Heel Hook Question

[Ari Bolden]

This was sent to us:
Dear Submissions 101,
I'm a huge fan of you're site but I can't help but wonder why the heel hook
doesn't hurt. I have had somebody do it to me and it doesn't hurt and I
have done it to other people and they say that it doesn't hurt. What gives?
I'd like to see a video on what some submission moves do.-Graham

Dear Graham:

Thanks for your email. To answer your question:

The heel hook doesn't hurt because the tendons and ligaments in your knee
don't have the same nerve endings as other parts of your body. The point to
where the knee "hurts" and the knee "blows" is so close that injuries tend
to occur lots with heel hooks. In fact, heel hooks are banned from many
competitions. I always tell my students to tap right away when they get
caught in heel hooks. Take it from a guy who has seen LOTS of blown out
knees. I've done 3 heel hooks that have blown the knees of other guys.
You'll hear a pop and sometimes the guys doesn't feel anything right away.
Then the next day he can't walk and you've blown the guys ACL or MCL.

When your partner or opponent doesn't know how to move or thinks they can
escape, that is when LOTS of injuries occur. I fought a black belt karate guy a
few years back and got him in a standing ankle lock (he was on his back. I held tight
and he decided to roll. His knee tore right out.

Heel hooks are dangerous and THEY WORK VERY VERY WELL. Think of them like a
KO punch. You don't feel the punch until you wake up on your back
saying" what the hell hit me"

I hope this helps explain it a bit better.

Train safe!

[Fox1s2]

Nicely put ari....My instructor doesn't even let us put pressure on a heel hook....if you can lock it in....match is over, since once you start feeling pain to tap, its already too late.

[prodigypenn]

good advice for most people. but people who are going into pro fighting or similar events need to know how to keep from being submitted by heel hook. Ive seen alot of submission attempts by heel hook in pro fights, but i dont recall any1 actually getting it

[Ari Bolden]

Hey Prodigypenn:

Maybe this will help:

http://www.aikijujitsu.ca/leglock.mpeg

cheers
Ari

[Andy]

is that even fair? the guy didn't even get a chance to tap!

[Ari Bolden]

In competition, its not up to you when a guy will tap. If you throw on an armbar and go half ass, he might escape. That being said, Ken Shamrock is known for "hurting" guys.

For everyone out there who thinks submissions suck, this is a good video lesson!

The body can be damaged in countless ways...not just punching and kicking.

[Andy]

Ahh... I'm scared now.. =/
So what, depending on the person, if you're caught in a heel hook, that just might be the end for you in your MMA career right..

[Ari Bolden]

The risks of the job...knee damage like that can put your out for at least 10 months, sometimes surgery will fix it..other times..well...nope.

[Andy]

I don't think I'll become a professional fighter than.. maybe go more into self-defense.. haha..

[Fox1s2]

That video just solidifies why i never attempt heel hooks on my partners...even if its there....thats also the reason why when i feel anything close to a heel hook, I Tap....I'm not stubborn enough to end my career over one loss.

[Sankaku]

Never be afraid to tap, it does make you less of a person. I was young and dumb once, then I had knee surgery. Now I’m still young but a little less dumb.

[VerticalX]

Just to add, this is a most effective hold. Even Bas Rutten (If you dont know him He's an MMA fighter) talks in one of his video's about seriously damaging one of his opponents in japan.

He locked a heel hook on the guy and the guy didn't tap. The fighter felt no pain until Bas actually shattered his entire Shin bone.

I'll see if I can find his quote.

[VerticalX]

http://fcfighter.brinkster.net/fighter.asp?FighterID=9482

Here it should be the 7th one down.