The Lockdown is a form of half guard that was popularised by 10th Planet founder Eddie Bravo. As with many of his ideas, it is primarily a Nogi move that also blends into MMA fighting.
Starting from regular half guard the lockdown is entered by getting double underhooks on your opponent. Regarding the lower body, the lockdown involves crossing your feet over your opponent’s near-side foot which effectively traps the leg and can add torque to the knee joint.
As a result, this creates the ability to move your opponent’s leg by moving your feet and legs, this then dictates the position of your opponent. Recently, the likes of 10th Planet rising star Grace Gundrum has used it to great success on the competitive BJJ scene. In true 10th Planet style, the move also has quirky names that surround it, such as ‘stoner control’ and ‘jaws of life’.
Table of Contents
Entering the Lockdown & attacking options
Combined with double underhooks, the lockdown allows students to move under the opponent’s body in a similar fashion to deep half guard. From here, rolling sweeps can be accomplished as well as underhooking the far leg and coming to the top. This can often lead to the ‘Electric chair’ which again is a move popularised by Bravo. This stretches out the opponent’s legs and is a variation of the Banana Split submission; putting tension on the groin area.
With this in mind, flexible people may not tap here, which is fine as it can move naturally into a sweep and gain top position. Remember, you shouldn’t hang out with double unders for too long whilst flat on your back. Instead, you should spin under the opponent as if entering deep half guard. From here, you will have now created angles to sweep whereas staying flat on your back, facing your opponent isn’t as optimal.
Due to the Electric Chair being the main submission from the Lockdown, it is not always appropriate against players who have flexible legs. With this in mind, using the Lockdown will often result in sweeps instead of submissions as it is primarily a sweeping position. Another variation of the sweeps is the 5.0. This mimics a law enforcers grip who reaches your arm from around your back. Due to getting such a strong grip, it can result in no base on one side, making it easy for the bottom player to sweep.
Elsewhere, another move used in unison to the Electric Chair is the rollunder sweep. This move is also used from regular half guard too. Usually, you are trying to sweep with the Electric chair to the one side. However, if the opponent is resisting to this side too much, then you can grab their knee and roll underneath them to the other side. As their base is too far to one side, you can easily roll under them to their weaker side.
Another move that links in with the Electric Chair and rollunder is the oldschool sweep. A favorite of Eddie Bravo, this is where you come up to your knees and drive the far leg of the opponent down. By driving into the opponent you should tap their knee or pull their ankle towards you.
Like a table having its legs removed, this will remove the base of the opponent and sweep them onto the floor. Alternatively, you can get up to your knee with the underhook and switch to the dogfight position to try and take the back.
With this in mind, there are various sweeps and moves that can be chained together from the lockdown. Often, 10th Planet players will try the Electric chair as their main sweep, but with other options such as the rollunder, oldschool and dogfight, there are many other alternatives away from your first choice. Perhaps the main issue with the Lockdown is getting it set up firmly in the first place to use these attacks.
The Fishnet Lockdown variation
In recent years, the Lockdown has had something of a revival seen in the higher levels of gi competition with the introduction of the ‘Fishnet’ by Shane Fishman. The Fishnet is used from half guard or reverse de la riva and is when you place the opponents far leg over your head whilst in Lockdown.
When this is done, it is almost impossible for the opponent to recover even if they get an underhook. Such is the position of their legs, it means you can easily sweep and take the back from the Fishnet. This goes to show the versatility of the Lockdown. It isn’t just a nogi move and also can be used as a variation when in half guard.
Problems with the lockdown
The lockdown is generally not a commonly used guard for a number of reasons. Firstly in the Gi it is less easy to enter due to the friction created by collar grips etc, and can possibly open up Cross collar chokes for the top player to attack since both of your arms are being used as underhooks.
Secondly, it can be difficult to enter against a skilled half guard passer who doesn’t allow underhooks and is wary of the threat they pose.
Not only this but as lockdown primarily has the bottom player flat on their back, this means that you can get stuck in the position which is physically more draining than playing bottom half guard on your side. This is because the side position protects against the weight of your opponent by offering frames. These aren’t available flat on your back which is why lockdown is often avoided.
Lastly, the lockdown can be passed by the top player putting weight towards their trapped leg and then untangling the feet with their other, free foot. For experienced students, this is often a viable way to not only defend but then pass the lockdown.
As a result of the above, one of the main issues involving the lockdown is actually getting the position in place to begin with. Once established, it is undoubtedly an effective guard. However, getting to this position is easier said than done. It is almost like talking about X-Guard. X-Guard is an incredibly dominant guard. However, the hard part is getting there in the first place. This is an even bigger problem with the lockdown as if it fails then you can get smashed as a result.
Another issue of note is the possible injuries that are linked with the position. As mentioned earlier the lockdown can put great torque on the opponent’s knee. This means if either player makes a violent, sudden movement with their legs it can lead to blowing out the knee of the top player. In terms of sport Jiu Jitsu this is not ideal as it is frowned upon to injure training partners in the gym.
Summary
In conclusion, the lockdown is an unusual guard that is commonly found amongst 10th planet practitioners. Overall it has benefits such as slowing down bigger opponents but also has negatives such as getting stuck in the position and using energy. Having said this, it also has benefits.
Some regular half guard players are known to use it as a form of guard retention when their main guard fails. For many students however, it is worth learning the position from both top and bottom positions as otherwise you may become victim to the various pitfalls that the position brings.
If you fancy learning more about the lockdown, it just so happens that Tom De Blass has an awesome instructional based on it.
