Double Jump Bottom is an advanced dynamic entry position used to recover guard and transition into deep half guard when under pressure from top control. This explosive technique involves shooting both legs underneath the opponent’s hips while on your side, creating a brief airborne moment before establishing deep half hooks. The position is particularly effective against heavy pressure passing and allows the bottom player to quickly transition from a defensive scenario to an offensive deep half guard system.

The Double Jump Bottom position represents a modern approach to guard recovery that prioritizes dynamic movement over static frames. Unlike traditional elbow escapes that rely on incremental hip movement, the double jump commits fully to explosive leg insertion, making it difficult for opponents to predict and counter. This position is foundational in Eddie Bravo’s 10th Planet system and has been refined by competitors like Geo Martinez and Richie Martinez to create devastating sweep and back-take chains.

Successful execution of Double Jump Bottom requires precise timing, explosive hip mobility, and the ability to read your opponent’s weight distribution. When executed properly, it bypasses traditional passing defenses and immediately places you in an advantageous deep half position with multiple offensive options including the old school sweep, electric chair, and waiter sweep sequences.

Position Definition

  • Bottom player’s body positioned on their side with hips oriented perpendicular to opponent’s centerline, creating the angle necessary for leg insertion underneath opponent’s base
  • Both of bottom player’s legs actively shooting underneath opponent’s hips in synchronized motion, with knees driving toward opponent’s far hip while feet hook behind near leg
  • Top player’s weight distributed forward over bottom player’s torso, creating the pressure that makes the explosive entry possible through their commitment to the pass
  • Bottom player’s upper body maintains defensive frames with arms protecting against crossface and controlling opponent’s near arm to prevent base recovery
  • Bottom player’s head positioned away from opponent’s hips on the outside, maintaining safe distance from potential submission attacks while creating the leverage angle for the sweep entries

Prerequisites

  • Opponent applying forward pressure from top position (side control, headquarters, or knee slice)
  • Bottom player has inside space to initiate hip movement
  • Top player’s weight committed forward rather than posting back
  • Bottom player positioned on their side rather than flat on back
  • Sufficient hip mobility to execute explosive leg insertion
  • Timing window when opponent’s base is compromised

Key Defensive Principles

  • Explosive hip extension is critical - the jump must be committed and fast to prevent opponent from sprawling back
  • Both legs must shoot simultaneously underneath opponent’s hips to create the destabilizing effect
  • Maintain angle of your body perpendicular to opponent’s centerline throughout the entry
  • Use opponent’s forward pressure against them - the harder they pressure, the more effective the entry
  • Immediately establish deep half hooks after entry to secure position before opponent can recover base
  • Keep head outside and away from opponent’s hips to avoid guillotine and other front headlock attacks
  • Control opponent’s near arm during entry to prevent posting and base recovery

Available Escapes

Deep Half EntryDeep Half Guard

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 35%
  • Intermediate: 55%
  • Advanced: 75%

Old School SweepSide Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 25%
  • Intermediate: 45%
  • Advanced: 65%

Waiter SweepSide Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 20%
  • Intermediate: 40%
  • Advanced: 60%

100% SweepMount

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 15%
  • Intermediate: 35%
  • Advanced: 55%

Half Guard to Back TakeBack Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 20%
  • Intermediate: 35%
  • Advanced: 55%

Electric Chair SubmissionElectric Chair

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 10%
  • Intermediate: 25%
  • Advanced: 45%

Lockdown SweepsLockdown

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 25%
  • Intermediate: 40%
  • Advanced: 60%

X-Guard SweepX-Guard

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 15%
  • Intermediate: 30%
  • Advanced: 50%

Opponent Counters

Counter-Attacks

Decision Making from This Position

If opponent’s weight is heavily committed forward and their base is narrow:

Else if opponent sprawls legs back and widens base to defend:

Else if opponent stands up to create distance:

Else if opponent attempts to step over your legs:

Else if opponent applies heavy crossface pressure:

Common Defensive Mistakes

1. Jumping with legs at different timing or angles

  • Consequence: Creates predictable movement that opponent can easily sprawl against, resulting in flattened position under heavy pressure
  • Correction: Practice the synchronized double leg insertion in drilling - both legs must shoot together like a single explosive unit, maintaining parallel alignment throughout the motion

2. Failing to commit fully to the explosive entry movement

  • Consequence: Halfway attempts allow opponent to post and recover base, leaving you in worse position than before the attempt
  • Correction: The double jump requires full commitment - once initiated, drive both legs completely underneath opponent’s hips with maximum explosiveness, accepting the risk to gain the reward

3. Allowing head to drift toward opponent’s hips during entry

  • Consequence: Creates guillotine and other front headlock attack opportunities that can end the match immediately
  • Correction: Actively turn head away from opponent’s hips toward the outside, maintaining safe head position while establishing deep half hooks

4. Neglecting to control opponent’s near arm during transition

  • Consequence: Allows opponent to post and recover base, nullifying the sweeping opportunities from deep half
  • Correction: Establish control of opponent’s near arm with your outside hand before initiating the jump, preventing their ability to post during your entry

5. Attempting the technique against opponent with weight posted back

  • Consequence: Without forward pressure, the explosive entry has nothing to work against and you expose yourself to leg attacks
  • Correction: Only execute double jump when opponent’s weight is clearly committed forward - use other guard recovery methods when they maintain back-posted base

6. Stopping movement after successful entry without establishing hooks

  • Consequence: Opponent immediately escapes before you can consolidate deep half position
  • Correction: The entry and hook establishment must be one continuous motion - as legs shoot underneath, immediately curl the inside leg to hook opponent’s far leg while outside leg controls near hip

7. Executing from flat on back instead of on side

  • Consequence: Lacks the angular momentum and leverage needed for explosive leg insertion
  • Correction: Always establish side position first with body perpendicular to opponent before initiating the double jump sequence

Training Drills for Defense

Static Entry Repetition Drill

Partner maintains heavy top pressure from side control or headquarters position. Bottom player executes 10 consecutive double jump entries, focusing on synchronized leg insertion and immediate deep half hook establishment. Reset to starting position after each repetition. Emphasize explosive hip extension and proper head positioning throughout.

