BJJ Graph

Inside Heel Hook

Jun 15, 202511 min read

Inside Heel Hook

bjjtransitionsubmissionleglockheel_hook

Required Properties for State Machine

Core Identifiers

  • Submission ID: S301
  • Submission Name: Inside Heel Hook
  • Alternative Names: Honey Hole Heel Hook, Inside Leg Lock

State Machine Properties

Submission Properties

  • Success Probability: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 60%, Advanced 85% - core probability data
  • Execution Complexity: High - technical difficulty assessment
  • Energy Cost: Medium - physical demand of execution
  • Time Required: Medium - 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 leg control
  • Flexibility Requirements: Medium for hip mobility in positioning
  • Coordination Requirements: High for precise heel grip and leg entanglement
  • Endurance Requirements: Medium for sustained control during finish

State Machine Content Elements

Visual Execution Sequence

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

From the Inside Sankaku or Ashi Garami position, you start by establishing a strong inside leg entanglement, using your legs to control the opponent’s trapped leg at the hip level, ensuring they cannot easily escape or rotate. Adjust your body to create an optimal angle where your chest faces the opponent’s toes, allowing for maximum leverage and control over their leg. Secure a figure-four grip on their heel with your palm facing upward, while your other hand either reinforces the grip by controlling your wrist or secures their ankle to prevent slipping, and pinch your knees together to lock their leg in place. Apply the finishing motion by rotating your upper body toward the opponent’s trapped leg, creating torque on their knee by turning their heel inward, while maintaining tight control through their defensive reactions, adjusting your hip pressure and grip as needed until they submit due to the intense pressure on their knee ligaments.

Template: “From Inside Sankaku, control opponent’s leg with your legs at hip level. Angle chest to face their toes. Secure figure-four heel grip, reinforce with other hand, pinch knees to lock leg. Rotate upper body toward trapped leg for torque until submission.”

Execution Steps (Numbered Sequence)

  1. Setup Requirements: Establish position (Inside Sankaku or Ashi Garami)
  2. Initial Movement: Control opponent’s trapped leg at hip with your legs
  3. Opponent Response: Opponent may attempt to rotate or pull leg free
  4. Adaptation: Adjust angle so chest faces opponent’s toes for leverage
  5. Positioning: Secure figure-four grip on heel, reinforce with other hand
  6. Pressure Application: Pinch knees together and rotate upper body toward trapped leg
  7. Completion: Maintain control and apply torque on knee until submission

Key Technical Details

Critical elements that determine success:

  • Grip Requirements: Figure-four grip on heel with palm up for control
  • Base/Foundation: Leg entanglement to secure opponent’s leg at hip
  • Timing Windows: Execute when opponent’s leg is isolated and defenses are low
  • Leverage Points: Rotation of upper body for knee torque via heel control
  • Common Adjustments: Adjust hip pressure and angle based on opponent’s resistance

Success Modifiers

Factors that increase/decrease probability:

  • Setup Quality: Security of leg entanglement and hip control (+/-20%)
  • Timing Precision: Executing before opponent rotates or escapes (+/-15%)
  • Opponent Fatigue: Reduced defensive mobility over time (+/-5%)
  • Knowledge Test Performance: Understanding knee torque mechanics (+/-10%)
  • Positional Control: Effectiveness of maintaining inside angle (+/-10%)

Counter-Attack Analysis

Common Counters

Opponent responses with success rates:

  • Heel Slip Defense: Slipping heel from grip to reduce torque → Leg Entanglement Neutral (Success Rate: 25%, Conditions: early reaction)
  • Knee Line Defense: Breaking knee line control to escape → Leg Entanglement Escape (Success Rate: 20%, Conditions: strong hip movement)
  • Hip Escape and Rotation: Rotating hips to neutralize angle → Neutral Position (Success Rate: 15%, Conditions: quick adjustment)
  • Knee Bar Counter: Extending leg to counter with knee bar → Knee Bar Control (Success Rate: 10%, Conditions: significant leverage)
  • 50/50 Entry: Transitioning to 50/50 to equalize position → 50 Guard (Success Rate: 10%, Conditions: quick anticipation)

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 [[Heel Slip Defense]] (Probability: 25%)

Else if [knee line control] can be broken:
- Execute [[Knee Line Defense]] (Probability: 20%)

