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Submission · Leg lock · Advanced
AdvancedLeg lockGi & no-giIBJJF: no-gi, brown & black only
Outside heel hook
A submission (leg lock) you hit from Leg entanglement (Ashi Garami) and Single leg X. Advanced level.
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Starts from
Get to one of these positions first, then look for the outside heel hook.
Key steps
Leg lock. Tap early in training, and let go as soon as your partner taps.
- Trap their leg in ashi garami
- Wrap your arm around their heel
- Control their knee line with your legs
- Turn your whole body, not just your arms, to finish slowly
If they defend it
They clear their knee: return to single leg X.
Common mistakes
Common mistake
Finishing without controlling the knee.
Key details
- IBJJF: illegal in the gi at every belt; in no-gi, legal only for adult brown and black belts
- Control the knee before you finish
How to defend it
Caught in it?
How to escape itLearn the early defense, the escape and when to tap.
Related positions & techniques
- Starts from
- Leg entanglement (Ashi Garami)Single leg X
- Defend it
- How to escape the outside heel hook
- Similar submissions
- Straight ankle lockInside heel hookToe holdKneebar (Hiza Juji Gatame)Calf slicerEstima lock
- In courses
- Leg lock set
Safety and research
Train this safely
Learn it under a coach, apply it slowly, and tap early when you’re caught. Check your gym’s and tournament’s rules first.
What the research says
Heel hooks were linked to a roughly 12-fold rise in knee injury risk in IBJJF no-gi competition. Learn under supervision and finish slowly.
Read about itGrapplearts articlesBJJ Heroes
Practice
Quick checkOutside heel hook quick check4 questions
My notes
Saved automatically.
More from these positionsOther techniques that start where this one does
X-guard technical stand-up sweepSweep → Passing open guardSingle leg X sweepSweep → Passing open guardStraight ankle lockSubmission · Leg lockKneebar (Hiza Juji Gatame)Submission · Leg lockEstima lockSubmission · Leg lockX-guard overhead sweepSweep → Mount (Tate Shiho Gatame)Ashi garami escapeEscape → Passing open guard