Honey Hole position, also known as Inside Sankaku, Saddle, or 4/11, represents one of the most dominant and dangerous leg entanglement positions in modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This position features an inside leg configuration where one practitioner traps their opponent’s leg between their own legs with an inside leg triangle, creating mechanical control that severely limits escape options while providing direct access to heel hooks, kneebars, and toe holds.
The position’s strategic significance stems from its asymmetric control dynamics - the top player maintains overwhelming mechanical advantage through perpendicular body alignment and leg configuration, while the bottom player faces extremely limited defensive options and high submission danger. The inside leg triangle around the opponent’s thigh creates what John Danaher calls ‘rotational imprisonment,’ where natural escape mechanisms through hip rotation are directly countered by the entanglement geometry.
From a competitive standpoint, Honey Hole has revolutionized modern no-gi grappling, particularly in submission-only and IBJJF brown/black belt competition where heel hooks are legal. The position’s development through the Danaher Death Squad and subsequent adoption by elite competitors has made it a fundamental component of contemporary leg lock systems. Understanding both offensive and defensive aspects of this position is essential for any serious no-gi practitioner, as the submission threat timeline is measured in seconds rather than minutes, requiring immediate recognition and response from the defensive perspective.
Key Principles
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Inside leg triangle creates mechanical imprisonment preventing rotational escape
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Perpendicular body alignment maximizes control while facilitating submission access
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Hip pressure from top position pins opponent’s hip eliminating space creation
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Bottom position requires immediate explosive escape before full control established
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Submission timeline is extremely compressed - 2-5 seconds from grip to finish
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Position asymmetry heavily favors top player with 80%+ control advantage
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Recognition and prevention are superior to escape attempts after establishment
Top vs Bottom
| Bottom | Top | |
|---|---|---|
| Position Type | Defensive | Offensive |
| Risk Level | High | Medium |
| Energy Cost | High | Medium |
| Time | Short | Medium |
Key Difference: Inside leg triangle creates control asymmetry
Playing as Bottom
Key Principles
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Immediate escape is paramount - Every second in this position increases submission danger exponentially
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Prevent heel exposure at all costs - Once heel is fully captured, escape probability drops dramatically
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Rotation defense requires explosive commitment - Half-measures fail, escapes must be immediate and total
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Recognize submission inevitability - When position is locked and opponent begins pressure, tap immediately
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Never fight heel hook past tightening point - Knee damage occurs in seconds once pressure applied
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Grip fighting is last-resort defense - If you cannot escape position, prevent heel hook grip establishment
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Protect your knee by controlling rotation - Your knee ligaments are most vulnerable to rotational pressure combined with heel exposure
Primary Techniques
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- Success Rate: Beginner 15%, Intermediate 30%, Advanced 45%
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- Success Rate: Beginner 10%, Intermediate 25%, Advanced 40%
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- Success Rate: Beginner 20%, Intermediate 35%, Advanced 50%
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- Success Rate: Beginner 12%, Intermediate 28%, Advanced 42%
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Technical Standup → Standing Position
- Success Rate: Beginner 8%, Intermediate 20%, Advanced 35%
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Saddle Defense → Outside Ashi-Garami
- Success Rate: Beginner 18%, Intermediate 32%, Advanced 48%
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Rolling Back Take → Backside 50-50
- Success Rate: Beginner 14%, Intermediate 27%, Advanced 43%
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Ashi Garami Escape → Open Guard
- Success Rate: Beginner 16%, Intermediate 31%, Advanced 46%
Common Mistakes
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❌ Waiting to see if opponent will complete the submission before attempting escape
- Consequence: Waiting even 1-2 seconds allows opponent to secure position fully, escape window closes, submission becomes inevitable
- ✅ Correction: React IMMEDIATELY upon feeling inside leg triangle forming, explosive escape before heel is captured - if you’re thinking about escaping rather than actively escaping, you’ve already waited too long
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❌ Half-committed escape attempts using partial rotation or weak hip movement
- Consequence: Partial rotation or weak escape attempts fail while burning energy and improving opponent’s control, making subsequent escape attempts even less likely to succeed
- ✅ Correction: Commit fully to explosive rotation or inversion - 100% effort in first 2 seconds is more effective than prolonged struggle, escape must be immediate and total
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❌ Fighting the heel hook after opponent establishes breaking grip and begins applying pressure
- Consequence: Catastrophic knee injury including ACL, MCL, meniscus tears requiring surgical reconstruction and 6-12 months recovery, competition career potentially ended
- ✅ Correction: Tap immediately when heel hook pressure begins - preserving training ability is infinitely more valuable than avoiding tap, injury recovery far exceeds shame of submission
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❌ Attempting to pull trapped leg straight back against opponent’s triangle
- Consequence: Direct pulling against triangle is mechanically impossible and wastes critical energy while opponent secures better control and heel hook grip
