As the attacker executing the Lockdown Whizzer Pass, your objective is to neutralize the bottom player’s primary offensive weapon, the underhook, by accepting it and immediately countering with a whizzer overhook. This counterintuitive approach transforms their best grip into a liability. By driving the whizzer elbow downward and applying heavy shoulder pressure, you flatten the bottom player onto their back, eliminating the hip angle required for whip-up sweeps, Old School attempts, and Electric Chair entries. Once flattened, systematic leg extraction through hip pressure and circular knee motion frees the trapped leg, allowing you to complete the pass to side control. The entire sequence demands patience, precise weight distribution, and the discipline to flatten completely before attempting extraction.
From Position: Lockdown (Top)
Key Attacking Principles
What are the key principles for executing Lockdown Whizzer Pass?
- Accept the underhook rather than fighting it directly, then immediately counter with a tight whizzer to convert their offensive grip into a control point
- Drive the whizzer elbow downward and toward the mat to rotate the bottom player’s shoulder flat, eliminating their ability to come up to their side
- Maintain heavy chest-to-chest shoulder pressure throughout the entire sequence to prevent the bottom player from recovering hip mobility
- Never attempt leg extraction until the bottom player is fully flattened with their underhook neutralized by whizzer pressure
- Use circular knee motion rather than straight backward pulling to extract the trapped leg from the lockdown triangle
- Keep the free leg posted wide for base throughout the pass to resist any sweep attempts during the transition
Prerequisites
What do you need before attempting Lockdown Whizzer Pass?
- One leg trapped in opponent’s lockdown figure-four with bottom player actively controlling the leg
- Bottom player has established an underhook on the trapped-leg side, providing the arm to overhook
- Sufficient upper body proximity to cinch the whizzer tightly over the bottom player’s underhook arm
- Free leg posted wide on the mat for base and stability against sweep attempts
- Ability to drive shoulder pressure forward into the bottom player’s chest and face
Execution Steps
How do you execute Lockdown Whizzer Pass step by step?
- Accept and overhook the underhook: When the bottom player secures their underhook on the trapped-leg side, immediately overhook their arm by wrapping your same-side arm over and around their bicep. Cinch the whizzer tight by gripping your own thigh or hip, ensuring there is no slack in the overhook. This converts their offensive grip into a control point you can use against them.
- Drive whizzer elbow and shoulder pressure downward: With the whizzer secured, drive your elbow downward toward the mat while simultaneously dropping heavy shoulder pressure across the bottom player’s chest and jaw line. This rotational force pushes their underhook shoulder flat to the mat, eliminating the angle they need to come up for sweeps. Your chest should be driving into their upper torso with maximum weight transfer.
- Flatten the bottom player completely: Continue driving whizzer pressure and shoulder weight until the bottom player’s back is flat on the mat with both shoulders pinned. Their underhook arm should be bent and controlled underneath your whizzer with no ability to generate upward force. Verify they cannot hip escape or create angles before proceeding to the next step. This is the critical checkpoint of the technique.
- Establish hip-to-hip connection on the trapped side: Drop your hip on the trapped-leg side down toward the mat, creating heavy hip pressure against the bottom player’s hip on that side. This prevents them from shrimping away or re-angling their body while you work the extraction. Your weight should be distributed through both your shoulder pressure and hip contact, creating a two-point pinning system that locks them flat.
- Initiate circular leg extraction: With the bottom player flattened and controlled, begin extracting the trapped leg using a circular motion. Drive your knee outward and away from the opponent’s body in an arc rather than pulling straight backward. Simultaneously push your hip into their hip to create space for the knee to clear. The circular motion defeats the lockdown’s linear resistance and breaks the figure-four triangle at its weakest angle.
- Clear the knee past the lockdown triangle: As your knee clears the lockdown entanglement, immediately drive it to the mat on the far side of the bottom player’s hip. Maintain whizzer pressure throughout this step to prevent them from re-locking the position or transitioning to another guard. Your shin should slide across their thigh as you clear, establishing a blocking position that prevents re-guard attempts.
- Complete the pass and consolidate side control: Once the trapped leg is free, release the whizzer and immediately transition to standard side control grips. Establish crossface with your near arm driving across their jaw, underhook their far arm, and settle your hips low against their side. Sprawl your legs back to remove any remaining half guard hooks and drive chest pressure to consolidate the position before they can re-guard or create frames.
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | Side Control | 55% |
| Failure | Lockdown | 30% |
| Counter | Half Guard | 15% |
Opponent Counters
How might your opponent counter Lockdown Whizzer Pass?
- Bottom player deepens underhook and drives into top player before whizzer is fully established (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: If the underhook is too deep for the whizzer to control, immediately switch to crossface and heavy shoulder pressure to stop their forward drive, then re-attempt the overhook from a stronger position → Leads to Lockdown
- Bottom player times a whip-up sweep during the leg extraction phase when top player’s weight shifts (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Keep the whizzer tight and maintain forward shoulder pressure throughout extraction. If they begin the whip-up, abandon extraction, drive weight forward immediately, and re-flatten before trying again → Leads to Half Guard
- Bottom player releases lockdown and transitions to deep half guard by going underneath (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: When they release the lockdown to go deep half, sprawl hips back and use the whizzer to prevent them from getting underneath. If they succeed, switch to deep half guard passing strategy → Leads to Lockdown
- Bottom player frames with free hand against shoulder to prevent flattening (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: Drive through the frame with sustained shoulder pressure while pulling the whizzer tighter. The whizzer gives you a mechanical advantage that single-arm frames cannot overcome when you commit full body weight → Leads to Lockdown
Safety Considerations
What are the safety concerns for Lockdown Whizzer Pass?
The whizzer overhook applies significant rotational pressure on the bottom player’s shoulder joint. Apply pressure gradually during training and be attentive to tap signals or verbal indication of discomfort. During leg extraction, avoid sudden jerking motions that could strain either player’s knee ligaments, particularly the bottom player’s ankles which are crossed in the lockdown triangle. Communicate with training partners about shoulder discomfort from sustained whizzer pressure, and release immediately if they indicate any pain. When drilling at higher intensities, ensure both players have warmed up their shoulders adequately.