Overview
The outside heel hook is one of the most common leg locks in modern no-gi jiu-jitsu. Applied from straight ashi leg entanglements such as irimi ashi garami or outside ashi garami, it targets the lateral structures of the knee—particularly the LCL and lateral meniscus—by rotating the heel outward while controlling the opponent’s hip line and maintaining the knee line. Because the torque travels directly through the knee joint, serious injury can occur extremely quickly if the defender does not tap.
The outside heel hook was popularized in MMA by Rousimar Palhares and in submission grappling by Dean Lister, and later became a central part of the Danaher Death Squad’s leglock system. To this day, the outside heel hook remains one of the most decisive submissions available, especially in sequences where a reap is involved. Beyond its finishing power, the outside heel hook forces strong defensive reactions that open entries into kneebars, toe holds, sweeps, and other follow-up attacks.
Related Techniques
Inside heel hook, Straight ankle lock, Toe hold, Kneebar, Estima lock, Outside ashi garami