Heel Hook

Joe Sullivan · Post by **Joe Sullivan** » Thu Mar 01, 2001 8:58 pm

My name is Joe Pomfret.

Quick story. I was visiting a new grappling school that I wanted to join (JBA Jiu-Jitsu-Fall River). During the class I ended up groundfighting with the one of the school's top students, a female.
I figured it to be an easy win, and I would be giving her pointers the whole time. About a minute into the match I found that I was not able to do (hold her in one place, tap her out) anything that I wanted. I tried harder and used more strength. She did not. I used more muscle...then more...and then a LOT more. I finally got the top position. Exactly where she wanted me. She controlled my hips with her feet, engaged my heel with her forearm, and twisted away and over her shoulder. (At the time, I hadn't given this technique-the heel hook-much attention my training.) When my brain recieved the message that my knee was about to pop, I tapped out as quickly and as loudly as I ever have.

To this day that is my most memorable defeat...seriously.Only later did it sink in that while I was using strength, she was using technique.
I hope to see you at the workout, in Westwood, on Saturday.

Joe Pomfret: owner of Reality Self Defense. Uechi Ryu-Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

dmsdc · Post by **dmsdc** » Fri Mar 02, 2001 11:28 pm

Thanks for posting your story. When someone with your reputation says that technique can beat power to really brings it home for some. And gives some of us wee people

hope.

Best of luck Saturday. From the way others have written you will have many people pulling for you!!

Dana