Question for you leg lock guys. With regards of training heel hooks and what not who do you train them? With the guys at the academy and what not?
I've been mucking around them for a little while but I stress during rolling that I'm going to hurt people. And I've tweaked my own knee when people but them on me. 
I train them with everyone blue belt and up but I always ask everyone if it's cool if I go for heel hooks and other leg locks before we start. Even then I still feel it out who I'm going to "catch and release" with and who I can put finishing pressure on.
I like asking because it avoids any butt hurtedness that comes along when you roll with someone who isn't expecting/doesn't like footlocks and it also makes the leg locks harder to get which helps me get better. 
It also, most importantly, lets me know who has healthy legs and who is at a higher risk of getting injured so I can be more careful. So far I can't remember ever having hurt anyone with a leg lock using this strategy.
Josh nailed it with catch and release.
You can only allow people to train them, who will respect the fact that they have to let go if their opponent doesn't tap. Now the important thing with how I teach catch and release is we don't restart the roll we continue from that position after the release. That way the players have practised the:
a) Entry
b) Control
c) Application
d) Defence
e) The transition to either another leg lock, leg control, Top control, pass etc.
Honestly it's the people who have the 'e)' part down who make the best leg lockers. Knowing how to flow from one to another and stay safe whilst disrupting base is imho the most important aspect.
Discourage people from saying "I could have got that there" and all that shit. They are missing the point.
shin2chin - Josh nailed it with catch and release.
You can only allow people to train them, who will respect the fact that they have to let go if their opponent doesn't tap. Now the important thing with how I teach catch and release is we don't restart the roll we continue from that position after the release. That way the players have practised the:
a) Entry
b) Control
c) Application
d) Defence
e) The transition to either another leg lock, leg control, Top control, pass etc.
Honestly it's the people who have the 'e)' part down who make the best leg lockers. Knowing how to flow from one to another and stay safe whilst disrupting base is imho the most important aspect.
Discourage people from saying "I could have got that there" and all that shit. They are missing the point.
e)- nailed it. If you have one leg submission, usually there is another just a short transition away.
Also, if you are training gi, work on the straight foot locks. Most positions to lock a heel hook are the same as a straight foot lock. The difference is the finish;one is twisting, the other more of a stretch or stretch and turn(disrupting the base).
Dean Lister stated that straight foot locks should be the base for your foot lock game, and I 100% agree. Not to mention, they are highly underrated, probably due to the fact you can do them at all levels but most people do them wrong.
Catch and release with a quick yelling of BAM MUTHA FUCKA! in between.
PeoriaBJJ - Catch and release with a quick yelling of BAM MUTHA FUCKA! in between.I prefer "caught yo azz, biatch" then release
Fwiw- catch the toe hold. They'll tap from the pain. But the defense and escape for the toe hold is the same as the heel hook. (Gator roll is not the correct escape for heel hooks or foot locks)
Josh has the right approach imho.
ChipW -PeoriaBJJ - Catch and release with a quick yelling of BAM MUTHA FUCKA! in between.I prefer "caught yo azz, biatch" then release
"and now your ACL is torn. and now I broke your tibia. and now I popped your ankle. etc"
Loud, clear announcements like this make your partner aware of the injuries he now must simulate. Jiu Jitsu LARPing is the best-kept secret training method of champions.
I taught all my white belts the heel hook. It's actually a part of Roy Harris' blue belt exam.
When I teach the heel hook (at any level) we talk about how it works, what makes it dangerous, and how & why people get hurt. I impress upon them the need for thoughtful application, and remind them that they are responsible for the welfare of whoever is on the receiving end.
In a separate lesson, I also taught safe and responsible ways to defend, escape, and counter the heel hook. Many injuries seem to result from reckless actions by the receiver.
Incidentally, all that is the same for any submission I teach.
At my gym, we allowed all submissions except finger/toe manipulations. I asked that twisting leglocks and neck manipulations be done especially cautiously. But all students learned to apply leglocks as early as chokes and armlocks. It's a part of the game, so I want them to have a high awareness level of them, on both sides. They should recognize the opportunities for leglocks and be aware of exposures. There is no way to accomplish this other than including them in the game.
Stupidnewbie -ChipW -PeoriaBJJ - Catch and release with a quick yelling of BAM MUTHA FUCKA! in between.I prefer "caught yo azz, biatch" then release
"and now your ACL is torn. and now I broke your tibia. and now I popped your ankle. etc"
Loud, clear announcements like this make your partner aware of the injuries he now must simulate. Jiu Jitsu LARPing is the best-kept secret training method of champions.
this guy gets it!!!!