{"slug":"inside-heel-hook","name":"Inside Heel Hook","aliases":["inside heelhook","medial heel hook","inward heel hook"],"category":"submission","format":"no-gi","level":"advanced","summary":"A rotational leg submission that controls the knee line and turns the exposed heel inward; it demands advanced supervision and early tapping.","overview":["The inside heel hook is a rotational submission usually associated with saddle, 50/50, backside 50/50, and related leg entanglements. The attacker controls the opponent's thigh and knee line, exposes the heel, and connects the foot to rotation through the leg.","It is one of grappling's most dangerous submissions because the knee can be injured before pain provides a generous warning. Responsible training emphasizes positional recognition, controlled finishing mechanics, and immediate release."],"keyPrinciples":["Control the knee and hip before exposing the heel.","Keep the foot connected to the torso rather than twisting with the arms alone.","Distinguish positional control from finishing pressure during training.","Tap and release early; never use explosive rotation."],"entries":[{"label":"Saddle","description":"Control the far hip and knee line from an inside leg configuration."},{"label":"Backside 50/50","description":"Rotate behind the opponent's hips while keeping the captured knee controlled."},{"label":"K guard","description":"Use the far-leg entry to reach a rotational entanglement."}],"continuations":[{"label":"Kneebar","description":"Switch to a linear knee attack when heel exposure is unavailable and the rules permit."},{"label":"Sweep","description":"Use the leg control to reverse the opponent and establish top position."},{"label":"Back exposure","description":"Follow the hips if the opponent turns to hide the heel."}],"defenses":[{"label":"Hide the heel","description":"Keep the foot aligned while addressing the attacker's grips."},{"label":"Free the knee line","description":"Extract the knee before attempting any rotational escape."},{"label":"Turn only with control","description":"Never spin blindly; match the direction of force while separating the finishing grip."}],"relatedTechniqueSlugs":["k-guard","fifty-fifty","single-leg-x","kneebar"],"athleteSlugs":["lachlan-giles","garry-tonon","gordon-ryan","craig-jones"],"rulesetNote":"Leg-lock legality changes substantially by age, belt, division, and ruleset. Reaping and the finishing mechanic may be regulated separately. Confirm the current organizer rules before competing.","sources":[{"label":"ADCC official rules and legal-technique guides","url":"https://adcc-official.com/pages/adcc-rules","type":"rules"},{"label":"IBJJF rule book and rules resources","url":"https://ibjjf.com/books-videos","type":"rules"}],"lastUpdated":"2026-07-25","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/inside-heel-hook","markdownUrl":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/inside-heel-hook.md","jsonUrl":"https://www.ossmeta.com/api/public/techniques/inside-heel-hook","relatedTechniques":[{"slug":"k-guard","name":"K Guard","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/k-guard"},{"slug":"fifty-fifty","name":"50/50 Guard","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/fifty-fifty"},{"slug":"single-leg-x","name":"Single-Leg X","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/single-leg-x"},{"slug":"kneebar","name":"Kneebar","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/kneebar"}],"associatedAthletes":[{"slug":"lachlan-giles","name":"Lachlan Giles","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/lachlan-giles"},{"slug":"garry-tonon","name":"Garry Tonon","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/garry-tonon"},{"slug":"gordon-ryan","name":"Gordon Ryan","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/gordon-ryan"},{"slug":"craig-jones","name":"Craig Jones","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/craig-jones"}],"sourceSite":{"name":"Ossmeta","url":"https://www.ossmeta.com"}}