Gogoplata Setup

bjj transition submission 10thplanet setup

Required Properties for State Machine

Core Identifiers

Submission ID: S105
Submission Name: Gogoplata Setup
Alternative Names: Shin Choke Setup, Rubber Guard Choke Entry

State Machine Properties

Starting State: Standing Position, Williams Guard
Ending State: Gogoplata Control, Won by Submission
Submission Type: Setup - Prepares for shin choke submission

Submission Properties

Success Probability: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 55%, Advanced 80% - core probability data
Execution Complexity: High - technical difficulty assessment
Energy Cost: Medium - physical demand of execution
Time Required: Medium - duration of setup attempt
Risk Level: Medium - chance of position loss if failed

Physical Requirements

Strength Requirements: Medium for grip and control maintenance
Flexibility Requirements: High for hip mobility and shin positioning
Coordination Requirements: High for precise shin placement and arm control
Endurance Requirements: Medium for sustained control during setup

State Machine Content Elements

Visual Execution Sequence

Detailed step-by-step description for clear movement sequence visualization:

Begin from an established Rubber Guard control position such as New York Control or Williams Guard, where your hips are elevated and your opponent’s posture is broken down with one of their arms trapped and controlled by your grip. Your legs are actively working to maintain the high guard position, with one leg potentially controlling their shoulder or arm while creating sufficient space near their neck. Slowly slide your shin across the front of the opponent’s throat, positioning it perpendicular to their neck with the blade of your shin making contact, ensuring you’re targeting the trachea area rather than sliding too high onto the jaw or too low onto the chest. Your foot begins to thread behind the opponent’s head, your toes pointing down as you guide your heel toward the back of their skull, establishing the characteristic “shin across throat” position. As the shin settles into position, you pull down on their head or arm with your grips while simultaneously applying pressure through your shin, your other leg often hooking or pushing against their body to maintain control and prevent their escape. The opponent feels increasing pressure across their windpipe as you tighten your configuration, their defensive space closing as the choke locks in and forces the submission.

Template: “From Rubber Guard control, elevate hips and break posture with arm trapped. Slide shin across throat perpendicular to neck. Thread foot behind head, toes down toward back of skull. Pull head/arm down, apply shin pressure while controlling with other leg. Opponent feels windpipe pressure closing defensive space until submission.”

⚠️ Safety Considerations

Injury Risks

Gogoplata setups and submissions can cause serious injuries if applied incorrectly:

Trachea Crush/Windpipe Damage (Severity: Critical, Recovery: weeks to months; shin pressure on throat)
Loss of Consciousness (Severity: High, Recovery: immediate to hours; rare but possible from air choke)
Cervical Spine Injury (Severity: High, Recovery: weeks to months; from neck hyperextension during setup)
Jaw/TMJ Injury (Severity: Medium, Recovery: 2-4 weeks; from improper shin placement on jaw)

Application Speed

Apply submissions SLOWLY and progressively over 5-7 seconds minimum (slower than other chokes)
Never drive shin forcefully or suddenly across throat area
Gradually position shin to allow partner awareness of airway restriction
Maintain constant awareness of partner’s tap signals, especially verbal taps

Tap Signals

Partners must establish clear tap signals before training:

Verbal Tap: Saying “tap” loudly (CRITICAL - arms often trapped in rubber guard variations)
Physical Tap: Tapping partner’s body, mat, or own body with any free limb (minimum 2 taps)
Emergency Signal: Any vocalization or body movement indicating distress if fully trapped

Release Protocol

When partner taps:

Immediately remove shin pressure from throat/neck area
Release rubber guard or wrist control to free partner’s arms
Carefully extract shin from partner’s neck without scraping
Check partner’s breathing and throat comfort: “Can you breathe okay? Throat alright?”
Observe for coughing, difficulty swallowing, or voice changes
Monitor for 20-30 seconds to ensure airway is unobstructed

Training Progression

Weeks 1-4: Rubber guard positions only (New York, Williams Guard), no shin placement
Weeks 5-8: Slow shin positioning drills with cooperative partner (5% speed, tap to position only)
Weeks 9-12: Very light throat contact with zero pressure (20% speed, immediate tap to contact)
Weeks 13-16: Minimal pressure application with experienced partner (40% speed, tap at 20% pressure)
Ongoing: Advanced practitioners only, never full pressure in training, extreme caution always

