The Saddle (Inside Sankaku)
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The saddle is a leg entanglement where you triangle your legs around one of the opponent's legs from the inside, with their knee trapped between your thighs. It goes by inside sankaku, honey hole, and 411, and it is the strongest position for the inside heel hook because it controls the knee and the hips at the same time.
What makes the saddle strong
Your legs lock around their thigh from the inside, so their knee can't slide free and their free leg is pushed away from the fight. Your hips sit close to their hip, which kills the rotation they use to escape most other entanglements. From there both heels are in play: the inside heel of the trapped leg, and often the far leg as well.
Getting to the saddle
Common entries are from single-leg X by swinging the outside leg across, from 50/50 when you win the inside position, from the backside 50/50, and from shin-to-shin or butterfly guard as the opponent stands. Many leg lock systems use outside ashi as a stepping stone, switching to the saddle when the opponent turns in.
Finishing from the saddle
Keep the triangle tight above their knee, then clear their foot to your far side so the heel is exposed. Catch the heel, keep their knee pinned, and rotate through your hips. When they hide the heel, the same position gives you the kneebar, the toe hold, or a switch to the far leg.
Escaping the saddle
The defender's job is to stop the inside heel hook first: hide the heel, keep the trapped knee tight to their own body, and clear the knee line by pulling it past the attacker's triangle. Sitting up to grab the attacker's legs and stepping the free leg over are the usual escapes. Waiting flat on your back is the worst place to be.
Frequently asked questions
What is the saddle in BJJ?
A leg entanglement where you triangle your legs around one of the opponent's legs from the inside, trapping the knee. It is also called inside sankaku, the honey hole, or 411.
Is the saddle the same as the honey hole?
Yes. Saddle, honey hole, 411, and inside sankaku all name the same position. The names come from different gyms and eras of the leg lock game.
What submissions come from the saddle?
The inside heel hook is the main finish. The kneebar, the toe hold, and attacks on the far leg come from the same position when the heel is hidden.
Is the saddle legal in IBJJF?
Entering the saddle involves reaping the knee, so IBJJF allows it only for adult brown and black belts in no-gi. Many submission-only and no-gi events allow it more widely.
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