Inverted Heel Hook
Submission · Leg Locks
A heel hook the other way round: the heel is cupped from the inside in reverse and turned opposite to a normal heel hook, twisting the knee. It comes from the saddle when he turns his knee inward to roll out: that turn changes which way the heel is exposed. Cup the heel in the crook of your elbow, forearm against it, clasp your hands and pull the elbow to your ribs so heel and chest move together. Keep the knee line pinned, your legs tight around his thigh so the knee cannot slip back past your hips. Finish by rotating your body slowly the opposite way from a normal heel hook. If he hides the heel, switch to the kneebar; if he turns back, to the inside heel hook. One of the most dangerous leg locks: no rotation in drilling, brown and black belt no-gi only under IBJJF, tap early.
How to do it
- In the saddle, feel them turn their knee inward to escape: that turn changes which way the heel can be attacked.
- Cup the heel from the inside the other way round, heel in the crook of your elbow and the forearm against it.
- Clasp your hands and pull the elbow tight to your ribs so the heel and your chest move together.
- Keep the knee line pinned: your legs stay tight around the thigh so their knee cannot slip back in front of your hips.
- Finish: rotate your body slowly the opposite way from a normal heel hook. The twist reaches the knee before any pain, so turn gradually and release at the first tap.
Key details
- Their escape attempt gives you this angle: the knee turning inward is what exposes the heel the other way.
- Rotate with the body, never with a jerk: a slow turn gives them time to feel it and tap.
- Control of the knee line decides everything: with the knee free they keep spinning and the lock disappears.
- Do not chase his roll: hold the heel tight and let his defensive roll turn the heel for you; if he stays on his knees, bend his leg and set the grip at once.
- Hold the leg with a strong back heel and your top foot hooked in front of his hip: the two pressures counterbalance, so he cannot move even before your hands lock.
Common mistakes
- Jerking the rotation. — The knee tears before any pain. — Rotate slowly with your whole body.
- Losing the knee line. — They spin free of the saddle. — Keep your legs tight around the thigh.
- Gripping the heel the wrong way. — There is no lever in that direction. — Cup the heel from the inside, the opposite way to a normal heel hook.
How to drill it
Saddle: partner turns the knee in, you switch the grip, no rotation, 8 reps.
Safety
One of the most dangerous leg locks: no rotation in drilling, tap early when caught.
What comes next
Where it comes from