Else if [hip rotation] allows neutralization:
- Execute [[Hip Escape and Rotation]] (Probability: 15%)

Else if [leg extension] permits counter:
- Execute [[Knee Bar Counter]] (Probability: 10%)

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

Defensive Considerations

Common Threats During Attempt

Primary risks while attempting this submission:

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

Defensive Strategies

Methods to mitigate threats:

  • Grip Maintenance: Secure tight figure-four grip to prevent heel slips
  • Leg Control: Maintain strong knee pinch and hip connection to avoid escapes
  • Angle Adjustment: Adjust chest-to-toes angle to counter hip rotation
  • Body Positioning: Use hip pressure to limit opponent’s counter options
  • Adaptation Readiness: Be prepared to switch to other leg locks if defended

Educational Content

Expert Insights

Commentary as if from recognized authorities:

  • John Danaher: “The Inside Heel Hook is the premier submission of the leg lock system. Complete control of hip, knee line, and ankle before finishing is critical. Focus on incremental control advancement rather than explosive application.”
  • Gordon Ryan: “I rely on subtle hip adjustments over pure gripping strength for the Inside Heel Hook. Creating deceptive pressure is key—opponents often don’t recognize the threat until it’s too late to defend.”
  • Eddie Bravo: “In the 10th Planet system, the Inside Heel Hook shines through the Honey Hole position. Combining leg entanglements with upper body control creates dilemmas where defending one attack exposes another.”

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

Common Errors

For knowledge test generation:

  • Error: Poor heel grip or insufficient figure-four control

  • Why It Fails: Allows opponent to slip heel and reduce torque

  • Correction: Ensure tight figure-four grip with palm up on heel

  • Recognition: Heel feels loose despite leg entanglement

  • Error: Incorrect chest-to-toes angle during setup

  • Why It Fails: Reduces leverage for effective knee torque

  • Correction: Adjust body so chest faces opponent’s toes for optimal angle

  • Recognition: Torque feels weak despite proper grip

  • Error: Inadequate knee pinch or hip control

  • Why It Fails: Allows opponent to escape leg entanglement or rotate

  • Correction: Pinch knees tightly and maintain hip connection to lock leg

  • Recognition: Opponent easily moves leg or rotates out of position

Timing Considerations

When to attempt this submission:

  • Optimal Conditions: When opponent’s leg is isolated and defensive resources are occupied
  • Avoid When: Opponent maintains strong hip rotation or heel defense
  • Setup Sequences: As a primary attack from Inside Sankaku or follow-up to failed sweeps
  • Follow-up Windows: Must complete within 5-10 seconds to prevent defense or counter

Prerequisites

Requirements before attempting:

  • Technical Skills: Understanding of leg lock mechanics and knee torque
  • Physical Preparation: Hip mobility and grip strength for control
  • Positional Knowledge: Control from Inside Sankaku or Ashi Garami
  • Experience Level: Intermediate to Advanced - requires precise control due to injury risk

Technical Assessment Elements

Knowledge Assessment Questions

5 technical questions with multiple choice answers:

  • Mechanical Understanding: “What creates the submission pressure in the Inside Heel Hook?”
  • Timing Recognition: “When is the optimal moment to initiate the Inside Heel Hook?”
  • Error Prevention: “What is the most common mistake in heel grip for this submission?”
  • Setup Requirements: “Which control is essential for the Inside Heel Hook?”
  • Adaptation: “How do you adjust if the opponent rotates their hip to escape?”

Variants and Configurations

Different setups within the submission:

  • Traditional Inside Heel Hook: Standard figure-four grip from Inside Sankaku
  • Gable Grip Inside Heel Hook: Alternative grip for added control
  • Cross-Body Inside Heel Hook: Applied across opponent’s body for unique angle
  • Reverse Grip Inside Heel Hook: Modified grip for specific scenarios
  • Backside Inside Heel Hook: From Backside 50/50 position

Training Progressions

Skill development pathway:

  • Grip Familiarization: Practice figure-four heel grip solo
  • Control Drilling: Work with partner on leg entanglement and hip control
  • Angle Integration: Add chest-to-toes angle and knee pinch to setup
  • Torque Practice: Incorporate upper body rotation for knee torque
  • Live Application: Use in sparring with focus on control and safety

