MASAKAZU IMANARI

Masakazu Imanari is the Japanese MMA fighter whose work in pioneering leg-lock submissions in mixed martial arts substantially influenced the modern no-gi leg-lock revolution that the Danaher Death Squad and subsequent practitioners developed. Born in 1976 and active in Japanese MMA from the late 1990s through the 2010s, Imanari accumulated MMA submission victories almost entirely through leg locks — heel hooks, kneebars, and toe holds — at a time when most MMA fighters did not extensively study leg-lock attacks.

Imanari's most distinctive technical contribution is the Imanari roll — the standing-to-leg-lock entry that bears his name. The technique involves rolling forward from standing engagement to capture the opponent's leg and immediately transition to a leg-entanglement position. The Imanari roll has been integrated into modern no-gi BJJ pedagogy as a primary leg-lock entry from standing, with Danaher Death Squad and subsequent practitioners using it extensively. Imanari's nickname 'Ashikan Judan' (translated approximately as '10th-degree leg-lock master') reflects his reputation as one of the foremost leg-lock practitioners of his era.

Imanari's competitive career through Japanese MMA produced submission victories against numerous high-profile opponents, demonstrating the viability of systematic leg-lock attacks at the elite competitive level. The influence of his work extends substantially beyond his individual competitive output through the broader pedagogical impact on modern no-gi BJJ. As of 2026 Imanari is largely retired from active competition but remains one of the most consequential figures in the history of modern leg-lock pedagogy.