Course Content

PART 1

LEG LOCK DEFENSE

• INTRO
• OVERVIEW
• THEORY
• BATTLE FOR INSIDE POSITION
• BASIC PUMMELING DRILLS

IRIMI ASHI GARAMI

• INTRO TO IRIMI ASHI GARAMI
• INITIALLY PROTECTING YOUR FEET
• PUMMELING BACK TO NEUTRAL
• BUILDING TO A KNEE
• HIGH STEPPING OUT
• RE-PUMMEL
• BUILD TO STANDING POSITION
• FORWARD STEPPING
• BACKSTEPPING
• RE-PUMMEL

PART 2

ACHILLES LOCKS

• ACHILLES LOCKS-BELLY UP RULE
• INITIAL BOOTING AND PRESSURE
• SEPARATING AND STEPPING OVER
• KEEPING THEM BELLY UP
• ROLL THROUGH
• END GAME
• STOPPING/UNDOING THE REAP
• ROLL THROUGH
• END GAME
• BUILDING TO A KNEE
• RE-PUMMEL
• BUILD TO STANDING POSITION
• CENTRAL PROBLEM OF BUTTERFLY ASHI
• PASSING A LEG TO ESCAPE
• PREVENTING BELLY DOWN POSITION
• END GAME
• BUILDING TO A KNEE
• GRIPPING AN ELBOW TO BOOT THE FOOT
• HAND UP HAND DOWN DILEMMA
• BACKSTEPPING
• ADDRESSING A POST ASHI

PART 3

TOE HOLDS

• INTRO TO TOE HOLDS
• HIDING FEET
• SLIPPING THE INITIAL GRIP
• SECOND FOOT INTERFERENCE
• SITTING OVER A LEG
• HALF ROLL TO SEPARATE LEGS
• FULL/MULTIPLE ROLLS
• END GAME
• DEFENDING FROM A KNEE

HEEL HOOKS

• INTRO TO HEEL HOOKS
• HIDING FEET
• INITIAL HEEL SLIP
• SECOND LEG INTERFERENCE
• SITTING OVER A LEG
• HALF ROLL TO SEPARATE LEGS
• FULL/MULTIPLE ROLLS
• END GAME
• DEFENDING FROM A KNEE
• DEFENDING FROM STANDING

PART 4

OUSIDE ASHI

• INTRO TO OUTSIDE ASHI
• SEPARATING CROSSED ANKLES
• INVERTED HEEL HOOK OPTIONS
• SITTING OVER A LEG
• FEEDING TO MUTUAL ASHI
• TOP LEG INTERFERENCE
• BUILDING TO A KNEE
• BUILDING TO STANDING POSITION
• EXTRACTING THE LEG OR REPUMMELING
• ACHILLES LOCK INITIAL BOOT AND FORWARD PRESSURE
• KEEPING THEM BELLY UP/FULL ROTATION
• COUNTERING A REAP
• AVOIDING POST ASHI
• END GAME
• BUILDING TO A KNEE/STANDING
• INTRO TO TOE HOLDS
• INITIALLY PROTECTING YOUR FEET/SECOND LEG INTERFERENCE
• FULL/MULTIPLE ROLLS
• DEFENDING FROM A KNEE
• END GAME

PART 5

HEEL HOOKS

• INTRO TO HEEL HOOKS
• INITIAL HEEL SLIP/SECOND LEG INTERFERENCE
• HALF ROLL TO KNEE DOWN ESCAPE
• FULL/ MULTIPLE ROLLS
• END GAME
• DEFENDING HEEL KNEE BAR
• END GAME
• DEFENDING FROM A KNEE
• DEFEND FROM STANDING
• RECAPPING IRIMI AND OUTSIDE ASHI

TOP OSHIRO

• INTRO TO TOP OSHIRO
• KNEE SLIP
• DEFENDING “WRONG” SIDE KNEE BAR
• END GAME
• DEFENDING “CORRECT” SIDE KNEE BAR WITHOUT DOUBLE TROUBLE
• COUNTERING TOE HOLD KNEE BAR DILEMMA
• END GAME

PART 6

CROSS ASHI

• INTRO TO CROSS ASHI
• INITIALLY PROTECTING YOUR FEET
• OPPORTUNISTIC SLIPS OF PRIMARY LEG
• OPPORTUNISTIC SLIPS OF SECONDARY LEG
• DEFENDING A LEG LACE
• END GAME
• DEFENDING SECONDARY LEG ACHILLES LOCKS
• END GAME
• EXTRACTING SECONDARY THEN PRIMARY LEG
• RE-PUMMEL
• HALF ROLL TO SEPARATE LEGS
• KNEE DOWN ESCAPE
• FULL/MULTIPLE ROLLS
• INITIAL HEEL SLIP
• SEPARATING LEGS
• 50/50 TRANSFER
• ATTEMPTING TO ROLL WITH THE LOCK
• COUNTERING FAR HIP ASHI
• END GAME

PART 7

INSIDE ASHI

• INTRO TO INSIDE ASHI
• ATTEMPTING TO HIDE THE HEEL
• SEPARATING AND EXTRACTING
• RE-PUMMEL
• TRANSFER TO OUTSIDE ASHI
• KNEE DOWN ESCAPE
• FULL ROLL TO CHANGE LEG POSITION
• MULTIPLE ROLLS
• RECAPPING CROSS AND INSIDE ASHI

