Is the heel hook legal?

Rules for the heel hook in 5 rulesets.

Rules change. Check the official rulebook for your event before competing. This site is not affiliated with IBJJF, ADCC, NAGA or Grappling Industries.

IBJJF: legal for adult brown and black belts, no-gi
ADCC: legal for adults, beginner and intermediate and above
NAGA no-gi: legal for adult intermediate and expert (blue belt and up)
NAGA gi: illegal in every division
Grappling Industries: depends on the division

IBJJF

Division	Status
Ages 4 to 12	Illegal
Ages 13 to 15	Illegal
Ages 16 to 17 (all belts) and adult/master white belts	Illegal
Adult and master blue and purple belts	Illegal
Adult and master brown and black belts, except adult no-gi	Illegal
Adult brown and black belts, no-gi	Legal

ADCC

Division	Status
Kids 12 and under	Illegal
Teens 13 to 14, beginner and intermediate	Illegal
Teens 13 to 14, advanced	Illegal
Teens 15 to 17, beginner and intermediate	Illegal
Teens 15 to 17, advanced	Illegal
Adults, beginner and intermediate	Legal
Adults, advanced	Legal
Masters, beginner and intermediate	Illegal
Masters, advanced	Legal
World Championship and Trials	Legal

Adult beginners may heel hook at ADCC Opens. Masters beginners and intermediates may not.

NAGA no-gi

Division	Status
Kids 13 and under	Illegal
Teens 14 to 17	Illegal
Adult novice and beginner (white belt)	Illegal
Adult intermediate and expert (blue belt and up)	Legal

NAGA gi

Division	Status
Kids 13 and under	Illegal
Teens 14 to 17	Illegal
White belt	Illegal
Blue belt	Illegal
Purple belt	Illegal
Brown and black belt	Illegal

Grappling Industries – listed as “Heel hook and Z-lock”

Division	Status
Under 18	Illegal
White belt	Illegal
Blue belt, and purple belt in the gi	Illegal
Purple belt in no-gi, brown and black belt	Depends

No-gi only.