Partner Communication

Establish multiple tap signals before drilling, emphasize verbal tap as primary
Communicate throat comfort continuously: “pressure okay?” “can you breathe?”
Discuss partner’s trachea sensitivity or previous neck/throat injuries
Agree on absolute maximum pressure for drilling (typically 20-40% maximum, never full)
Watch for any signs of breathing difficulty - release immediately at first sign of distress
Consider this an advanced technique requiring mutual trust and experience

Begin from an established control position such as New York Control or Williams Guard within the Rubber Guard system, where you have already secured a strong wrist or arm control with one hand to prevent the opponent’s defensive framing. Adjust your hip position slightly to create the necessary space for shin insertion, maintaining a tight connection to avoid losing control. Start sliding your shin across the opponent’s neck or throat region, ensuring it is positioned directly against the throat rather than the jawline or collarbone for maximum effectiveness. Guide your foot behind the opponent’s head or neck, applying light pressure to secure it in place, and adjust your grip to optimize leverage on the opponent’s wrist or arm. Finalize the shin position directly across the throat, eliminating any defensive space by stabilizing your position, thus transitioning into the active Gogoplata Control ready for the finishing submission.

Template: “From New York Control or Williams Guard, secure wrist control. Adjust hips for space, slide shin across throat. Guide foot behind head, secure with pressure. Optimize grip, finalize shin position across throat for Gogoplata Control.”

Execution Steps

EXTREME SAFETY WARNING: Gogoplata targets the trachea/windpipe - VERY HIGH injury risk. Apply pressure SLOWLY over 5-7 seconds minimum. This is an ADVANCED technique requiring extensive flexibility and extreme caution.

Step-by-Step Execution

Step 1: Rubber Guard Control Establishment (Setup Phase)

Begin from New York Control or Williams Guard with your hips elevated and opponent’s posture broken, securing strong wrist or arm control.

Your guard is high on their back/shoulders
One hand controls their wrist to prevent defensive framing
Their posture should be broken forward
Safety check: Establish tap signals (VERBAL tap is critical - arms often trapped)

Step 2: Hip Adjustment for Shin Entry (Preparation Phase)

Adjust your hip position slightly to create the necessary angle and space for shin insertion while maintaining tight connection.

Subtle hip shift creates space without losing control
Keep opponent’s weight forward and down
Maintain wrist control throughout adjustment
Partner check: Confirm they understand this is a controlled drill

Step 3: Shin Sliding Initiation (Entry Phase - SLOW MOTION)

Begin sliding your shin across the opponent’s neck/throat region VERY SLOWLY, targeting the throat rather than jawline or collarbone.

Move shin deliberately, not suddenly
Blade of shin should contact throat area
Ensure shin is perpendicular to their neck
Speed: EXTREMELY SLOW - give partner time to tap to position
Watch for: Any discomfort, coughing, or distress signals

Step 4: Foot Threading Behind Head (Positioning Phase)

Guide your foot behind the opponent’s head or neck, threading it carefully while applying only minimal pressure to secure position.

Toes point downward toward back of their skull
Heel moves toward the back of their head
NO PRESSURE yet - positioning only
Monitor: Partner’s breathing and any signs of airway restriction

Step 5: Grip Optimization and Shin Finalization (Lock Phase)

Adjust your wrist/arm control grip to optimize leverage while finalizing shin position directly across the throat.

Shin should be centered on their trachea (throat)
Your grip prevents any defensive framing
Position is locked but pressure minimal
Critical: Constant verbal check-ins: “Okay?” “Can you breathe?”

Step 6: Stabilization for Gogoplata Control (Completion Phase - MINIMAL PRESSURE ONLY)

Eliminate defensive space by stabilizing your position, transitioning into Gogoplata Control ready for the finishing submission.

Your body position is locked and stable
Opponent has limited escape options
IN TRAINING: Apply ZERO to minimal pressure (10-20% max)
FEEL FOR TAP: Verbal “tap”, hand tapping, ANY distress signal
RELEASE IMMEDIATELY:
- Remove shin from throat instantly
- Open rubber guard to free their arms
- Carefully extract shin without scraping
- Check partner: “Throat okay? Can you breathe normally? Any pain?”
Post-setup: Monitor for coughing, voice changes, difficulty swallowing
Watch for: Delayed reactions - throat injuries can manifest minutes later

Total Execution Time in Training: 5-7 seconds MINIMUM for each phase. In drilling, stop at position achievement with ZERO pressure. This technique should only be practiced by advanced students with extensive flexibility training and under expert supervision.

