Lockdown Half Guard Guide | BJJ App Wiki
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The lockdown in BJJ: how to lock the position, sweep options, electric chair connection, and Eddie Bravo half guard system.
The lockdown is a half guard position that immobilizes the opponent's lower leg, creating a powerful base for sweeps and leg attacks in the 10th Planet system.
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What Is the Lockdown?
The lockdown is a half guard variation popularized by Eddie Bravo where your bottom leg wraps around the opponent's trapped leg in a figure-four configuration. By extending your legs, you stretch the opponent's base, prevent them from posting, and set up sweeps.
How to Lock the Lockdown
From half guard bottom: as you have the opponent's right leg trapped, reach your top (left) leg under their calf and wrap it over your bottom (right) ankle in a figure-four. Squeeze your knees together and extend your hips to stretch their leg and disrupt their base.
Sweep Attacks from Lockdown
The primary sweeps from lockdown are: old school sweep (underhook + sweep to top), electric chair sweep (inner leg leveraging their groin), and the plan B (walk over sweep). The old school requires an underhook; electric chair requires threading to the truck position.
Lockdown Defensive Role
Even when not actively sweeping, the lockdown serves as a defensive tool — it prevents the opponent from completing guard passes, maintains connection, and buys time to improve position or catch breath during scrambles.
Lockdown in Modern No-Gi
In modern no-gi competition, the lockdown connects directly to leg lock entries via the truck position. From lockdown, entering the electric chair and crab ride creates dangerous leg lock threats that have been used effectively at ADCC and in submission wrestling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the lockdown is a durable position because the mechanical advantage is significant. It is particularly useful for smaller grapplers against larger opponents who try to smash-pass.
Yes — experienced opponents will recognize lockdown and use lockdown counters: hip escape to free the leg, technical standing, or stacking. The key is to initiate sweeps before they have time to react.
Both are part of Eddie Bravo's 10th Planet half guard and closed guard systems. The lockdown is the half guard entry point, and many practitioners use both as a complementary system.
Related Guides
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More Questions
What is the main goal of the Lockdown Half Guard?
The primary goal of the Lockdown Half Guard is to control your opponent's hips and prevent them from passing your guard. It also sets up various sweeps and submissions by limiting their mobility and creating leverage.
How do I prevent my opponent from stacking me in Lockdown Half Guard?
To prevent a stack, keep your hips low and actively push into your opponent's chest with your free leg. Use your lockdown leg to control their ankle and create space, preventing them from driving their weight directly onto you.
What are some common submissions from Lockdown Half Guard?
Common submissions from Lockdown Half Guard include the armbar, the triangle choke, and the kimura. The lockdown position allows you to isolate limbs and create the necessary angles and pressure for these attacks.
Common BJJ Problems & FAQ
Your opponent is likely escaping because you're not creating sufficient pressure with your hips and core. To fix this, drive your hips forward into their torso, tightening the space and preventing them from creating angles to shrimp out. Simultaneously, ensure your shoulder is pressed into their opposite shoulder to limit their head movement and break their posture.
Against a larger opponent, focus on using your lockdown to control their hips and prevent them from posturing up. Drive your knee deep into their hip crease, using your shin and foot to create a strong anchor, and simultaneously use your top leg to trap their ankle. This connection allows you to use your body weight to break their base and create opportunities to advance your position.
Knee pain often arises from excessive pressure being placed directly on the knee joint. Instead, ensure your lockdown is anchored by driving your shin and foot into the opponent's hip and ankle, using your thigh and calf to create the trapping mechanism. Distribute the pressure through your hips and core, not solely through your knee, by keeping your knees slightly bent and your body weight centered.