PART 8

50/50

• INTRO TO 50/50
• INITIAL LEG POSITIONS
• HIDING THE HEEL
• CENTER CHEST LEG EXTRACTION
• SEPARATING CROSSED ANKLES
• EXTRACTING A LEG
• PASSOVER TO OUTSIDE ASHI
• TOE HOLD VS FULL FIGURE FOUR
• TOEHOLD TO EXTRACTION
• TOEHOLD TO CROSSED ANKLES
• BUILDING TO A KNEE
• EXTRACTING WHEN THEY UNLOCK LEGS
• BUILD TO STANDING POSITION
• EXTRACTING LEGS FROM STANDING POSITION
• INITIAL HEEL SLIP
• HEEL SLIP TO COUNTER LEG EXTENSION
• ATTEMPTING TO ROLL WITH THE LOCK
• 2ND LEG INTERFERENCE
• END GAME
• COUNTERING BACKSIDE 50/50
• COUNTERING CRISSCROSS ASHI
• COUNTERING CROSS WAIST ASHI
• DEFENDING A HEEL HOOK FROM THE KNEES
• DEFENDING THE HEEL HOOK FROM STANDING
• RECAPPING 50/50

MUTUAL ASHI

• INTRO TO MUTUAL ASHI
• WHO GOES FIRST MAY LOSE
• INSIDE KNEE TO EXTRACTION
• TOEHOLD/HEEL HOOKS TO EXTRACTION
• DEFENDING TOEHOLD/HEEL HOOKS
• OUTRO

Gordon Ryan – The Pillars Of Defense: Leg Lock Escapes and Counter Locks

The Pillars Of Defense: Leg Lock Escapes and Counter Locks from grappling icon Gordon Ryan is a tactical masterclass in reversing the tide of any leg lock battle. Rather than offering disconnected drills or isolated techniques, this system delivers a strategic architecture that shows you how to shut down elite-level leg attacks—and launch your own devastating counters in return.

Gordon, widely regarded as the most dominant no-gi grappler of his era, breaks down his exact blueprints for neutralizing modern leg lock systems—regardless of whether you’re facing heel hooks, knee bars, or entanglements from inside/outside Ashi. This course isn’t just about survival—it’s about turning defense into opportunity, and opportunity into control.

Whether you’re a competitive athlete, an ambitious hobbyist, or a coach seeking to level up your team’s leg lock IQ, this program is a game-changer.

What You’ll Learn Inside The Pillars Of Defense

Through a carefully organized framework, Gordon walks you through the mechanics, timing, and mindset needed to stay safe under pressure—and turn dangerous positions into submission setups of your own.

Key Concepts Covered:

Recognizing Traps Before They’re Set
Train your awareness to spot and pre-empt transitions that often lead to tight, inescapable leg entanglements.

Breaking Free with Structure and Precision
Explore how posture, frames, and micro-movements allow you to unravel control from even the most dominant leg-lock positions.

Reclaiming Offensive Initiative
Learn how to not only escape—but immediately transition into control and submission threats, flipping the script on your opponent.

Defensive Layering Systems
Build a multi-tiered defense approach that doesn’t rely on athleticism or flexibility, but on timing, leverage, and strategic anticipation.

Leg Lock Counter-Offense
Turn defensive reactions into trap-setting counter-attacks using Gordon’s signature timing and pressure concepts.

Mindset and Positional Awareness
Absorb Gordon’s insights on staying composed, conserving energy, and controlling chaos in leg lock-heavy exchanges.

This is not just a toolbox—it’s a complete philosophy for staying safe, turning the tide, and taking over the match.

Who Should Train with This Course?

• Grapplers who frequently encounter leg lock specialists in competition or training

• BJJ practitioners seeking to upgrade defense into counter-offense

• Students looking to build confidence in the most feared positions of modern no-gi

• Coaches who want to raise the defensive grappling standard across their academy

• Anyone interested in Gordon Ryan’s personal approach to leg lock survival and reversal

Regardless of your current belt or level, this course offers clarity, structure, and technique you can apply immediately.

About Gordon Ryan

Gordon Ryan is widely recognized as the king of no-gi grappling, holding multiple ADCC and IBJJF world titles. Known for his systematic approach, surgical precision, and groundbreaking instructionals, Gordon has helped evolve the sport through technical innovation and unmatched consistency at the highest level. With this course, he opens the doors to the defensive side of mastery, showing that survival is not passive—it’s the platform for domination.

Why This Course Redefines Defensive Jiu-Jitsu

• Strategic, Not Just Technical – Understand why each escape works and when to use it—not just how

• Offense From Defense – Every escape is a doorway to pressure and control—not just safety

• Structured Learning – Organized into conceptual modules to accelerate your understanding and retention

• Applicable to All Styles – Whether you play top, bottom, or wrestle, these principles translate seamlessly

• Built for the Modern Game – Designed to counter today’s most dangerous leg lock systems head-on

From the Most Feared Positions Comes the Opportunity to Win

With The Pillars Of Defense, Gordon Ryan hands you the keys to reclaim control from chaos. When others panic, you’ll respond with precision. When others escape, you’ll counter. When others survive, you’ll dominate.

This isn’t just another escape course. It’s a defensive doctrine forged by the best in the world.