10th Planet No-Gi Guard System is a advanced difficulty Guard System system. Integrates 4 components.
System ID: System Type: Guard System Difficulty Level: Advanced
What is 10th Planet No-Gi Guard System?
The 10th Planet No-Gi Guard System represents Eddie Bravo’s revolutionary approach to guard play without the gi, emphasizing flexibility, unorthodox positions, and submission chains. This comprehensive system integrates rubber guard positions (Mission Control, New York, Meathook), lockdown-based attacks from half guard, and the twister series from turtle positions. The system prioritizes control through unconventional grips and body positioning that cannot be replicated in gi-based training, making it particularly effective in MMA and no-gi competition.
At its core, the 10th Planet system challenges traditional guard concepts by utilizing extreme flexibility, hip mobility, and creative angles to break posture and create submission opportunities. The rubber guard series controls opponents through overhooks and leg control, while the lockdown system from half guard uses the legs to trap and sweep. The twister path provides a unique submission series from scrambles and turtle positions. Each subsystem connects through strategic transitions, creating a web of attacking options that keeps opponents constantly defending.
This system requires dedicated flexibility training and systematic drilling to master the unconventional positions. Practitioners must develop comfort in inverted positions, deep leg entanglements, and positions that feel unstable initially. The payoff is a guard game that opponents rarely encounter, providing significant tactical advantages through unfamiliarity and forcing defensive reactions that open submission opportunities.
Core Principles
- Flexibility and hip mobility enable unconventional control positions
- Break posture through overhooks and leg control rather than gi grips
- Create submission chains where defensive responses open new attacks
- Use unfamiliarity as a tactical advantage in competition
- Integrate striking defense considerations for MMA applications
- Systematic progression from control to submission
- Embrace inverted and unconventional positions for strategic advantage
Key Components
Rubber Guard Series (Dominant closed guard control leading to high-percentage submissions) The rubber guard positions (Mission Control, New York, Meathook, Chill Dog, Carni) use the leg to control the opponent’s posture while creating overhook control. This system breaks traditional posture recovery and opens pathways to triangles, omoplatas, and gogoplatas through systematic transitions.
Lockdown System (Transform defensive half guard into offensive attacking position) From half guard, the lockdown uses both legs to trap the opponent’s leg, preventing passing while enabling sweeps and electric chair submissions. This component provides defensive stability and offensive opportunities from bottom half guard, particularly effective against pressure passing.
Twister Path (Capitalize on scrambles and turtle positions with submission threats) The truck position and twister series create unique submission opportunities from turtle, scrambles, and back takes. This pathway includes calf slicers, banana splits, and the signature twister submission, providing attacks from positions opponents rarely defend.
Flexibility Protocol (Physical preparation enabling execution of system positions) Systematic stretching and mobility work targeting hip flexors, hamstrings, and spinal rotation enables the deep positions required for rubber guard and twister attacks. This component includes specific warm-up sequences and progressive flexibility development essential for system execution.