- ✅ Correction: Use rotational escape or inversion rather than linear extraction - leg cannot be pulled free against triangle, must change angle through rotation or position change
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❌ Neglecting free leg positioning and allowing opponent to control both legs
- Consequence: Loss of free leg mobility eliminates escape options and allows opponent to transition to more dominant positions or secure multiple submission threats
- ✅ Correction: Keep free leg actively posted and mobile - maintain ability to push, frame, or rotate using free leg as escape requires maintaining at least one point of mobility
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❌ Trying to stand up while leg is still trapped in triangle configuration
- Consequence: Standing attempt with trapped leg provides opponent with elevation they can use to complete submission faster or sweep you back down with worse position
- ✅ Correction: Extract leg from triangle BEFORE attempting standup - standing is only viable after leg is free, attempting standup with trapped leg accelerates opponent’s control
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❌ Panicking and thrashing without strategic movement pattern
- Consequence: Random explosive movements without direction exhaust you rapidly while giving opponent opportunities to improve position and secure tighter control
- ✅ Correction: Channel panic into focused explosive escape in specific direction - choose one escape route (rotation, inversion, or hip escape) and commit fully to that path
Playing as Top
Key Principles
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Leg Configuration Control: Maintain proper figure-four entanglement with inside leg triangling and outside leg crossing hip
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Hip Pressure: Apply constant downward hip pressure to pin opponent and prevent rotation
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Distance Management: Control space between bodies to facilitate submissions while preventing counter-attacks
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Upper Body Control: Secure opponent’s upper body with grips or frames to limit defensive reactions
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Submission Progression: Build attacks systematically from control to breaking mechanics to finish
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Escape Prevention: Anticipate common escape attempts (hip rotation, leg extraction) and maintain control adjustments
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Positional Patience: Maintain control under pressure without rushing submissions, letting position create submission opportunities
Primary Techniques
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Outside Heel Hook → Won by Submission
- Success Rate: Beginner 55%, Intermediate 70%, Advanced 85%
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Inside Heel Hook → Won by Submission
- Success Rate: Beginner 45%, Intermediate 60%, Advanced 75%
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Kneebar Finish → Kneebar Control
- Success Rate: Beginner 40%, Intermediate 55%, Advanced 70%
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Toe Hold from Top → Toe Hold Control
- Success Rate: Beginner 35%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 65%
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Saddle Entry from Top → Saddle
- Success Rate: Beginner 50%, Intermediate 65%, Advanced 80%
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Turtle to Back Take → Back Control
- Success Rate: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 45%, Advanced 60%
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Inside Ashi Entry → Inside Ashi-Garami
- Success Rate: Beginner 40%, Intermediate 55%, Advanced 70%
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Calf Slicer from Truck → Calf Slicer
- Success Rate: Beginner 25%, Intermediate 40%, Advanced 55%
Common Mistakes
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❌ Insufficient hip control allowing opponent to create space
- Consequence: Allows opponent to escape by creating distance and removing their leg from entanglement, potentially reversing position or establishing guard
- ✅ Correction: Keep your hips tight to opponent’s hip, using your legs to clamp their trapped leg while maintaining constant downward pressure to eliminate escape routes. Your outside leg should drive across their hip creating a wedge that prevents rotation.
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❌ Over-rotating too early before establishing proper control
- Consequence: Exposes your own legs to counter-attacks and allows opponent to escape or reverse the entanglement into their own leg lock position
- ✅ Correction: Establish solid hip control first with proper leg configuration, then rotate gradually while maintaining pressure. Control precedes submission attempts.
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❌ Neglecting upper body control and focusing only on leg entanglement
- Consequence: Opponent can use their upper body mobility to frame, create space, and facilitate leg extraction even with good leg entanglement
- ✅ Correction: Secure grips on opponent’s upper body (collar, sleeve, or body lock) to limit their ability to sit up or create frames. Upper body control complements leg entanglement.
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❌ Attacking heel hook with improper hand positioning before securing control
- Consequence: Telegraphs submission attempt and gives opponent time to defend by hiding heel or extracting leg. Also reduces control making escape easier
- ✅ Correction: Establish position completely first, then grip for submission. Hand should cup heel with four fingers on top and thumb underneath, wrist control with other hand. Only grip when ready to finish.
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❌ Failing to adjust when opponent rotates or shifts weight
- Consequence: Allows opponent to escape entanglement or reverse position. Static control in dynamic situation leads to lost position
- ✅ Correction: Constantly adjust your hip position and leg configuration to match opponent’s movements. If they rotate, follow with your hips. If they create space, immediately close distance and retighten entanglement.
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❌ Crossing feet too tight on figure-four reducing mobility
- Consequence: Limits your ability to adjust position and follow opponent’s movements. Creates static position that skilled opponents can escape
- ✅ Correction: Maintain figure-four with controlled tension—tight enough for control but loose enough to allow hip adjustments and transitions. Your feet should be engaged but not locked rigidly.