How to do the perfect Imanari Roll

What Is the Imanari Roll?

The Imanari Roll is a dynamic entry into leg entanglements (heel hooks, kneebars, Ashi Garami) named after Masakazu Imanari. It uses a rolling inversion to bypass an opponent’s hips and connect directly to their legs before they can sprawl or back away.

When done correctly, it feels effortless and explosive—not chaotic.

Step-by-Step Breakdown: The “Perfect” Imanari Roll

1. Distance & Stance Setup

• Start just outside your opponent’s lead foot.
• Your head is upright, posture relaxed.
• Hands are ready to post or redirect.
• You want your opponent:
  • Standing tall
  • Weight slightly on one leg
  • Not fully squared with perfect balance

✅ Key Detail: You roll toward the lead leg, not the center of the body.

2. Level Change & Entry Angle

• Drop your level by bending your knees, not collapsing forward.
• Turn your shoulders slightly toward the target leg.
• Your head should aim past their heel, not into their thigh.

✅ Think “around the leg, not through the opponent.”

3. The Roll Itself (Inversion Mechanics)

• Tuck your near-side shoulder to the mat.
• Your spine should form a smooth C-shape.
• You roll:
  • Shoulder → upper back → hips
• Your hips must travel past their foot, not underneath their center.

✅ This is what prevents getting stuffed or sprawled on.

4. Leg Connection Mid-Roll

As your hips pass their leg:

• Your inside arm scoops behind their Achilles
• Your top leg threads across their thigh
• Your bottom leg pins behind their knee

This automatically places you into:

• Outside Ashi Garami
• Cross Ashi
• Or immediate heel exposure

✅ The roll is useless without this mid-roll leg capture.

5. Control Before Submission

Before attacking:

• Clamp your knees
• Hide your heel
• Control their far hip or posting leg
• Break their posture first

Only then:

• Apply heel hook, kneebar, or transition to saddle

✅ Position before submission—always.

Timing Principles (What Makes It “Perfect”)

The Imanari Roll works best when:

• Opponent steps forward
• Opponent circles laterally
• Opponent is reacting to a feint
• Opponent’s lead leg is “light”

It fails when:

• They are squared
• Hips are too low
• They are backing straight up
• You telegraph the drop

Common Mistakes That Ruin the Roll

❌ Rolling straight under their hips
❌ Diving head-first without angle
❌ Not controlling the heel during the roll
❌ Crossing your feet loosely
❌ Attacking before establishing leg control
❌ Using speed instead of positioning

Safety Notes (Especially in the Gym)

• Always drill slow before fast
• Never apply heel hooks explosively in training
• Communicate clearly during roll-throughs
• Beginners should start with Imanari to straight Ashi, not to full saddle

Mental Cue That Makes It Work

“I am not rolling at my opponent. I am rolling around his base.”

When that clicks, the technique becomes smooth, controlled, and terrifyingly effective.

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