locks?
Yes. Sport sambo includes submission holds applied to the legs. This course draws on sambo and grappling to teach straight ankle locks, kneebars, calf slicers and hip locks, alongside the Kani Basami entry. The event rules determine which techniques you may use in competition.
Does this course include heel-hook lessons?
There are no dedicated heel-hook lessons in the published curriculum. The full list above shows the 11 lessons included in BJJ Breaker.
How long is the course, and is it included in membership?
The course contains 11 lessons with Kostya Zhyvanov, totaling 36:53. It is included in the BORETS LAB subscription.
Which lesson covers an opponent turning out of an ankle lock?
Lesson 3, Straight Ankle Lock: Control as Your Opponent Turns, focuses on that situation. Start with the grip and control explanation in Lesson 1, then study Lesson 3 alongside it.
Competition rules
Continue reading
- Sambo vs BJJ vs Judo: Which Skills Should You Train?Compare sambo, BJJ and judo through training decisions, grips and ground control. See how BORETS connects them in Ukrainian Grappling Style.
- Leg Locks in BJJ: Ankle Lock, Kneebar, Toe Hold and Heel HookLeg locks explained: the straight ankle lock, kneebar, toe hold and heel hook, the ashi garami and saddle positions, early defense, and the IBJJF, ADCC and sambo rules.
- Kneebar in sambo: control the position before the finishStudy the sambo kneebar through knee-line control, hip position, defensive reactions and a supervised test that does not depend on finishing pressure.
- Learn Sambo Online: Lessons, Practice & Coach FeedbackLearn sambo online with BORETS LAB: recorded lessons, Ukrainian Grappling Style, conditioning and a practical way to get feedback on your own training.