Missing: examples of toehold submissions in high level BJJ

Stephan Kesting

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So a friend and I were having a conversation about the efficacy of different submissions at the highest levels. He pointed out that there were very, very few examples of top level guys getting tapped out by toeholds in competition: they tap to kneebars, they tap to heel hooks, but they just don't tap to toeholds.

Off the top of my head I couldn't think of any counter-examples. Am I missing something here? Are there examples of top tier guys (guys who've medalled at the Pan Ams, ADCC, or the Mundials) tapping out to toeholds??
 
Sorry, that was glib, typing with my thumbs. Just suggesting their highlight reel be a place to start.
 
Marcin held has at least one win via toe hold, but it's not a very commun sub...
 
It's really hard to toe hold good guys just because it's so hard to create the kind of control needed to prevent them from taking small angles to defend. You can finish a heel hook or kneebar because you can isolate the attacked joint and hold uke in place, that's really hard with a toe hold.

About the only way I've seen them work at higher levels is for the attacker to just give uke no time to tap and try to tear their ankle apart as fast as possible, like happened to Tyrone Glover at the end of this match:



Even then you can usually defend by rolling and it's just hard for the attacker to stop you. The only time I ever tapped to a toe hold in competition was because I didn't see it coming and the guy ripped my ankle to shreds (2-3 weeks on crutches).
 
Edit: Cobrinha vs. someone. I'm pretty sure it's the finals of a major tournament. Will update if I find the exact source. Toehold starts at 3:49.

 
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Also Tanqinho tapped Geo Martinez at ADCC with a toe hold.
 


doesn"t get much more high level than this


One thing that stands out here. Galvao had control of the free leg. That takes away all of the "just change angles" defenses to the toe hold, and increases the pressure on the knee.
 
Cobrinha won the gold in the finals of the World Championships with a toe hold over Bruno Frazatto in 2008.
 
One thing that stands out here. Galvao had control of the free leg. That takes away all of the "just change angles" defenses to the toe hold, and increases the pressure on the knee.
That setup from 50/50 was sick.
 
I remember vinny mags got a toe hold on someone at the NY ultimate absolute...



It was buchecha lol.

Gary tonon has a pretty underrated toe hold.






Also, a lot guys are just plain awful at toeholds and only use them ironically to get advantages lol. Have to take 'attempts' %wise with a grain of salt.
 
Nice vids in here, guys. Don't see a lot of it in MMA but the BJJ in MMA is pretty low and most leg lock specialists there concentrate on heel hooks due to efficacy.
 
Yeah the heel hook definitely overshadows most other options in the same situation. Not that that's an issue mind you; its like why use a club when you could use a rapier instead, no sense in not taking advantage.

That said toe holds are highly versatile and you can grab them in many different situations where you might not normally think you are vulnerable. It can be a worthwhile investment of training time for that reason in my opinion.
 
Barnett submitting Ryron Gracie at Metamoris...
 
Mackenzie Dern has finished off a lot of people with toe holds
 
You don't see a lot of americanas in high level BJJ either.
 
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