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In short: Leglocks: Enter the System is still the most complete course to understand leg locks, because it teaches control before submissions. It is worth it if you train no-gi regularly and have at least a year of experience. If you mainly want to stop getting heel hooked, start with Gordon Ryan's leg lock escapes instead.
Why this course matters
John Danaher coached Georges St-Pierre and Chris Weidman, but his reputation in grappling comes from the group of students he built in New York: Eddie Cummings, Garry Tonon and Gordon Ryan. In the mid-2010s, they started finishing high-level black belts with heel hooks, at a time when most of the jiu-jitsu world still considered leg locks a low-percentage gamble.
Enter the System is the course where Danaher puts that method on video. If you want to understand where today's no-gi leg lock game comes from, this is the source.
What you actually learn
| Part of the course | What it brings you |
|---|---|
| Control positions | The different ashi garami configurations, and why some give much more control than others. |
| Entries | How to get to the legs from seated guard and other common situations. |
| Finishing mechanics | Heel hooks, straight ankle lock and the other finishes, with the details that make them work against resistance. |
| The logic of the system | How to chain attacks when the opponent defends, instead of throwing isolated submissions. |
The central idea is simple: a leg lock is first a control position. If you control the leg and the hips, the submission becomes almost a formality. That is the lesson most people miss when they learn heel hooks from short clips.
Who should buy it
- No-gi practitioners with at least a year of training who want a real leg lock game
- Competitors in events where heel hooks are allowed: ADCC, submission-only events, or IBJJF no-gi at brown and black belt
- Coaches who want a clear framework to teach leg locks to their students
Who should skip it
- Beginners in their first months. You will learn faster with fundamentals and escapes, and your training partners' knees will thank you.
- Gi-only practitioners who compete under rules where heel hooks are banned. Most of the course will not be usable.
- People who hate long explanations. Danaher teaches in a slow, very detailed, lecture-like style. Some love it, some fall asleep.
The limits
The course was filmed several years ago, and the leg lock game has evolved since, especially on the defensive side. It also costs a lot at full price. And like every leg lock course, it has a real risk: heel hooks damage knees quickly when they are applied too hard or defended badly. Drill the finishes slowly, with partners you trust.
The alternatives
| Instructional | Choose it if... |
|---|---|
| Pillars of Defense: Leg Lock Escapes by Gordon Ryan | Your priority is to stop getting caught, not to attack. |
| Leg Lock Anthology: 50/50 by Lachlan Giles | You want a narrower system, very clear, built around the 50/50 heel hook. |
| Battle Tested Down Under Leglocks by Craig Jones | You prefer a more direct style, close to competition. |
Our verdict
If you train no-gi and you want to understand leg locks instead of collecting tricks, Leglocks: Enter the System is still the reference. Watch it one chapter at a time, and pair it with an escapes course. Since it is expensive, it is a good candidate for the BJJ Fanatics Black Friday.
To go further, read our guide to John Danaher's best instructionals and our article on leg locks and heel hooks. And when you are ready to test your game, find a no-gi competition on BJJ Championships, from ADCC to Grappling Industries.