Duration: 5 minutes per round, 3 rounds

Flow Rolling from Double Jump

Start in double jump bottom position with partner applying moderate resistance. Bottom player attempts to transition to deep half and execute sweeps while top player defends at 50-70% intensity. Focus on chaining techniques together (deep half entry → old school sweep → back take) rather than completing individual moves. Switch roles every 3 minutes.

Duration: 15 minutes total

Timing Development Drill

Top player moves between knee slice, headquarters, and side control pressure positions randomly. Bottom player must recognize the optimal timing window when opponent’s weight commits forward and execute double jump entry. Partner provides verbal feedback on timing quality. Emphasize reading opponent’s weight distribution and reacting explosively to opportunities.

Duration: 10 minutes continuous

Counter Response Chain Drill

Bottom player successfully enters double jump position. Top player then applies one of four defensive responses (sprawl, base widen, crossface, or stand up) while bottom player must execute appropriate counter technique. Partner calls out defense type for first 3 minutes, then applies randomly for remaining time. Focus on automatic recognition and response patterns.

Duration: 8 minutes total

Progressive Resistance Double Jump

Partner starts with zero resistance, allowing perfect execution of double jump to deep half to sweep sequence. Gradually increase resistance over 10-minute period from 0% to 80%, forcing bottom player to maintain technical precision under increasing pressure. Emphasizes building confidence and technical soundness before adding intensity.

Duration: 10 minutes progressive

Escape and Survival Paths

Shortest submission path from double jump

Double Jump Bottom → Deep Half Guard → Electric Chair → Electric Chair Submission

High-percentage submission sequence

Double Jump Bottom → Deep Half Guard → Old School Sweep → Mount → Armbar from Mount

Back attack pathway

Double Jump Bottom → Deep Half Guard → Half Guard to Back Take → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke

Leg lock pathway via sweep

Double Jump Bottom → X-Guard → X-Guard Sweep → Ashi Garami → Heel Hook

Lockdown submission chain

Double Jump Bottom → Lockdown → Electric Chair → Electric Chair Submission

Success Rates and Statistics

Skill LevelRetention RateAdvancement ProbabilitySubmission Probability
Beginner45%30%15%
Intermediate65%50%30%
Advanced80%70%50%

Average Time in Position: 3-8 seconds (transition position)

Expert Analysis

John Danaher

The double jump represents a critical paradigm shift in guard recovery methodology - rather than incrementally creating space through traditional shrimping mechanics, we commit entirely to explosive leg insertion that bypasses the opponent’s passing structure in a single motion. The biomechanical efficiency of this technique lies in converting the opponent’s forward pressure into the very force that enables your leg insertion. When they drive their weight onto your torso, they create a pivot point around which your hips can rotate explosively. The key technical element often missed by practitioners is the necessity of maintaining perpendicular body alignment throughout the entry - your torso must remain on its side with the shoulder line at ninety degrees to the opponent’s centerline. This geometric relationship is what allows both legs to shoot underneath their hips simultaneously rather than sequentially, which would telegraph the movement and allow defensive sprawling. The position also exemplifies the concept of position before submission - while the electric chair and banana split are tempting immediate attacks, the higher percentage pathway involves first consolidating deep half guard control, then using the opponent’s defensive reactions to create the submission openings.

Gordon Ryan

In competition, the double jump is one of the highest-percentage guard recovery techniques when you’re getting smashed in bottom half or headquarters positions. I use this constantly against guys who are trying to pressure pass me because it completely nullifies their forward pressure strategy - the harder they drive into you, the better the entry works. The timing aspect is crucial though - you can’t just randomly throw your legs under whenever you want. You need to wait for that specific moment when their weight commits forward and their hands are occupied trying to control your upper body. That’s when you explode with the double jump and they have zero time to react. Once you establish the deep half hooks, you immediately have access to multiple high-level sweeps - old school, waiter, homer simpson - and if they defend those, you’re taking the back. The competition proven sequence is double jump to deep half, opponent defends the sweep by stepping over, you roll under and take the back. This works at the highest levels because the defensive responses to deep half sweeps are predictable and you can have your counter programmed before they even make their move. The electric chair is also there as a finishing option when guys get stubborn and refuse to give up the position.

Eddie Bravo

The double jump is pure 10th Planet innovation - we developed this because traditional guard recovery was too slow and predictable against modern pressure passing. When someone’s crushing you with that knee slice or headquarters pressure, you don’t have time to frame and shrimp incrementally like it’s 1995. You need to create chaos and explode into a dominant position immediately, and that’s exactly what double jump does. The technique is all about that explosive entry where both legs shoot under at the same time - it’s like a double leg takedown but you’re doing it upside down and backwards. Once you’re in that deep half position, you’ve got the whole system available: lockdown to electric chair, old school sweep to mount, waiter sweep to side control, or you can transition to dogfight and take the back. The beautiful thing is your opponent can’t really train to defend it effectively because the entry is so fast and unexpected. By the time they realize what’s happening, you’ve already got your hooks in and you’re attacking. We drill this constantly at 10th Planet gyms because it’s a position that gives smaller guys the ability to sweep much bigger opponents using timing and explosion rather than trying to muscle them around. The electric chair finish from here is also one of my favorite submissions because it attacks the hip and knee simultaneously, creating a pain compliance scenario that’s really hard to tough out even for the most stubborn competitors.