Audio & Narration Elements

Action Descriptions

Dynamic language for TTS narration:

  • Movement Verbs: Control, angle, secure, reinforce, pinch, rotate, maintain
  • Spatial References: Hip level, chest-to-toes, heel grip, knee pinch
  • Pressure Dynamics: Knee torque, ligament strain, rotational pressure
  • Momentum Descriptions: Incremental control, continuous adjustment, finishing rotation

Coaching Commentary

Real-time instruction and feedback:

  • Setup Cues: “Control their leg at the hip with your legs”
  • Execution Guidance: “Secure figure-four grip on heel, chest facing toes”
  • Adjustment Prompts: “Pinch knees and rotate upper body toward trapped leg”
  • Completion Confirmation: “Maintain control until they submit, watch for tap”

Technical Specifications

Control Mechanics

Scientific submission analysis:

  • Force Vectors: Rotational torque through heel grip on knee ligaments
  • Leverage Points: Upper body rotation as fulcrum for knee torque
  • Stability Factors: Leg entanglement and knee pinch for positional stability
  • Mobility Dynamics: Hip adjustment for dynamic angle control
  • Energy Efficiency: Moderate energy use with high submission return

Success Factors

Elements that strengthen submission:

  • Grip Quality: Security of figure-four heel control (+/-20%)
  • Angle Precision: Chest-to-toes alignment for leverage (+/-15%)
  • Leg Control: Effectiveness of knee pinch and hip connection (+/-15%)
  • Opponent Fatigue: Reduced defensive resistance over time (+/-5%)
  • Experience Level: Familiarity with leg lock mechanics (+/-10%)

Validation Checklist

Every submission file must include:

  • All required properties with specific values
  • Detailed visual execution sequence (minimum 4 sentences)
  • Complete execution steps list (minimum 7 steps)
  • Strategic advantages and common challenges
  • At least 3 high-probability counters with success rates
  • Expert insights from all three authorities
  • Minimum 3 common errors with corrections
  • 5 knowledge test questions with answers
  • Defensive considerations and strategies
  • Training progression pathway

Example Implementation

See Americana for a complete example implementing all standard requirements.

Notes for Developers

This standard ensures:

  • Consistent submission data for state machine implementation
  • Detailed control mechanics for realistic modeling
  • Rich content for comprehensive technical documentation
  • Educational value through expert analysis
  • Technical depth for authentic understanding
  • Structured counter analysis for complete coverage
  • Knowledge assessment integration
  • Training progression guidance

Updates to this standard should be reflected across all submission files to maintain consistency and educational value.

  • Outside Heel Hook - Alternative heel hook with different angle
  • Ankle Lock - Follow-up if heel grip slips
  • Knee Bar - Complementary leg lock from similar positions
  • Toe Hold - Secondary attack from leg entanglements
  • Calf Slicer - Alternative if opponent counters with extension

Historical Context

The Inside Heel Hook gained prominence in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with the rise of leg lock systems in the late 2000s and early 2010s, particularly through the influence of practitioners like John Danaher and his Death Squad. Initially less common in traditional BJJ due to safety concerns and rule restrictions, it has become a cornerstone of modern no-gi grappling and submission-only formats, showcasing the evolution of leg attacks in the sport.

Competition Applications

  • IBJJF Rules: Often restricted at lower belt levels, legal at advanced levels in some contexts, scores as submission win
  • Strategic Use: High-percentage finish in no-gi and submission-only formats
  • No-Gi Specificity: Primarily used in no-gi due to leg entanglement focus
  • Tournament Impact: Often used to surprise opponents with rotational mechanics

Safety Considerations

  • Pressure Control: Apply torque gradually to avoid sudden ligament damage
  • Partner Awareness: Monitor opponent’s response during application
  • Mat Space: Ensure adequate space for safe positioning
  • Release Timing: Release immediately upon tap to prevent injury
  • Knee Safety: Avoid excessive force beyond reasonable torque point

Submission Integration

Common Inside Heel Hook combinations:

Training Applications

  • No-Gi Specialization: Essential for no-gi competitors focusing on leg locks
  • Competition Preparation: Strong submission for submission-only tournaments
  • Control Development: Builds understanding of leg entanglement and torque mechanics
  • Tactical Exploration: Encourages multi-threat setups from leg positions

Graph View

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