Key Technical Details

Critical elements that determine success:

Grip Requirements: Constant control of opponent’s arm to prevent defensive frames
Base/Foundation: Hip mobility and angle for effective shin placement
Timing Windows: Execute when opponent’s attention is divided or posture is broken
Leverage Points: Shin directly across throat for choking setup
Common Adjustments: Adjust hip angle and shin insertion based on defensive reactions

Success Modifiers

Factors that increase/decrease probability:

Setup Quality: Security of wrist control and shin placement (+/-20%)
Timing Precision: Executing during opponent’s divided attention (+/-15%)
Opponent Fatigue: Reduced defensive resistance over time (+/-5%)
Knowledge Test Performance: Understanding Gogoplata mechanics (+/-10%)
Positional Control: Effectiveness of hip adjustment and space management (+/-10%)

Counter-Attack Analysis

Common Counters

Opponent responses with success rates:

Posture Defense: Posturing up to prevent shin placement → Control Escape (Success Rate: 25%, Conditions: early reaction)
Arm Frame: Framing with arms to create space → Space Creation (Success Rate: 20%, Conditions: strong defense)
Head Pull Back: Pulling head back to avoid shin → Setup Prevention (Success Rate: 15%, Conditions: quick adjustment)
Forward Pressure: Driving forward to flatten guard → Guard Flattening (Success Rate: 10%, Conditions: significant leverage)
Hand Fighting: Fighting grips to break control → Grip Breaking (Success Rate: 10%, Conditions: immediate action)

Format: [[Counter Technique]] → [[Result State]] (Success Rate: X%, Conditions: [when applicable])

Decision Logic for Opponent Behavior

If [gogoplata setup] is not fully secured:
- Execute [[Posture Defense]] (Probability: 25%)

Else if [arm frame] can create space:
- Execute [[Arm Frame]] (Probability: 20%)

Else if [head pull back] avoids shin:
- Execute [[Head Pull Back]] (Probability: 15%)

Else if [forward pressure] flattens guard:
- Execute [[Forward Pressure]] (Probability: 10%)

Else [optimal setup execution]:
- Accept transition to [[Gogoplata Control]] (Probability: Success Rate - Modifiers)

Defensive Considerations

Common Threats During Attempt

Primary risks while attempting this setup:

Posture Defense: Opponent postures up to prevent shin placement → Control Escape (Threat Level: Medium)
Space Creation: Opponent frames to create defensive space → Space Creation (Threat Level: Medium)
Setup Prevention: Opponent pulls head back to avoid shin → Setup Prevention (Threat Level: Low)
Guard Flattening: Opponent drives forward to flatten guard → Guard Flattening (Threat Level: Low)

Format: [[Threat Type]] → [[Resulting Position]] (Threat Level: X)

Defensive Strategies

Methods to mitigate threats:

Wrist Control: Maintain tight grip on wrist to prevent framing
Hip Mobility: Adjust hips to counter posture defense and maintain angle
Shin Insertion: Slide shin quickly and precisely to avoid head pull-back
Space Management: Minimize space to block forward pressure
Adaptation Readiness: Be prepared to switch to other submissions or controls if setup fails

Educational Content

Expert Insights

Commentary as if from recognized authorities:

John Danaher: “While not a primary focus in my system, the Gogoplata Setup showcases mechanical principles of control. Incremental establishment of control points before committing to the final position is key.”
Gordon Ryan: “The Gogoplata Setup is a specialized attack with critical vulnerability during transition. Defensive awareness at this stage can nullify the attack before it’s established.”
Eddie Bravo: “The Gogoplata Setup is central to the 10th Planet system, with subtle details like the ‘shin fade’ technique to disguise the attack. It’s the most technically demanding part of the sequence.”

Each insight should focus on one key technical or strategic element.

Common Errors

For knowledge test generation:

Error: Insufficient flexibility for shin placement
Why It Fails: Prevents proper positioning of shin across throat
Correction: Develop hip flexibility specific to Gogoplata mechanics
Recognition: Difficulty sliding shin into position without losing control
Error: Premature loss of wrist control
Why It Fails: Allows opponent to frame defensively and escape setup
Correction: Maintain constant grip on opponent’s wrist or arm
Recognition: Opponent easily creates space or breaks control
Error: Incorrect shin angle or placement
Why It Fails: Reduces effectiveness of choking mechanism
Correction: Position shin directly across throat, not jawline or collarbone
Recognition: Shin slips or fails to apply pressure correctly

BJJ Graph

Explorer

Gogoplata Setup | BJJ Submission Guide | BJJ Graph