BJJ Graph

Electric Chair

Dec 09, 20257 min read

Electric Chair is a devastating attacking position from the lockdown half guard system, popularized by Eddie Bravo and 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu. This position combines elements of a sweep, submission threat, and positional control, creating a powerful offensive weapon from bottom half guard. The practitioner uses the lockdown to control the opponent’s leg while simultaneously elevating their hips and creating a crotch-splitting pressure that forces the opponent into increasingly compromised positions.

The Electric Chair represents a fundamental departure from traditional half guard sweeps by utilizing the lockdown’s control to create a unique mechanical advantage. Rather than simply sweeping the opponent, the bottom player generates intense pressure on the hip joint and groin area, creating both a submission threat and a powerful sweeping mechanism. This dual-threat nature makes the position exceptionally difficult to defend, as opponents must simultaneously address the submission danger while preventing the sweep.

From a tactical perspective, Electric Chair serves as a cornerstone of the lockdown system, providing a high-percentage pathway to dominant positions or submissions. The position’s effectiveness stems from its ability to break down the opponent’s base while maintaining tight control throughout the transition. Advanced practitioners can chain the Electric Chair with other lockdown attacks, creating a comprehensive offensive system that keeps opponents constantly defending.

Key Principles

  • Maintain tight lockdown throughout the entire sequence - any loosening allows opponent to extract their leg and escape

  • Elevate hips powerfully using the lockdown as a lever to create maximum pressure on opponent’s hip joint

  • Drive the knee of the lockdown leg upward into opponent’s groin and inner thigh to intensify the stretching pressure

  • Control opponent’s upper body with underhook to prevent them from rolling forward or circling away from the attack

  • Keep shoulders flat to the mat initially, then rotate toward opponent to increase sweeping power

  • Time the sweep for when opponent is maximally stretched and off-balance from the submission pressure

Top vs Bottom

 BottomTop
Position TypeOffensiveDefensive
Risk LevelMediumHigh
Energy CostMediumHigh
TimeShort to MediumShort

Key Difference: Lockdown leverages sweep and submission threat

Playing as Bottom

→ Full Bottom Guide

Key Principles

  • Maintain constant tension on the lockdown to prevent opponent from extracting their leg and establish baseline control

  • Secure deep underhook that reaches across opponent’s back to their far side, maximizing extension and preventing them from posturing away

  • Control opponent’s near ankle with precision, pulling it toward your hip to create the splitting mechanism that defines the position

  • Angle your hips and body to create maximum leverage on the trapped leg, positioning yourself at approximately 45 degrees to your opponent

  • Coordinate lockdown extension with ankle control and underhook pressure to create simultaneous threats of sweep and submission

  • Keep opponent’s weight distributed forward and off-balance to prevent them from establishing defensive base or extracting their leg

  • Maintain active offensive pressure throughout, never allowing opponent to settle or establish counters to your control

Primary Techniques

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Releasing lockdown tension while attempting to secure ankle control

    • Consequence: Opponent can extract their leg and pass to side control, completely neutralizing the electric chair threat
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain constant pressure through the lockdown while using your free hand to secure the ankle, never sacrificing leg control for grip adjustments

  • ❌ Shallow underhook that doesn’t reach across opponent’s back to far side

    • Consequence: Insufficient extension leverage allows opponent to posture and defend, reducing sweep and submission effectiveness by 40-50%
    • ✅ Correction: Drive underhook deep across opponent’s back until your hand grips their far lat or belt, creating maximum extension control

  • ❌ Failing to angle hips properly for splitting action

    • Consequence: Reduced pressure on opponent’s trapped leg minimizes submission threat and sweep leverage, making position easily defensible
    • ✅ Correction: Angle your body approximately 45 degrees relative to opponent, creating perpendicular force on their trapped leg while maintaining lockdown control

  • ❌ Attempting submission without establishing proper grips first

    • Consequence: Opponent easily defends and can counter-pass, often securing side control or mount
    • ✅ Correction: Follow systematic grip sequence: lockdown first, then underhook, finally ankle control before initiating splitting action

  • ❌ Allowing opponent to establish crossface or overhook on underhooking arm

    • Consequence: Loss of extension control and sweep leverage, typically resulting in opponent passing to side control
    • ✅ Correction: Keep underhooking arm active and deep, using head position and shoulder pressure to prevent opponent from controlling it

  • ❌ Static position maintenance without creating dynamic pressure

    • Consequence: Opponent settles into defensive position and systematically works to extract leg, eventually passing guard
    • ✅ Correction: Constantly adjust lockdown pressure, underhook depth, and ankle control to keep opponent reacting and off-balance

Playing as Top

→ Full Top Guide

Key Principles

  • Immediately recognize the lockdown and Electric Chair setup to prevent the submission from being finished

  • Keep your weight forward and chest pressure down on opponent to prevent them from creating the optimal angle for the submission

  • Control opponent’s upper body with crossface, underhook, or head control to limit their mobility and sweep options

  • Work systematically to break the lockdown by addressing the foot triangle first, then extracting your trapped leg

  • Maintain wide base with your free leg to counter off-balancing attempts and sweep threats like the Old School

  • Stay patient and methodical - rushing the escape often leads to giving up back control or being swept

Primary Techniques

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Pulling leg out forcefully without breaking the lockdown first

    • Consequence: Increases torque on knee joint and makes the Electric Chair submission more effective, risking injury
    • ✅ Correction: First break the foot triangle by creating space and addressing the lockdown mechanics, then extract the leg systematically

  • ❌ Posting hands behind you or sitting back in response to the stretch

    • Consequence: Gives opponent ideal angle and leverage for the Electric Chair finish and opens Old School sweep opportunities
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain forward pressure with chest and shoulders, keep weight distributed over opponent to limit their mobility

  • ❌ Ignoring upper body control while focusing only on leg extraction

    • Consequence: Opponent easily takes back or sweeps as you become one-dimensional in your escape
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain crossface, underhook, or head control throughout the escape process to limit opponent’s options

  • ❌ Allowing opponent to get perpendicular angle with their hips

    • Consequence: Significantly increases effectiveness of Electric Chair submission and sweep attempts
    • ✅ Correction: Use free leg to drive opponent’s hips flat to the mat, preventing them from achieving optimal submission angle

  • ❌ Panicking and attempting explosive escapes without technique

    • Consequence: Wastes energy, increases injury risk, and often results in giving up worse positions like back control
    • ✅ Correction: Stay calm, work systematically through escape steps, and time movements with opponent’s adjustments

  • ❌ Keeping trapped leg stiff and locked out

    • Consequence: Makes the leg more vulnerable to the stretch and harder to extract from lockdown
    • ✅ Correction: Relax the trapped leg (limp leg concept), allowing it to be more mobile and less susceptible to the submission mechanics

  • Lockdown - Parent position - Electric Chair develops from established lockdown control

  • Half Guard - Base position - Traditional half guard that lockdown modifies

  • Truck - Alternative transition - Available when opponent defends sweep

  • Vaporizer - Related technique - Alternative sweep when electric chair is defended

  • Deep Half Guard - Transition option - Can transition if lockdown is broken

  • Old School - Common finish - Primary sweep from electric chair pressure

  • Back Control - Advanced transition - Available when opponent turns into pressure

  • Mount - Sweep destination - Common target after successful old school sweep