Toe Hold

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Toe hold, literally a hold on the toes, is a joint lock that acts on the opponent's ankle and foot with a twisting pressure. The classic execution uses a figure four grip on the foot or ankle. This distinguishes it from compression locks such as the calf slicer or biceps slicer, which do not twist the joint but press the muscle against the bone. The lock has its roots in jujutsu, from which it passed into judo, and in the Anglo-Saxon tradition it is documented in catch as catch can wrestling from Lancashire. The famous catch wrestler Frank Gotch, active at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, was known for forcing opponents onto their back with the toe hold. In catch wrestling the lock typically only works when the opponent stays still; otherwise it serves as a threat that forces him to move. The figure four grip itself has a leg equivalent in Japanese martial arts called sankaku jime. Under the IBJJF rules of June 2024, toe hold is banned at ages 4 to 17 and for adult and masters white belts, and is allowed from blue belt upward. Outward pressure on the foot, however, remains banned up to and including purple belt, with the exception of adult brown and black belts in no-gi. An older version of the rules from 2019 banned it only in the 4 to 12 and 13 to 15 age categories. Heel hook, by contrast, is banned in all belts and categories except adult brown and black belts in no-gi.