ADCC is where we saw the heel hook really evolve into the dominant submission hold we see today and where leg locking truly became an art. Now, every competitor needs to have serious skill in recognizing and defending leg locks or they risk losing (and potentially losing very quickly).

• Subscribe To FloGrappling To Watch The ADCC World Championship
• 'ROOTS' Is Here! Check Out The Trailer For The Ruotolo Bros Series Here!
• Check Out FloGrappling's Official World No-Gi Rankings
• Every Athlete Invited To The 2024 ADCC World Championships
• Gordon Ryan To Face Felipe Pena In Super Fight Between Rivals At ADCC 2024

It's no exaggeration to say this field will be perhaps the overall best leg lockers in the sport's history - though some rise above the rest. We have picked out ten of the top leg lockers in the 2024 ADCC field, so fans of the style know who to watch out for during the competition.

1. Diego Pato

2023's 'Year of the Duck' is quickly turning into the era of the duck with Diego Pato's extended success - and it's no exaggeration to call the WNO double champ the best leg locker going right now in jiu-jitsu. The Art of Jiu-Jitsu representative has emerged over the last few years as a leg locker not just to be respected - but feared.

Pato's leg locking arsenal has made his open guard an absolute minefield as he launches into outside heel hooks, inside heel hooks, and more and against elite competitors. At the last ADCC, he straight ankle locked Keith Krikorian and Z-Lock'ed Kennedy Maciel. Since then, he has used heel hooks to beat ADCC champ Baby Shark and WNO champ Dante Leon.

No one can match his resume for leg locking right now and he is the favorite heading into ADCC - but he's in perhaps the deepest weight class at -66kg.

2. Gordon Ryan

Even though he isn't as synonymous with leg locking as he once was, Gordon's skill with heel hooks still has to be respected as one of the best in the world. While now he largely focuses on his wrestling, passing, and pinning, Gordon originally gained his infamy as a leg locker. The constant threat of the heel hook helps bring the rest of his game to life, and it still shows up commonly.

At the last ADCC, Gordon used an outside heel hook to infamously submit his semifinal opponent in under 15 seconds, and then used a heel hook again in the finals to submit Nick Rodriguez. In his most recent match against Josh Saunders, Gordon used that same inside ashi to secure the outside heel hook.

While he may not be the most prolific leg locker in the sport today, Gordon is still an elite talent at submitting below the waist.

3. Jacob Couch

'The Hillbilly Hammer' won ADCC East Coast Trials will a wild run of all-submission wins and it was his lethal leg locks that got the job done and shot Jacob way up this list. He went 7-for-7 with leg lock wins over guys like Elder Cruz, Jay Rodriguez, and more.

While he's skilled with a variety of holds, Couch has one of the best outside ashi to heel hook sequences in the game today and used that liberally to win at Trials (and then against recently at WNO against Sebastian Rodriguez). His first big win was also a WNO heel hook - then an inside heel hook over Roberto Jimenez.

4. Mateusz Szczecinski

The Polish submission hunter is an easy choice for his list because of his signature hold - the shotgun ankle lock that has really changed the way people approach that submission lock. Mateusz's advancements on the grip and pressure have turned the straight ankle/achilles lock into a far more lethal move - and if you need proof go check his ADCC match against William Tackett.

With the shotgun ankle lock, aoki lock, and outside heel hook all becoming more common and dangerous moves, the straight ashi system has really gained popularity at the elite levels of the sport over the last few years.

5. Jasmine & Vagner Rocha

The Rocha family is making history at ADCC 2024 when father and daughter take the mats at the same tournament - and they will do it as two of the most dangerous leg lockers in the field. Both have highlight reel submission finishes coming from their vicious leg locking game - including Vagner's counter foot lock for -88kg bronze in 2022.

Jasmine is the more stylistically typical leg locker, pulling to open guard to enter entanglements. Her run through the North and South American Trials had plenty of finishes from the legs - tho she also showed serious skill with her overall game, including the back take and rear naked choke that secured her spot at ADCC Worlds. Vagner is more of an opportunistic or counter leg locker, finding his chances as opponents over-pursue on their own attacks.

6. Garry Tonon

Garry Tonon is back in the ADCC field in 2024 and "your Mom's favorite grappler" is also an elite leg locker. Garry was one of the first grapplers to help bring that DDS system to the spotlight in the mid-2010's at EBI's and other events, along with guys like Gordon and Eddie Cummings.

Garry's probably best known for his more acrobatic entries into the legs, including his infamous kani basami from ADCC 2019. He's also a fan of using techniques like the Victor's roll, sliding entries, inversions, and more to find his way into strong finishing positions.

7. Helena Crevar

New Wave's young star has quickly established herself as a force to be reckoned with and she has largely gotten it done with her lower body submissions. While Helena has shown strong aspects to her overall game, her dangerous leg locks have really stood out - especially on her gold medal run at the ADCC West Coast Trials.

8. Taylor Pearman

Whenever someone goes all-submissions through a Trials run, it should turn heads. When they do it all with one stylistically unified game, that is a statement that should be listened to. Taylor Pearman did just that when he won the second European Trials with all leg locks.

His aggressive and flawless run through the bracket saw him submit six men at -88kg, including Adam Wardzinski. The London-based grappler figures to play spoiler at T-Mobile, and he has the danger to his game that can make that happen.

9. Kaua Gabriel

Kaua may be the most unknown person on this list but that isn't a reflection of the danger he poses - this Melqui Galvao black belt is a menace on the mats who has shined brightly under ADCC rules. His signature straight ankle has helped propel him to three straight Trials finals in South America, losing close matches to top stars like Kennedy Maciel and Fabricio Andrey.

At T-Mobile it will be tough for Kaua to make a very deep run as he will be seeded to face teammate Baby Shark at -66kg, but he is still young and this is his first real chance to turn heads in front of the world. He has the leg locking skill to do it.

10. Paul Ardila

Paul Ardila showed off his deep leg locking knowledge once again at the ADCC East Coast Trials, beating a tough field using his leg locks as the primary weapon (submitting 3 of 5 opponents with leg locks). It was his third ADCC Trials gold medal but as the Atlanta-based black belt prepares for his fourth ADCC worlds he is still seeking his first victory at the tournament. With his experience, physicality, and skill (particularly with leg locks) then 2024 could be the year he not only picks up that win but makes a deep run.

Watch BJJ On FloGrappling

FloGrappling is the streaming home to the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu events and news coverage. FloGrappling is the streaming home of: 

• ADCC
• IBJJF
• WNO
• Fight to Win
• And more!

Don't Miss IBJJF World Championships And ADCC World Championships On FloGrappling

In May 2024, FloGrappling is streaming the fourth and final Grand Slam event on the IBJJF Calendar in California.  

In August 2024, FloGrappling is streaming the ADCC World Championships. The bi-annual tournament returns to Las Vegas. 

Join The BJJ Conversation By Following FloGrappling On Social

• Follow us on Twitter @flograppling.
• Follow us on Instagram @flograppling.
• Watch us on YouTube.
• Like us on Facebook.