The Vaporizer bottom position is an advanced controlling position within the 10th Planet system, representing a strategic extension of the lockdown half guard. This position is characterized by establishing a deep lockdown while simultaneously creating a powerful whip-up motion that forces the opponent onto their side or back. The practitioner uses the lockdown to control the opponent’s leg while employing an underhook or overhook to manipulate their upper body, creating a mechanical advantage that makes escape extremely difficult.
The Vaporizer serves as a gateway position within the 10th Planet methodology, offering multiple pathways to sweeps, back takes, and submission opportunities. Unlike traditional half guard approaches that focus primarily on distance management, the Vaporizer emphasizes extreme proximity and pressure, using the lockdown to break down the opponent’s base while the upper body control creates attacking opportunities. This position is particularly effective in no-gi grappling where traditional gi grips are unavailable, forcing practitioners to rely on body positioning and structural control.
The effectiveness of the Vaporizer lies in its ability to force reactions from opponents. By creating an uncomfortable position with the whip-up motion and lockdown pressure, defenders are compelled to make defensive choices that often expose them to further attacks. Whether transitioning to the Electric Chair, advancing to the Truck position, or sweeping to dominant positions, the Vaporizer exemplifies the systematic approach to position advancement that defines modern no-gi BJJ strategy.
Position Definition
- Lockdown established on one leg with bottom practitioner’s legs intertwined around opponent’s trapped leg, creating structural control through the figure-four configuration that prevents leg extraction
- Underhook or overhook secured on opponent’s upper body, typically with the arm threading under the opponent’s arm or wrapping over their shoulder to create leverage for the whip-up motion
- Opponent’s posture broken and weight shifted to one side, with their trapped leg extended and their upper body compromised, preventing them from establishing a stable base
- Bottom practitioner’s hips actively driving forward and upward, creating constant pressure that forces opponent’s weight onto their hands or side rather than allowing stable posting
- Opponent positioned between full combat base and being rolled to their side, maintaining enough instability to prevent effective defense while setting up transition opportunities
Prerequisites
- Lockdown secured on one of opponent’s legs with figure-four leg configuration
- Opponent in or transitioning from half guard top position
- Underhook or overhook control established on opponent’s upper body
- Ability to generate hip pressure and whip-up motion
- Opponent’s base compromised enough to prevent immediate posture recovery
Key Defensive Principles
- Maintain constant lockdown pressure by extending the trapped leg away from opponent’s body while keeping the lock tight
- Use whip-up motion by driving hips forward and upward to break opponent’s posture and force weight distribution onto their hands
- Coordinate upper body control with lockdown pressure, using underhook or overhook to prevent opponent from creating distance
- Keep opponent’s weight shifting between their hands and their side, never allowing them to establish stable combat base
- Create dilemmas by threatening multiple attacks simultaneously - sweep if they post, submit if they stay heavy, advance to truck if they try to escape
- Maintain close distance to prevent opponent from creating space to clear the lockdown or regain posture
- Use active hip movement rather than static holding, constantly adjusting pressure to respond to opponent’s defensive attempts
Available Escapes
Old School Sweep → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Transition to Truck → Truck
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Electric Chair Submission → Electric Chair
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Transition to Omoplata → Omoplata Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Rolling Back Take → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Lockdown Sweeps → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent maintains heavy pressure and resists whip-up motion with wide base:
- Execute Electric Chair Submission → Electric Chair (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Transition to Truck → Truck (Probability: 45%)
If opponent posts hand or attempts to create distance:
- Execute Old School Sweep → Mount (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Lockdown Sweeps → Side Control (Probability: 50%)
If opponent commits weight forward to counter lockdown pressure:
- Execute Rolling Back Take → Back Control (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Transition to Omoplata → Omoplata Control (Probability: 45%)
If opponent successfully widens base and prevents whip-up:
- Execute Transition to Truck → Truck (Probability: 50%)
- Execute Electric Chair Submission → Electric Chair (Probability: 40%)
Escape and Survival Paths
Electric Chair Path
Vaporizer Bottom → Electric Chair → Electric Chair Submission
Truck to Twister Path
Vaporizer Bottom → Truck → Twister Control → Twister
Back Attack Path
Vaporizer Bottom → Rolling Back Take → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke
Omoplata Finish Path
Vaporizer Bottom → Transition to Omoplata → Omoplata Control → Omoplata
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 50% | 45% | 30% |
| Intermediate | 65% | 60% | 45% |
| Advanced | 80% | 75% | 60% |
Average Time in Position: 45-90 seconds before transition
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
The Vaporizer represents an interesting case study in systematic half guard development where the lockdown configuration creates a mechanical advantage that transcends traditional strength-based control. The biomechanical principle at work involves using the figure-four leg lock to immobilize one of the opponent’s primary posting bases while the whip-up motion creates a lever effect that disrupts their remaining base points. What makes this position particularly effective from a systematic perspective is how it creates forced reactions - the opponent must choose between defending the sweep, the submission, or the positional advancement, and each defensive choice opens a different attacking pathway. The coordination required between lower body lockdown pressure and upper body control through the underhook exemplifies proper structural integration where multiple control points work synergistically rather than independently. Advanced practitioners understand that the Vaporizer is not merely a static position but rather a transitional control state where constant pressure and movement prevent the opponent from organizing effective defense while creating multiple decision points that favor the bottom player.
Gordon Ryan
In competition, the Vaporizer is one of those positions that immediately tells you if someone actually trains 10th Planet methodology or just knows it theoretically. The difference is massive - real practitioners use it as an active attacking position that constantly threatens multiple finishes, while amateurs get stuck holding the lockdown without creating real danger. What I’ve found works best in high-level matches is using the Vaporizer as a transitional position rather than a destination. You hit the lockdown, establish the underhook, create the whip-up pressure, and immediately start flowing between Old School sweep attempts, Electric Chair threats, and Truck entries. The key is that each attack sets up the next one - when they defend the sweep, the Electric Chair opens up; when they defend that, you can hit the Truck. In no-gi especially, this position is incredibly effective because without gi grips to control you from the top, opponents really struggle to deal with the combination of lockdown control and upper body manipulation. The submission rate from Vaporizer in high-level competition is actually pretty impressive if you include all the secondary attacks after initial transitions.
Eddie Bravo
The Vaporizer is one of those positions where everything comes together in the 10th Planet system - it’s got the lockdown control, the whip-up mechanics, multiple attack options, and it flows naturally into the rest of the game. What most people don’t understand about this position is that it’s designed to break people mentally as much as physically. You get locked down, you’re getting whipped up, you’re defending the Old School sweep, then boom - Electric Chair is there, or I’m taking your back, or I’m rolling you into the Truck. It’s constant pressure and constant threats, which is exactly what we want in no-gi where you can’t just grab the gi and stall. The beauty of the Vaporizer is how it exemplifies the whole 10th Planet philosophy of creating dilemmas and forcing reactions. Every defense they make opens something else up, and if they don’t defend, you just take what’s there. When you really master this position, it becomes this branching tree of options where you’re always a step ahead because you understand the sequences and they’re just reacting. Train the Vaporizer as a flow rather than a destination, and suddenly your half guard bottom game becomes this unstoppable machine that keeps generating offense.