BJJ Graph

Heel Hook Dilemma | BJJ Submission Guide | BJJ Graph

Oct 25, 202510 min read

Heel Hook Dilemma

bjjsubmissionleglockheel_hookrotational_lock

Required Properties for State Machine

Core Identifiers

  • Submission ID: S107
  • Submission Name: Heel Hook Dilemma (Primary: Inside Heel Hook)
  • Alternative Names: Honey Hole Heel Hook, Inside Rotational Lock

State Machine Properties

Submission Properties

  • Success Probability: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 55%, Advanced 80% - core probability data
  • Execution Complexity: High - technical difficulty assessment
  • Energy Cost: Medium - physical demand of execution
  • Time Required: Short - duration of submission attempt
  • Risk Level: High - chance of position loss if failed and potential for injury

Physical Requirements

  • Strength Requirements: Medium for grip and rotational control
  • Flexibility Requirements: Medium for hip mobility in entanglement
  • Coordination Requirements: High for precise heel grip and leg positioning
  • Endurance Requirements: Low for quick execution

State Machine Content Elements

Visual Execution Sequence

Detailed step-by-step description for clear movement sequence visualization:

From a dominant leg entanglement position such as Inside Sankaku, Ashi Garami, or 50-50 Guard, you begin with the opponent’s leg trapped between your legs and their hip controlled to prevent rotational escape. Your inside leg hooks deeply around their thigh, while your outside leg controls their hip or crosses over their body, creating a tight frame that immobilizes their lower body. Your hands secure a figure-four grip on their exposed heel, with one hand cupping the heel and the other arm threading around to lock the grip, pulling the heel tight to your chest or armpit for maximum control. As you establish this configuration, their foot points away from their body while their knee remains relatively straight, creating the vulnerable alignment for rotational pressure. You begin to rotate your entire upper body and shoulders inward, turning toward their trapped leg, which generates torque through their ankle and directly into their knee joint, targeting the ACL, MCL, and meniscus structures. The opponent feels intense rotational pressure building in their knee, a sensation that precedes pain and signals immediate structural danger, compelling them to tap rapidly before catastrophic ligament damage occurs.

Template: “From leg entanglement, trap leg between yours with hip controlled. Hook inside leg around thigh, control hip with outside leg. Secure figure-four heel grip, pull heel to chest. Rotate upper body inward toward trapped leg, generating torque through ankle into knee. Opponent feels intense rotational knee pressure signaling structural danger, prompting rapid tap.”

⚠️ Safety Considerations

Injury Risks

Heel hooks can cause CATASTROPHIC injuries if applied incorrectly:

  • Knee Ligament Tears (ACL/MCL/PCL) (Severity: CRITICAL, Recovery: 6-12 months surgery + rehab; career-ending potential)
  • Meniscus Tears (Severity: High, Recovery: 3-6 months; often requires surgery)
  • Ankle Ligament Damage (Severity: High, Recovery: 6-12 weeks; from rotational force)
  • LCL Complete Rupture (Severity: CRITICAL, Recovery: 6-9 months; devastating injury)

Application Speed

  • Apply submissions EXTREMELY SLOWLY over 5-7 seconds minimum
  • NEVER apply sudden rotational force or “rip” the heel
  • Build rotational pressure in tiny increments (10% at a time)
  • Heel hooks damage joints BEFORE pain is felt - extreme caution required
  • Maintain constant awareness of partner’s tap signals, expect early taps

Tap Signals

Partners must establish clear tap signals before training:

  • Verbal Tap: Saying “tap” loudly (CRITICAL - often primary signal due to entanglement)
  • Physical Tap: Tapping partner’s body, mat, or own body (minimum 2 rapid taps)
  • Emergency Signal: ANY vocalization or movement - assume tap if uncertain
  • Important: Partners should tap EARLY to position, not to pain (pain = damage already occurring)

Release Protocol

When partner taps:

  1. IMMEDIATELY stop all rotational pressure and release heel grip
  2. Release figure-four configuration and straighten leg alignment
  3. Carefully unwind leg entanglement without additional torque
  4. Check partner’s knee and ankle: “Knee okay? Ankle stable? Any popping or pain?”
  5. Allow partner to slowly test knee range of motion
  6. Observe for 20-30 seconds for swelling, instability, or inability to bear weight
  7. If ANY concern about injury, stop training and seek medical evaluation

Training Progression

  • Weeks 1-4: Leg entanglement positions ONLY, no heel exposure or grip
  • Weeks 5-8: Heel grip and positioning with ZERO rotational pressure (tap to grip only)
  • Weeks 9-16: Minimal directional pressure with experienced partner (10% rotation, tap immediately)
  • Weeks 17-24: Light pressure with advanced partner (20-30% rotation, tap to feel)
  • Ongoing: NEVER full pressure in training, competition-level pressure for competition ONLY
  • Note: Many academies prohibit heel hooks below brown/black belt - follow your gym’s rules

Partner Communication

  • Establish tap protocol before drilling - emphasize EARLY tapping to position
  • Communicate knee/ankle history - any previous injury requires extra caution
  • Discuss experience level with heel hooks - beginners require extremely slow application
  • Agree on maximum pressure (typically 20-40% maximum, NEVER full in training)
  • Verbal check-ins during setup: “position okay?” “feeling pressure yet?”
  • Watch for ANY sign of discomfort - release immediately, heel hooks damage silently
  • CRITICAL: Treat heel hooks with extreme respect - they end careers if mishandled

From a leg entanglement position such as Inside Sankaku (also known as Honey Hole or 411), Ashi Garami, or 50-50 Guard, initiate the Inside Heel Hook by securing control over the opponent’s leg, isolating their hip to prevent defensive rotation, and establishing a figure-four grip on their heel with your arms. Position your legs to maintain the knee line, ensuring the opponent’s knee is aligned for rotational pressure, with your inside leg often trapping their thigh and your outside leg controlling their hip or ankle. Grip the heel tightly, ensuring the heel is exposed and not hidden by their other leg, using your hands to pull it towards your chest or shoulder to create leverage. Apply rotational force by turning your body or hips, directing pressure inward to torque the knee and ankle joints, while keeping their hip immobilized to prevent escape. Maintain this control and increase the rotational pressure steadily until the opponent submits due to the intense strain on the knee ligaments.

Template: “From Inside Sankaku or similar, isolate leg and hip, secure figure-four heel grip. Position legs for knee line control, trap thigh and hip. Grip heel tightly, pull towards chest. Apply inward rotational force with body turn until submission.”

Execution Steps (Numbered Sequence)

  1. Setup Requirements: Establish leg entanglement (Inside Sankaku, Ashi Garami, 50-50 Guard)
  2. Initial Movement: Isolate opponent’s hip and secure figure-four grip on heel
  3. Opponent Response: Opponent may attempt to rotate knee or hide heel
  4. Adaptation: Position legs to maintain knee line, trap thigh and control hip
  5. Positioning: Grip heel tightly, pull towards chest or shoulder for leverage
  6. Pressure Application: Apply inward rotational force by turning body or hips
  7. Completion: Increase rotational pressure until submission

Key Technical Details

Critical elements that determine success:

  • Grip Requirements: Secure figure-four grip on heel to prevent slipping
  • Base/Foundation: Leg positioning to maintain knee line and hip control
  • Timing Windows: Execute when opponent’s leg is entangled and hip isolated
  • Leverage Points: Rotational torque on knee and ankle via heel grip
  • Common Adjustments: Adjust grip and body angle based on defensive rotations

Success Modifiers

Factors that increase/decrease probability:

  • Setup Quality: Security of heel grip and hip isolation (+/-20%)
  • Timing Precision: Executing when leg is entangled and hip isolated (+/-15%)
  • Opponent Fatigue: Reduced defensive mobility over time (+/-5%)
  • Knowledge Test Performance: Understanding heel hook mechanics (+/-10%)
  • Positional Control: Effectiveness of knee line maintenance (+/-10%)

Counter-Attack Analysis

Common Counters

Opponent responses with success rates:

