A common question I get from mma practitioners is “How To Do A Heel Hook“. There is so much hoopla about the move and how dangerous it is to use. In fact, there are a lot of jiu-jitsu gi competitions that have actually banned the use of the heel hook. There are also a lot of martial arts gyms that don’t teach the move. The heel hook is a submission move that can seriously inflict pain on your opponent. If done too forcefully you can snap that part of your opponent ligament.

Also Read: Single Leg Sweep From Guard

One thing I’d like to add is that a lot of no gi competitions still allow this move to be done. And to be honest that’s just the way they choose to run their operation. Is it moral and honorable among all of us who practice jiu-jitsu and choose not to do it? Who knows, it’s up to you to decide that.

This article will get into why using the heel hook is dangerous and will go into how to do the moves. This is only for informational purposes. Before you even attempt to do this in your gym please ask your trainer if he allows it in his gym. if he’s not already teaching you the move chances are he doesn’t want you to learn it and you shouldn’t be practicing how to do it.

Also Read: Passing The Closed Guard

Why Is The Heel Hook So Dangerous?

The heel is banned in many martial arts gyms and mostly gi competitions because it is a dangerous submission move. It’s a jiu-jitsu submission that cause severe injury to your opponent.

Everything from the knee cap right down to your toes can be easily injured and very hard to repair and heal. The heel hook without a doubt can destroy your knee and the tendons below it.

The second dangerous thing about the heel hook is that by the time you feel any pain the damage has already been done. So imagine that the move is being placed on you; within a couple of seconds your knee is shattered but you don’t feel it until the damage is done. usually when a submission like an armbar or Triangle Choke is placed on your opponent they feel it right away and their able to tap out before you start applying the move deeper. With the heel hook your opponent doesn’t feel the pain of the submission until seconds after their knee has been snapped!

It is a very vicious move so don’t try to practice it without the consent on your mma instructor. I’ve seen even in practice people get their leg injured do to the person applying it too hard and the person it being done to not feeling any of the pain until it’s too late!

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How To Do The Heel Hook

This move is not complicated to do at all. it takes literally 3 steps. The hook can be applied from the same position as the Achilles’ Ankle Lock. This is a dangerous move since it actually twists your opponents knee instead of just causing pain as in the Achilles Ankle Lock. Please keep that in mind.

For this example you will grab a hold of his left leg. Your left leg will be used as a base to control his hips. So the left leg should be placed on your opponents hip. your right leg should be on the inside of your opponents left leg squeezing it in between. For the move to be effective you need to squeeze your legs above his knee.

Next you want to hook your right arm underneath the left foot of your opponent and take your right hand and clasp it together with your left hand. This is known is jiu-jitsu as a gable grip. Your next move is to pull your arm back and simultaneously twist it to your right hand side. This will twist your opponents knee onto your right thigh. this pain is very excruciating once your opponent feels it. Which is often after his knee has popped out of place.

Also Read: MMA Standing Guillotine Choke

Below is a video of how to do the Heel Hook 2 different ways.

Kurt Osiander’s Move of the Week – Heel Hook

This is the dangers of the heel hook move. Within two seconds your leg can literally snap in two! Watch the video below and let us know what you think.

Heel Hook Breaks Ankle at NAGA Atlanta

In conclusion the heel Hook is one of the most deadliest and dangerous leg locks in martial arts. i have to reiterate that you should not practice this move at your gym if your professor or instructor does not allow it. Also you should not practice this move if there is no supervision of a qualified instructor. You can really end up hurting someone for no reason! You should definitely not try this move at home on a sibling or friend. All martial arts moves should be done in an appropriate setting under a qualified instructor.

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