The Ankle Pick is a popular BJJ takedown. It utilizes grabbing your opponent’s ankle while lifting it up and ensuring he can’t use his other leg for balance. By following these 3 general steps, you’ll be able to take down almost any grappler out there, if you, of course, perform it well enough.
This is my intention with this article, to teach you how to perform the Ankle Pick well enough to start seeing more and more results. You’ll be able to start practicing this takedown immediately after you finish reading this article.
Learning to wrestle in BJJ—can be quite daunting. However, I assure you that it won’t be nearly as complicated as some of you might think. Although it’s something new, which can always be frightening, it’s a move you’ll start using in your sparring and competitions soon after learning it.
I’ve thoughtfully ordered this article the way it is, to ensure everyone reading this article is able of executing the Ankle Pick flawlessly. You’ll need some training before that would be the case. However, the general theme here is that you’ll be able to take your opponent down to the mat easily.
You’ll also gain 2 points for taking your opponent down in a BJJ competition, which is a nice bonus. That’s enough intro, I want you guys to get on the mat already and train! So without further ado, let’s dive into the article!
What is the Ankle Pick in BJJ?
Although many novice grapplers aren’t aware of the fact that you can use takedowns in BJJ, it’s definitely possible. You’ll be able to take your opponent from a neutral to an inferior position, which is what we all really want to achieve in the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
One of the most popular ways you can do that is by using the Ankle Pick. You might not know what it is or what it looks like, which is what I’m here for. So let’s first define this wonderful, prevalent takedown.
The Ankle Pick is a takedown, typically seen in Wrestling and BJJ, but is also used in other close-ranged grappling-based martial arts, such as Judo and Sambo. It’s when you start in a standing position and drop down with your knees and hips to grab the opponent’s ankle, lift it, and push your opponent off-balance.
It’s similar to the Low Single, which you might be familiar with. The Ankle is a body part that’s often used to take the opponent off-balance. If you think about it, it’s the connection between the foot and the leg. So if you can make it stop doing its job, which is to keep the person balanced, you’ll be in a great position to either throw or take him down.
Now that we know the fundamental of the Ankle Pick, let’s dive into the most interesting and important part of this article (interesting and important typically comes together in BJJ.) How to perform it from different positions!
Ankle Pick Variations
So this will be the most interesting part of this article. It also is the most critical one, as learning the different variations each move has—is extremely important.
BJJ is all about options. You always have many options and you have to make a choice. So the more options you have, the more capable of a grappler you’ll be since you’ll be more dynamic. This is just the way it works.
Let’s assume you’re facing someone who knows 2 takedowns, but you know 10. You’ll be more likely to win the encounter, as you’re capable of reading the situation and deciding on one option that’s most likely to succeed in your eyes.
If you hesitate, you’ll be less likely to win, but that’s for another discussion.
It’s time we start reviewing the different variations and how to execute each one. Your next step after reading this article is to get on the mat and practice these variations. Indeed, these are the backbone of this guide.
So let’s dive into the 1st one.
#1 – Same-Side Ankle Pick
The 1st variation we’ll review is Same-Side Ankle Pick. This is the first one you should learn, as it’s the most intuitive to understand. Likewise, it’ll build the best foundation for you moving forward, which should be fantastic news for you.
Your first step is to start standing up to perform the Same-Side Ankle Pick. You then want to grab the opponent’s sleeves (same side grip), preferably in the elbow area (when wearing Gi.) Then, you want to drop drown with your knees and hips while maintaining your sleeve grips.
Finally, you reach and grab the opponent’s ankle, as low as you can go, while driving forward to knock your opponent off-balance and get the takedown.
Now it’s critical that you follow through by attaining a more dominant position, which can guard passing into Side Control or even attaining Full Mount.
If you don’t follow through, your opponent can start attacking you, especially if you don’t pull your hands back. It’s likely that he’ll try and perform the Armbar if you’re not careful once you knock him down. SO pay attention to that.
Here’s a visual aid for you:
#2 – Cross-Side Ankle Pick
The Cross-Side Ankle Pick is definitely more complicated than the 1st variation we reviewed. However, it can be a fantastic technique to attain a more dominant position easily.
When you perform the Same-Side variation, you might find it difficult to attain anything other than being on top guard. Although you’re still rather superior, it’s not as prominent.
With the Cross-Side variant, you’ll be able to take the opponent down and be in a perfect position to get Side Control. From there, you can either go for the Knee on Belly and attack, attain North-South and attack, or perhaps acquire the Full Mount and attack.
You first want to start standing to perform the Cross-Side Ankle Pick. You then want to grab the opponent’s back of the head and his sleeve. Next up, you switch your grips to grab the back of his head with your other hand while grabbing his chin with your original hand.
