Outer Ashi Garami

Outer Ashi Garami is the judo-derived name for the outside ashi garami — the leg-entanglement configuration in which the attacker’s leg-triangle wraps the opponent’s leg from the outside line, used as a primary entry to the outside heel hook in modern submission grappling.

Etymology. Ashi (足) means “leg” or “foot”; garami (緘) means “entanglement” or “wrap.” The “outer” qualifier — equivalent to the no-gi “outside” — specifies that the attacker’s leg-triangle wraps the opponent’s leg from the outside of the centreline, in contrast to the inside variant (inside sankaku / cross-ashi). The terminology comes from judo’s kansetsu-waza classification adapted into the modern leg-entanglement lexicon; the outside variant became central to submission grappling through the Danaher-influenced systems that built outside heel hook entries from a range of leg-position families.

Mechanics. The configuration traps the opponent’s leg from the outside line, with the attacker’s leg-triangle preventing the leg from rotating safely out of the firing line. The outside hook orients the heel for the outside heel hook finish while maintaining inside-space control between the attacker’s hip and the opponent’s trapped leg.

Cross-reference. No-gi grappling uses “outside ashi garami”; the broader Danaher-era leg-entanglement system uses “5/11” in position numbering. Full mechanical coverage on Outside Ashi Garami.