Lockdown Top represents the defensive perspective against Eddie Bravo’s signature lockdown half guard system. From this position, the top practitioner must navigate the challenging task of freeing their trapped leg from the figure-four lock while defending against constant sweep attempts, submission threats, and back take opportunities. The position requires a systematic approach to leg extraction, posture maintenance, and pressure application to neutralize the bottom player’s offensive advantages. Success from Lockdown Top depends on understanding the lockdown’s mechanical principles and exploiting its weaknesses through proper weight distribution, grip control, and strategic leg extraction sequences. The top player must balance defensive priorities (preventing sweeps and submissions) with offensive passing opportunities, often requiring patient, methodical pressure to break down the lockdown control before completing passes to dominant positions.
Position Definition
- Top practitioner’s leg is trapped in opponent’s figure-four lockdown configuration, with mobility severely restricted and base compromised to only free leg and upper body posting
- Top practitioner must distribute weight carefully to avoid being swept while working to extract trapped leg, typically maintaining wide base with free leg
- Bottom player actively extends lockdown to off-balance top player, requiring constant posture and base maintenance from top player to prevent sweeps
- Top practitioner fights for dominant upper body control (crossface, underhook, or shoulder pressure) to flatten opponent and neutralize lockdown’s offensive potential
- Top player’s passing options severely limited until trapped leg is freed from lockdown, requiring systematic approach to leg extraction before traditional passing sequences
Prerequisites
- Top position in half guard with one leg trapped in opponent’s lockdown configuration
- Understanding of lockdown mechanics and common attack sequences
- Ability to maintain posture and base while trapped leg is controlled
- Knowledge of leg extraction techniques and timing
- Capacity to establish upper body control to prevent being swept
Key Offensive Principles
- Maintain wide base with free leg to prevent being swept by lockdown extensions
- Establish dominant upper body control (crossface or shoulder pressure) to flatten opponent and limit mobility
- Work systematically to extract trapped leg using proper angle changes and pressure application
- Never allow opponent to secure underhook on trapped-leg side without immediate defensive response
- Keep weight distributed to prevent whip-up and Old School sweep attempts
- Time leg extraction attempts when opponent is defensive or adjusting position
- Transition immediately to passing sequences once leg is freed from lockdown
Available Attacks
Half Guard Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Knee Slice from Half → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Smash Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 50%
Underhook Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Crossface Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Leg Extraction to Combat Base → Combat Base
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Decision Making from This Position
If bottom player has strong underhook and is attempting Old School sweep:
- Execute Crossface Control → Lockdown (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Post Hand Far Side → Lockdown (Probability: 55%)
If bottom player extends lockdown aggressively for Electric Chair:
- Execute Drive Forward Pressure → Lockdown (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Extract Leg with Hip Pressure → Combat Base (Probability: 50%)
If bottom player is attempting whip-up with upper body control:
- Execute Heavy Shoulder Pressure → Lockdown (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Smash Pass → Side Control (Probability: 45%)
If lockdown pressure is moderate and bottom player adjusting position:
- Execute Leg Extraction Sequence → Combat Base (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Knee Slice from Half → Side Control (Probability: 55%)
Optimal Submission Paths
Pass to Mount Attack
Lockdown → Leg Extraction → Combat Base → Knee Slice Pass → Side Control → Mount → Armbar from Mount → Won by Submission
Crossface to Kimura
Lockdown → Crossface Control → Kimura from Half Guard → Kimura → Won by Submission
Pass to Back Control
Lockdown → Underhook Pass → Side Control → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke → Won by Submission
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 40% | 25% | 10% |
| Intermediate | 55% | 40% | 20% |
| Advanced | 70% | 55% | 35% |
Average Time in Position: 2-4 minutes to extract leg and complete pass depending on opponent’s lockdown skill
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
Defending against the lockdown requires understanding the biomechanical disadvantages you face and systematically addressing them before attempting to pass. The lockdown creates asymmetrical control that compromises your base through the trapped leg, making traditional passing pressure ineffective and potentially dangerous. The key defensive principle is establishing upper body dominance through crossface or heavy shoulder pressure to flatten the opponent and limit their ability to extend the lockdown or create sweep angles. Once you’ve neutralized the bottom player’s offensive capabilities through proper weight distribution and control, you can work methodically on leg extraction using circular motion and hip pressure rather than direct pulling against the lockdown’s strongest vector. The mistake most practitioners make is attempting to pass before adequately controlling the position, which leads to sweeps and back takes. Patience and systematic pressure are essential—control the upper body first, neutralize offensive threats second, extract the leg third, and only then initiate passing sequences.
Gordon Ryan
From a competitive standpoint, getting caught in lockdown can be extremely frustrating because it neutralizes many of your normal passing tools and puts you in constant danger of sweeps and submissions. My approach is aggressive upper body control combined with strategic weight distribution to prevent the bottom player from ever establishing their preferred attacking positions. I immediately fight for crossface or establish heavy shoulder pressure to flatten them, then work on extracting my leg using small circular movements rather than trying to pull straight back. The key is recognizing when the lockdown pressure reduces—usually when they’re adjusting or trying to secure grips—and using those moments to extract your leg. Against high-level lockdown players, you need to be patient and methodical because rushing leads to sweeps. I’ve learned that controlling their underhook is absolutely critical; if they get a strong underhook, you’re in serious danger of being swept. The lockdown is most dangerous when combined with dynamic movement from the bottom player, so your priority is limiting their mobility through pressure before working on extraction and passing.
Eddie Bravo
From the top perspective against lockdown, you’re in a tough spot because we designed the system to create exactly this problem for passers. The lockdown takes away your base, limits your passing options, and puts you in constant danger of sweeps and submissions. The biggest mistake I see from top players is trying to muscle their way out by pulling straight back on their trapped leg—that just makes the lockdown stronger and opens up the Electric Chair. Smart defense requires understanding that you need to control my upper body first before worrying about extracting your leg. If I get an underhook, you’re getting swept with Old School or Electric Chair, so your number one priority is preventing that underhook or fighting it aggressively if I get it. The second key is not sitting back upright, because that’s perfect for my attacks—you need to drive forward pressure to flatten me and reduce my hip mobility. Once you’ve neutralized my offensive threats through proper pressure and control, then you can work on extracting your leg using small movements and taking advantage of moments when I adjust. Even then, a good lockdown player will make you work hard for every inch of progress. The lockdown is designed to test your patience and technical precision, and rushing against it will get you swept every time.