Overhook Guard Bottom is a highly offensive variation of guard where the bottom practitioner controls one of the opponent’s arms with an overhook (also called a whizzer). This position creates significant control over the opponent’s posture and base while opening multiple sweep and submission opportunities. The overhook effectively neutralizes one of the opponent’s posting hands, making them vulnerable to off-balancing attacks and limiting their passing options.
The position is characterized by the bottom player wrapping their arm over and around the opponent’s arm, with the hand gripping the opponent’s back or lat muscle. This creates a strong frame that can be used to break posture, prevent stacking, and generate rotational movements for sweeps. When combined with proper hip movement and leg control, the overhook becomes a powerful weapon for creating advantageous positions.
Overhook Guard is particularly effective against opponents who attempt to establish strong grips or posture in guard. It allows the bottom player to dictate the pace and direction of exchanges while maintaining a safe defensive structure. The position seamlessly integrates with various submission systems, including triangles, omoplatas, and kimuras, making it a versatile component of modern guard play.
Position Definition
- Bottom player maintains closed guard with legs locked around opponent’s waist, with ankles crossed behind opponent’s back and heels pulling toward their own glutes to maintain tension
- Bottom player controls opponent’s arm with overhook, wrapping their arm over and around opponent’s arm with hand gripping opponent’s lat, shoulder blade, or back to create strong frame and prevent posting
- Opponent is positioned between bottom player’s legs with hips elevated off the mat, maintaining upright or slightly broken-down posture while bottom player uses overhook to control shoulder and restrict movement
- Bottom player’s free hand maintains strategic grip on opponent’s collar, sleeve, or wrist to control opposite arm and prevent defensive frames while setting up attacks
Prerequisites
- Established guard position with legs locked around opponent’s waist
- Successful overhook control obtained on one of opponent’s arms
- Opponent’s posture broken or controlled to prevent stacking
- Hip mobility and flexibility to maintain guard closure while attacking
- Grip strength to maintain overhook control under pressure
- Understanding of basic guard retention and hip escape mechanics
Key Defensive Principles
- Maintain constant tension on overhook by pulling elbow tight to ribs and hand gripping deep on opponent’s back
- Use overhook to control opponent’s shoulder and restrict their ability to create distance or establish strong base
- Break opponent’s posture by pulling overhook arm down while using legs to control hip positioning
- Create angles by hip escaping toward overhook side to expose opponent’s back and set up sweeps
- Coordinate overhook control with opposite-side grip management to prevent opponent from establishing defensive frames
- Utilize leg pressure and hook placement to off-balance opponent when they attempt to posture or pass
- Transition fluidly between sweep attempts and submission threats to create dilemmas for opponent
Available Escapes
Overhook Sweep → Mount Top
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 65%
Hip Bump Sweep → Mount Top
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 45%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 70%
Omoplata to Sweep → Mount Top
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Rolling Back Take → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Triangle Setup → Triangle Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Kimura from Guard → Kimura Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Omoplata from Guard → Omoplata Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Armbar from Guard → Armbar Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent maintains strong upright posture with hips back:
- Execute Hip Bump Sweep → Mount Top (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Overhook Sweep → Mount Top (Probability: 55%)
If opponent drives weight forward attempting to stack:
- Execute Omoplata to Sweep → Mount Top (Probability: 50%)
- Execute Triangle Setup → Triangle Control (Probability: 55%)
If opponent attempts to pull overhook arm free:
- Execute Triangle Setup → Triangle Control (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Kimura from Guard → Kimura Control (Probability: 50%)
If opponent circles away from overhook side:
- Execute Rolling Back Take → Back Control (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Armbar from Guard → Armbar Control (Probability: 50%)
Escape and Survival Paths
High-percentage triangle path
Overhook Guard Bottom → Triangle Setup → Triangle Control → Triangle from Guard
Back attack path
Overhook Guard Bottom → Rolling Back Take → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke
Omoplata sweep to submission
Overhook Guard Bottom → Omoplata to Sweep → Mount Top → Armbar from Mount
Direct armbar path
Overhook Guard Bottom → Hip escape angle creation → Armbar from Guard → Armbar Control
Kimura control path
Overhook Guard Bottom → Kimura from Guard → Kimura Control → Kimura
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 55% | 40% | 25% |
| Intermediate | 70% | 55% | 40% |
| Advanced | 80% | 65% | 55% |
Average Time in Position: 45-90 seconds before sweep or submission attempt
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
The overhook in guard represents a fundamental asymmetry in control that creates predictable mechanical advantages for the bottom player. When you establish the overhook, you effectively remove one of your opponent’s primary defensive tools—their ability to post and create frames with that arm. This creates a systematic hierarchy of attacks based on their reactions. If they attempt to recover the overhook, the triangle becomes available as their arm crosses their centerline. If they posture backward to reduce pressure, the hip bump sweep exploits their elevated center of gravity. If they drive forward to stack, the omoplata sweep capitalizes on their forward momentum. The key is recognizing that the overhook itself is not the finish—it is the control mechanism that forces your opponent into positions where their defensive options all lead to your offensive opportunities. Maintain the overhook with relentless tension through your lat and elbow connection, and your attacks will flow naturally from their inevitable reactions.
Gordon Ryan
In competition, overhook guard is one of my go-to positions because it gives me immediate offensive options while maintaining a safe defensive structure. The beauty of this position is that it forces my opponent to make difficult decisions under time pressure. If they sit back and try to establish posture, I can hit the hip bump sweep almost at will—it’s extremely high percentage when you time it with their backward weight shift. If they try to drive into me, I’m already set up for the triangle or omoplata, and both lead to either the finish or a dominant sweep position. The critical detail that most people miss is the grip on the back with your overhook hand—you need to grip deep on their lat or shoulder blade, not just wrap the arm loosely. This deep grip gives you the leverage to break their posture and control their shoulder rotation, which is essential for both sweeps and submissions. I also use the overhook to set up my back takes by creating an angle and rolling them over my shoulder. It’s a complete offensive system disguised as a simple control position.
Eddie Bravo
Overhook guard is where 10th Planet’s mission control system begins, and it’s absolutely crucial for no-gi guard play because you’re not relying on gi grips to control your opponent. The overhook gives you that same level of control through pure body mechanics and positioning. What I love about this position is how it sets up the zombie and other rubber guard variations—once you have that overhook established, you can start working your leg up to control their head and transition into high-level attacks. But even before you get fancy with it, the basic overhook gives you immediate access to sweeps and submissions that work at the highest levels. The hip bump sweep from overhook is money, especially in MMA or no-gi where people are more aggressive with their posture. You can also use the overhook to set up the truck position by rolling them over your shoulder—this is a huge part of our system because it leads directly to back takes and the twister. The key is staying active with it, never letting them settle or recover their base. Keep threatening, keep moving, and use that overhook as your anchor point for everything you do from guard.