The term ‘Whizzer’ actually originates from US, collegiate wrestling and is used to describe an overhook. Although this comes from wrestling, it’s actually incredibly important for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu too. The reason being is that the more you train, the more you’ll understand the importance of overhooks and undertook in BJJ. Depending on the situation, they can be used either offensively or defensively. So, what is the Whizzer in BJJ?
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What is a Whizzer?
Firstly, its name is Whizzer, and not ‘Wizard’. This is a common misconception made by newcomers that believe it’s some kind of unusual nickname. If you’ve trained for a while then you’ll probably have met at least one person that calls it ‘The Wizard’ which is hilariously incorrect.
Anyway, a Whizzer is when you wrap your arm over the arm of the opponent. This must be done above the elbow line and creates a tight lock between you and your opponent. Sometimes it’s done as an attack, such as from the closed guard. If you’re on the bottom, you may opt for a Whizzer overhook, then use this to setup attacks such as triangle chokes and sweeps.
Sometimes though, the Whizzer is also defensive. For instance, if you’re in top half guard and the bottom player gets an underhook, you can counter with a Whizzer. This may stop you from getting your back taken and possibly lead to a scramble. As a result, the Whizzer can get you out of bad situations and is a solid form of defense.
Why is an overhook called a Whizzer?
The answer to this is unknown. As seen on this wrestling forum, there are a few speculative comments about the name’s origin. Nonetheless, it seems like it’s been called the Whizzer forever now and its name isn’t going anywhere soon.
As a result, you’ll sometimes hear BJJ coaches shout “Get the Whizzer!” or “Get the overhook!” which basically means the same thing. In some rare cases, you may even be unlucky enough to hear, “Get the Wizard!” which again, means the same thing.
Is there a difference between an overhook and a Whizzer?
According to some, there is a technical difference between the two. However, for the most part people call them the same thing and for the sake of argument, most people will believe they’re identical. Some wrestlers claim that there is a key difference between overhooks and Whizzers.
The idea is that the Whizzer is used to crank down on the opponent’s shoulder and force their head towards the floor. An example of this could be using an Uchi Mata takedown in nogi. Here, you could get a firm Whizzer and shoot your shoulder to the floor. The impact of this should force the opponent’s own shoulder to the floor, resulting in downwards pressure.
This differs from the overhook which isn’t as aggressive or forceful. For example, you could grab an overhook from the butterfly guard on the bottom. Here, due to the angle of your body, it’s very difficult to Whizzer down and break the opponent’s posture with this action. Instead, the primary use of the overhook in this instance isn’t to put the opponent’s face to the floor but is instead to remove their post. If you sweep them to the side of the overhook, then they can’t base out due to having a trapped arm.
Perhaps a good way to think of it is that all Whizzers must originate from an overhook. However, not all overhooks are Whizzers. Confused? As mentioned, this is nitpicking a bit and most people don’t follow these rules. If you’re a good grappler then the different names don’t really matter either.
Is the Whizzer different in the gi compared to nogi?
Of course, in the gi there are always more options due to the possibility of gripping fabric. For instance, in the gi, you can grab hold of the opponent’s far lapel to make your Whizzer tighter. Not only this but due to the friction of the gi, it’s also harder for the opponent to free their arm. In short, the Whizzer is arguably better in the gi as it adds tightness and friction.
Having said this, the Whizzer is more commonly used in nogi. The reason for this is that it’s easier to enter due to the slippery nature of nogi. Because of this, you’re more likely to see people get Whizzers in nogi. Overall, the Whizzer may be better in the gi and you can even set up collar chokes from it. However, due to the friction involved, it’s easier to get the Whizzer in nogi in the first place. This means there are pros and cons to both gi and nogi.
Conclusion
The Whizzer is a key part of grappling. Whether it’s wrestling, BJJ, or Judo – it’s often used and has a number of useful outcomes from Whizzering. In short, practically every grappler will use this at some point during training. Whether you’re a guard player or passer, gi guy or no gi – the Whizzer is very important to learn and is essential for grapplers everywhere.
