The Jiu-Jitsu Mindset · Data Study
Are Heel Hooks Worth Learning? The Success-Rate Data Might Surprise You
The heel hook is the most feared submission in modern grappling — but is it actually worth building your game around? When BJJ Heroes studied four major championships, they found something counterintuitive: more than half of the athletes who started a leg-lock exchange ended up losing it. Here is what the data says.
Who wins the leg-lock battle? Initiator success rate by position
How often the athlete who started the leg attack won the exchange, by entanglement.
More than half of leg-lockers lose the exchange
Across the ADCC World Championships of 2017, 2019, and 2022, plus the IBJJF No-Gi Worlds, BJJ Heroes found that over 50% of athletes who initiated a leg attack were then submitted or scored on. And this was not just beginners: high-level heel-hook specialists lost to counters while chasing their own finish (think Mica Galvao vs. Kade Ruotolo at ADCC 2022). No other widespread position offers such diminished returns at the elite level.
Position matters more than the finish
Where you attack from changes everything. The Saddle was the most reliable, with the initiator winning 62% of exchanges. The Ashi-Garami dropped to 44%. And the ever-popular 50/50 — true to its name — actually favored the defender, with the initiator finishing only 38% of the time. If you are going to hunt legs, the entry you choose is as important as the finish.
So should you learn heel hooks?
Yes — but not as your entire game. The heel hook is still consistently a top-three submission at the ADCC, and it is only countered so well because everyone now trains to defend it. Tellingly, the athletes who win the ADCC are not one-dimensional leg-lockers; they are well-rounded top players with strong footlock defense and a sniper-like approach to leg attacks — Diogo Reis, Kade Ruotolo, Giancarlo Bodoni, Gordon Ryan, Yuri Simoes. BJJ Heroes' verdict, and ours: include heel hooks, but do not make them the whole course.
Frequently asked questions
Are heel hooks worth learning?
Yes. Heel hooks remain a top-three submission at the highest level and every complete grappler needs to attack and defend them. But the data shows they work best as one weapon in a well-rounded, top-position game rather than as an entire style.
What is the highest-percentage leg-lock position?
Of the positions studied, the Saddle (inside sankaku) gave the initiator the best odds at 62%. The Ashi-Garami was 44%, and the 50/50 guard actually favored the defender, with the initiator winning just 38% of exchanges.
Why do leg-lockers get countered so often?
Because the defense has caught up. Elite grapplers now recognize leg entries instantly and counter-attack, so more than half of the athletes who initiate a leg-lock battle end up losing it.
Sources & method
Figures from BJJ Heroes' heel-hook study (ADCC 2017/2019/2022 and IBJJF No-Gi Worlds) and their ADCC 2024 analysis. Current as of July 2026.
Related reading: Are leg locks taking over jiu-jitsu? · The most common submissions in jiu-jitsu · Catch The Jiu Jitsu Mindset on YouTube and Spotify.