Heel Hook
Literally: heel hook
Leg lock that rotates the heel to threaten the ankle and knee; the IBJJF allows it only to adult brown and black belts in no-gi.
Quick Facts
About
The heel hook, literally a hook on the heel, is a lock in which the attacker controls the opponent's knee and hip joint as well as the heel bone, then applies a lateral force that twists the heel inward or outward. The resulting torsion threatens the ankle, the knee, and the adjacent ligaments at the same time, which is why the heel hook is considered one of the riskiest locks. Unlike the kneebar, which overloads the knee with direct pressure, it targets the heel bone, ankle, and knee through rotation. The roots of the technique reach back to Greek pankration, captured on Roman stone reliefs in the Vatican Museums, and to Egyptian wrestling. Japanese instructors such as Takeo Yano, outside the Gracie lineage, brought it to northeastern Brazil in the early 20th century, and Ivan Gomes popularized it there in the 1960s. When jiu-jitsu was formalized as a sport in the early 1970s, it was banned. Since 2021, IBJJF rules allow both inside and outside heel hooks only to adult brown and black belts in no-gi; white, blue, and purple belts and all masters categories have it banned. It is fully banned for children aged 4 to 12, and in the 13-to-15 category only the straight ankle lock is permitted among ankle locks.