Sometimes Colin Oates’s opponents would catch the leg far too tightly for him to free it in his usual manner. So he developed a tie off variation of his leg escape into Mune Gatame, so that he wasn’t trying to free the leg using his lower body alone.

If the partner has managed to keep a tight grip of his leg he will then bring in his right arm to assist in freeing it. He does this by tying up his partner’s left arm using the skirt of their jacket. This means his right arm can now be used to help kick out his leg, and move into Osaekomi.

In the standard variation of his leg escape Oates maintains his grip underneath the armpit. He does this to prevent his partner from taking control of his chest and potentially escaping. This is why, he says, not to use your arm to help free the leg unless their left arm is immobilised.

He does this by pulling down on their sleeve and bringing his left arm inside the crook of their elbow. He then takes the skirt of his partner’s jacket and feeds it from his right hand into his left, making sure that he ties up the wrist as tightly as possible.

Now his right hand is available to grip the trouser just above the far knee, pushing the partner’s leg down and away. At the same time he brings his right foot onto the near knee, pushing with the hand and kicking with the foot at the same time. As he releases his foot he swings around into Osaekomi as quickly as possible, maintaining the trouser grip with his right hand.

As with his standard variation of the leg escape Oates says it’s critical to be aware of your tempo, slowing down to tie off the arm, and moving back up to full speed at the moment you release the leg.