A gi-focused leg lock system from 50-50, single-leg X, and transitions, with clear kneebar, toe hold, and ankle lock finishes.
The Bottom Line
Victor Hugo's Modern Leg Lock Manual is a gi-focused system for IBJJF-legal attacks from single leg X, spider, butterfly, and 50-50. You will learn Hugo's toe hold, kneebar, ankle lock mechanics and counterattacks built to punish passes. You will not learn no-gi heel hooks or the latest false reap meta; this stays squarely in the gi.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: Gi players seeking IBJJF-legal locks
Skip if: You want no-gi heel hooks
Tech focus: Single Leg X, 50/50, Knee Bar, Toe Hold, Estima Lock, Ankle Lock
Biggest takeaway: Gi leg locks can be systematic, safe, and nasty.
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What You'll Learn
Victor Hugo is a double gold IBJJF gi world champion and a noted gi leg-lock threat, especially from 50-50 and single leg X. This course packages his IBJJF-legal leg attacks with a structured path through common gi positions and counters.
It is aimed at gi players who want to make kneebars, toe holds, and ankle locks a real scoring threat without relying on heel hooks.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Single Leg X
- 50/50
- Knee Bar
- Toe Hold
- Estima Lock
- Reverse Dlr Ankle Lock
- Butterfly Guard Kneebar
- Waiter Sweep Counter
- Calf Slicer
- Ankle Lock
Format & Level
- Instructional style: System Based, Technique Collection
- Skill level: All Levels
- Format: Gi
- Runtime: 1 hour and 25 minutes
- Volumes: 3
Should You Buy It?
Wait for daily deal. I found the real value in how the course links everyday gi guards to clean kneebar and toe hold finishes with reliable counters.
Why Victor Hugo?
Victor Hugo Marques is a black belt under Saulo and Xande Ribeiro and a representative of Six Blades Jiu-Jitsu. He is an IBJJF no-gi world champion and a double gold gi world champion in 2023. Known for dynamic guard work for an ultra-heavyweight, he regularly threatens from single leg X and 50-50. His competition record includes numerous submission wins by kneebar and straight ankle lock. Hugo teaches seminars worldwide and has produced focused gi leg lock material for BJJ Fanatics.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Frequently recommended in gi leg lock threads as a go-to starting point.
- Blue belts seeking IBJJF-legal options say it matches their needs.
- Praise for 50-50 toe hold details and practical counterattacks.
- Big grapplers cite Hugo as a model for attacking legs from guard.
- Users note entries work from single leg X and spider guard.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Some worry a tall athlete's grips and angles will not scale to shorter bodies.
- Debate claims his ankle lock borders on illegal heel hook mechanics under gi rules.
- If you train no-gi heel hooks, the content will feel limited.
- A few argue he finishes more chokes than leg locks in gi, so branding can mislead.
- 50-50 heavy teaching turns off players who dislike the position.
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Smart Alternatives
- The Estima Lock & New School Toe Hold by Braulio Estima – Toe hold and Estima lock focus with 50-50 options for gi players. (Price: $79.00, 3 vols)
- IBJJF Legal Leglocks by Luiza Monteiro – Broader IBJJF-legal catalog from multiple guards taught clearly. (Price: $79.00, 4 vols)
- IBJJF Legal Footlocks by Jose Varella – Budget overview that maps legal options and rule nuances. (Price: $39.00, 1 vols)
Sources & References
Video Breakdowns
Official listing: View The Modern Leg Lock Manual on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.
