Overview
The inside heel hook is one of the most powerful and dangerous leg locks in modern no-gi jiu-jitsu. Applied from cross ashi garami leg entanglements such as inside sankaku or 50/50, it targets the structures of the knee, especially the medial ligaments and meniscus, by rotating the heel and twisting the lower leg against a trapped thigh and hip line. When fully applied, it can cause serious damage in a very short amount of time.
In today’s leg-lock–heavy meta, the inside heel hook sits at the center of many advanced systems used by high-level competitors. It is valued not just for its finishing power but also for the way it forces clear, predictable defensive reactions that can be used to transition to other attacks, back takes, or dominant passing positions.
Related Techniques
Outside heel hook, Cross ankle lock, Straight ankle lock, Toe hold, Kneebar, Estima