  • Knee Rotation Outward: Rotating knee outward to relieve pressure → Rotation Defense (Success Rate: 25%, Conditions: early reaction)
  • Heel Hiding: Tucking foot to hide heel → Heel Protection (Success Rate: 20%, Conditions: quick adjustment)
  • Hip Elevation: Bridging to create space → Space Creation (Success Rate: 15%, Conditions: strong base)
  • Standing Attempt: Standing to escape entanglement → Position Escape (Success Rate: 10%, Conditions: explosive movement)
  • Leg Extension: Extending leg to reduce torque → Extension Defense (Success Rate: 10%, Conditions: immediate action)

Format: [[Counter Technique]] → [[Result State]] (Success Rate: X%, Conditions: [when applicable])

Decision Logic for Opponent Behavior

If [inside heel hook setup] is not fully secured:
- Execute [[Knee Rotation Outward]] (Probability: 25%)

Else if [heel hiding] protects heel:
- Execute [[Heel Hiding]] (Probability: 20%)

Else if [hip elevation] creates space:
- Execute [[Hip Elevation]] (Probability: 15%)

Else if [standing attempt] escapes entanglement:
- Execute [[Standing Attempt]] (Probability: 10%)

Else [optimal submission execution]:
- Accept submission (Probability: Success Rate - Modifiers)

Defensive Considerations

Common Threats During Attempt

Primary risks while attempting this submission:

  • Rotation Defense: Opponent rotates knee outward → Rotation Defense (Threat Level: Medium)
  • Heel Protection: Opponent hides heel → Heel Protection (Threat Level: Medium)
  • Space Creation: Opponent bridges to create space → Space Creation (Threat Level: Low)
  • Position Escape: Opponent stands to escape → Position Escape (Threat Level: Low)

Format: [[Threat Type]] → [[Resulting Position]] (Threat Level: X)

Defensive Strategies

Methods to mitigate threats:

  • Heel Grip: Maintain tight grip on heel to prevent hiding
  • Hip Control: Keep opponent’s hip immobilized to counter rotation
  • Knee Line: Secure knee line with legs to block bridging
  • Entanglement Maintenance: Adjust entanglement to prevent standing escape
  • Adaptation Readiness: Be prepared to switch to other leg locks if heel hook fails

Educational Content

Expert Insights

Commentary as if from recognized authorities:

  • John Danaher: “The Inside Heel Hook is central to my leg lock system, emphasizing control before submission. Establishing dominant entanglement like Inside Sankaku maximizes control and minimizes defensive options.”
  • Gordon Ryan: “I focus on patient control in heel hook positions, waiting for subtle defensive errors. Transitions between Inside Sankaku and 50-50 create seamless adjustments for the submission.”
  • Eddie Bravo: “In 10th Planet, heel hooks are transitional threats to set up upper body attacks. I emphasize unorthodox entries that integrate with my overall system.”

Each insight should focus on one key technical or strategic element.

Common Errors

For knowledge test generation:

  • Error: Poor heel grip or exposure

  • Why It Fails: Allows opponent to hide heel or escape grip

  • Correction: Secure figure-four grip and maintain heel exposure

  • Recognition: Heel slips out during rotational attempt

  • Error: Insufficient hip isolation

  • Why It Fails: Permits opponent to rotate or escape entanglement

  • Correction: Control opponent’s hip with leg positioning

  • Recognition: Opponent easily rotates knee or stands up

  • Error: Incorrect rotational direction or leverage

  • Why It Fails: Reduces torque on knee and ankle, weakening submission

  • Correction: Apply inward rotation with body turn for maximum pressure

  • Recognition: Submission feels ineffective despite heel grip

Tactical Applications

Strategic uses of the submission:

  • Primary Leg Attack: Main submission from leg entanglement positions
  • Defensive Counter: Effective against guard passes or sweeps
  • Positional Control: Maintains control and forces defensive reactions
  • Chain Setup: Sets up other heel hook variations or leg locks
  • Psychological Pressure: Creates fear of injury, prompting errors

Graph View

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