Implementation Sequence
- Foundation Building: Develop fundamental flexibility and become comfortable in basic rubber guard and lockdown positions Key points:
- Daily hip flexor and hamstring stretching
- Practice basic rubber guard control (Mission Control)
- Learn lockdown mechanics from half guard
- Develop comfort in inverted positions
- Build conditioning for maintaining unusual positions
- Rubber Guard Pathways: Master the progression through rubber guard positions and their submission endings Key points:
- Mission Control to New York transition
- New York to triangle setup
- Meathook control and omoplata paths
- Chill Dog to gogoplata connections
- Invisible Collar control maintenance
- Lockdown Integration: Implement lockdown system from half guard with sweep and submission chains Key points:
- Lockdown entry from various half guard positions
- Old school sweep mechanics
- Electric chair submission pathway
- Lockdown to back take transitions
- Combining lockdown with whip-up techniques
- Twister Series: Develop truck position entries and twister submission sequences Key points:
- Truck entry from turtle and scrambles
- Calf slicer from truck position
- Twister control and finish mechanics
- Banana split variations
- Transitions between truck attacks
- System Integration: Connect all subsystems into cohesive guard game with strategic transitions Key points:
- Rubber guard to lockdown transitions
- Lockdown to truck pathways
- Recognizing which pathway to pursue based on opponent reactions
- Combining striking defense with guard retention
- Competition strategy and pacing
- Advanced Applications: Refine timing, develop counters to common defenses, and adapt system for competition Key points:
- Counter opponent’s rubber guard defenses
- Advanced lockdown variations
- Twister entries from unexpected positions
- MMA-specific applications
- Teaching methodology for coaching others
How to Measure Your Progress
Rubber Guard Control Retention: Ability to maintain rubber guard positions against escape attempts and establish submission pathways Proficiency indicators:
- Consistently achieve Mission Control from closed guard
- Transition between rubber guard positions fluidly
- Finish triangles and omoplatas from rubber guard positions
- Maintain control for 30+ seconds against resistance
Lockdown Effectiveness: Success rate with lockdown sweeps and submissions from half guard Proficiency indicators:
- Enter lockdown from various half guard scenarios
- Execute Old School sweep with 40%+ success rate
- Threaten electric chair causing opponent reactions
- Prevent passing while in lockdown position
Truck Position Entries: Recognition and execution of truck position opportunities during scrambles and transitions Proficiency indicators:
- Enter truck from turtle 60%+ of opportunities
- Recognize truck entries during guard pass scrambles
- Maintain truck control against escape attempts
- Finish calf slicer or twister from truck position
System Integration: Seamless connection between rubber guard, lockdown, and twister subsystems based on position flow Proficiency indicators:
- Transition from rubber guard to lockdown when appropriate
- Convert failed lockdown sweeps to truck entries
- Recognize optimal pathway selection based on opponent reactions
- Chain attacks across different subsystems
Expert Insights
- John Danaher: While the 10th Planet system appears unconventional, it demonstrates sound systematic principles when analyzed through a technical lens. The rubber guard series creates a hierarchy of control positions, each with specific submission pathways and defensive counters. What makes this system effective is not merely the exotic positions, but the systematic connections between positions that create genuine attacking dilemmas. The lockdown transforms what is traditionally a poor position (bottom half guard) into an offensive platform through mechanical leg control that prevents passing while enabling sweeps. The flexibility requirement should not be viewed as a limitation but rather as a strategic investment—opponents who lack similar flexibility cannot replicate these positions, providing asymmetric tactical advantages. The key to mastering this system lies in understanding the mechanical principles underlying each position rather than simply memorizing position names and sequences.
- Gordon Ryan: In competition, the 10th Planet guard system provides significant advantages through opponent unfamiliarity and the creation of unusual submission angles. I’ve successfully integrated elements of the rubber guard into my no-gi game, particularly the overhook control and triangle setups from Mission Control. The lockdown from half guard is exceptionally effective for stalling and recovering when tired, while still threatening sweeps. However, practitioners must be selective about when to employ these positions—against knowledgeable opponents, pure 10th Planet positions can be countered with specific defensive strategies. The real value comes from blending 10th Planet concepts with traditional no-gi guard work, using the threat of rubber guard to set up more conventional attacks. The flexibility and hip mobility developed through 10th Planet training enhances all aspects of guard play, making it worthwhile even if you don’t employ the positions in competition.
- Eddie Bravo: This system represents my life’s work in evolving no-gi guard play beyond what existed when I started training. The rubber guard was born from necessity—how do you control posture without a gi? The answer was to use your leg as the overhook. Mission Control creates better posture control than any gi grip because you’re using your strongest weapons (legs) against their weakest (neck and arm). The lockdown revolutionized half guard play by turning a defensive position into an attacking position through that simple leg entanglement. The twister path came from studying wrestling scrambles and realizing there were submission opportunities everyone was missing. What makes this system effective isn’t just the techniques—it’s the philosophy of constant innovation and willingness to explore positions that feel wrong initially. Flexibility is the price of admission, but it’s a small price for a guard game that works in MMA, no-gi competition, and creates submission opportunities opponents don’t train to defend.