Once you establish that sort of Front Headlock, you drop down on your knees and grab his left ankle with your left hand (or the opposite.) You finish by driving yourself forward and knocking the opponent off-balance.
Please don’t forget to attain a more dominant position.
#3 – Pull Guard to Ankle Pick
The next variation we’ll review is essentially the same as the first one, which is the Same-Side one. However, it starts by going for a fake, which will make you more likely to make it work.
I’ve decided to dedicate an entire section to this one, although it acts and looks the same as the Same-Side Ankle Pick. Are you ready for it?
The Pull Guard is a fantastic way to attain the Guard position from a standing position. While it’s less important for the sake of understanding this variation, I’ll briefly go over it.
It’s essentially when you establish sleeve grips and lift your leg to place it on the opponent’s thigh (on the same side.) You then sit back and pull the opponent with you, attaining any Guard position. If you’re interested in learning about the best guard positions you must know to call yourself a grappler, follow this link.
Anyways, to perform the fake, all you have to do is lift your leg as if you’re about to place it on your opponent’s thigh. However, you don’t do that—but simply lift your leg. This will make the opponent react, perhaps defend, and you’ll be able to go for the Same-Side Ankle Pick (see 2 sections above.)
Inverted Ankle Pick
The Inverted Ankle Pick is a fantastic technique you want to start practicing after finishing this article. I’ve come across a superb instruction video by Hudson Taylor, which comes from a Wrestling background. I’ll include it at the end of this section.
Anyways, this variant utilizes a Cross-Side Grip, but it’s not the same as the 2nd one we reviewed. What’s different is the direction you’ll be cupping your opponent’s ankle. You won’t grab it the way you think you should, but the opposite way around. So from between his legs and clockwise for his left ankle.
You still want to attain a sleeve grip, as per usual. Then, you drop on your knees and cup the opponent’s cross ankle, and the direction you cup it will start between his legs and to the outside. You then lift the ankle you grabbed up while pulling his sleeve down to finish this takedown.
All in all, a great variation you want to start learning and using!
Ankle Pick Tips
So you now know to use the 4 variations of the Ankle Pick. You’re already in a much better position than most other grapplers. Of course, you’re not done yet. You still want to get on the mat and practice, which should be your next step.
Taking your grappling game to the next level includes stepping on the mat and getting repetitions in. If you only read this article or watch a few videos to complement your knowledge, you won’t be able to perform it nearly as well as if you take the time and effort to practice it in real time.
But now, before you do that, let’s review 3 tips you want to know about before stepping on the mat and executing this takedown.
#1 – Perfect your grips
The first tip is to perfect your grips. It might be difficult to understand when to use which grips, and that’s natural. I researched the Ankle Pick for a long time before I started to write this article, and even I am not sure when to use which one.
But there’s a rule of thumb that’ll help you navigate your way through this issue. The best grip you can use to complement this takedown is the Sleeve Grip. When you pull your opponent’s ankle up while pulling his sleeve down and toward you, you’ll cause your opponent to be more off-balance.
This is your end goal, to make sure the person you’re executing this one, is as off-balanced as possible.
#2 – Never step back
The next tip is to never step back. Although this might sound fairly unintuitive, hear me out. What stepping back does is give your opponent room to move forward and take you down.
The only way you should move is to the side, clockwise and counterclockwise. Avoid moving backward if possible.
#3 – Drop the opponent’s arms before going for his ankle
The last tip for executing a perfect Ankle Pick is dropping your opponent’s arms before going for his ankle. The most important grip you’re going to have isn’t the sleeve, but it’s his ankle.
After everything is said and done, this takedown is called Ankle Pick for a reason. I’m less interested in the grips you have than the fact that you’re able of grabbing his ankles in the first place!
A fantastic way of ensuring you’re able to grab your opponent’s ankles is by dropping his arms, especially if you have established grips on both his sleeves. Do that and you’ll be able to grab his ankles with ease.
Final Words
So this was the Ankle Pick, a fantastic way of taking your opponent down and attaining a more dominant position on him. It’ll also help you win more competitions, as it’ll grant you 2 points for completing it.
Your next step now is to get on the mat and practice what you learned. There’s no replacement for that.
But the Ankle Pick isn’t the most effective takedown you can learn. Follow this link to learn about the 9 most effective takedowns in BJJ and how to execute each one.
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Here are other articles you’d enjoy reading:
Arm Drag Takedown – Complete Fighting Breakdown
Foot Sweep Guide (For BJJ, Judo, and Wrestling)
Seoi Nage – Takedown Breakdown (BJJ & Judo)
BJJ 101 – Double Leg Takedown (Variations & Finishes
Single Leg Takedown 101 – BJJ Comprehensive Guide
Pull Guard BJJ – Everything You Need to Know