The Most Devastating Heel Hook Attacks & Finishes

Posted by Aaron Benzrihem on March 07, 2017

Heel Hook Basics

The heel hook…the word heel hook is honestly one of the most feared leg attack techniques in all of grappling. It is feared because of the insane amount of damage it can cause. It is a tendon tearing, ligament obliterating, knee destroying submission. While it has always been respected, the last few years of high profile submission only events has really shown its effectiveness of the heel hook

Competitors like Eddie Cummings, Garry Tonon and Geo Martinez have really shown the power of the heel hook. While there are different ideas and concepts with the heel hook, let’s see how EBI champ Eddie Cummings performs it.

Eddie Cummings and John Danaher actually have a bit of controversy over this DVD series "Enter The System: Leg Locks". Supposedly Eddie Cummings is pretty pissed at John for sharing the system that they both helped develop. Learn the secrets of leg locks and heel hooks here.

LEARN MORE

Before he even attempts the leg lock, he controls the leg that he is attacking, specifically the knee. He makes sure that he has a strong control of the knee, while he maintains a nice, strong ashi garami position. First, Eddie makes sure that his opponent’s toes are in his arm pit so that the heel is facing out. Once he gets that, he makes sure that gets the proper bite on the achilles tendon. Using his right wrist, he locks up the achilles right on his wrist bone. Don’t do deep with the grip, stay shallow. The wrist bone will help cause the pain. Eddie then uses his other hand to get a good palm to palm grip.

After getting everything correct on the grip, Eddie draws his right elbow back, and gets the right side of his chest close to the mat. He then bridges outwards while drawing the opponent’s toes back to his butt as he slightly pulls the heel up. Bada boom, your opponent will tap. Also by bridging into the submission as opposed by trying to rip it across your chest, you will take away the opponent’s ability to use a rolling escape. Brutal and effective, which is the perfect combination for a leg attack.

The heel hook is exceptional because there are so many entries into positions that allow for it. If you can master a handful of these leg entanglements, entries and of course the finish, then you will notice the amount of times that you’re tapping people. Train it safe, and train it right. That way your training partners won’t get hurt, but your heel hook skills will become that of a leg locking marksman. If you want to improve your heel hook and overall leg lock game then check out…

John Danaher has a DVD / On Demand Series that will teach you all these leg lock including some of the best details on attacking heel hook

“If you haven’t felt a John Danaher heel hook then you haven’t really lived.” Gordon Ryan - July 18th, 2017

BUY NOW

ARE YOU A BJJ FANATICS INSIDER? IF NOT, YOU’RE MISSING OUT!

Take a deep dive on one specific skill per month with the top instructors in the BJJ Fanatics family.

With your subscription you'll get:

Private Lesson (Masterclass)
Preview of our Upcoming Daily Deals to better plan your purchases
Rolling breakdowns & more.

You'll also get At Home Drills to work on, a Preview of our Upcoming Launches & More!

FREE FOR 7 DAYS TRIAL

Learn More

← Older Post Newer Post →