Passing the Vaporizer requires systematic dismantling of the 10th Planet lockdown and whip-up control system. The top player must simultaneously address two interconnected control mechanisms: the figure-four lockdown trapping one leg, and the underhook providing leverage for the destabilizing whip-up motion. Unlike standard guard passes where clearing a single control point opens the path forward, the Vaporizer demands coordinated neutralization of both lower and upper body entanglements before any passing sequence can succeed.
The technical key to this pass lies in controlled leg circulation rather than explosive extraction. Pointing the trapped knee toward the mat narrows the leg profile, making it harder for the lockdown to maintain its grip. Combined with strategic weight shifts and heavy shoulder pressure that limits the bottom player’s ability to re-adjust, this gradual approach systematically degrades the lockdown until extraction becomes possible. The critical error most practitioners make is attempting to rip the leg free explosively, which reflexively tightens the lockdown and creates the space needed for sweeps.
This pass represents the definitive answer to lockdown-based half guard systems. Practitioners who develop proficiency in clearing the Vaporizer effectively neutralize one of the most potent weapons in no-gi bottom game, forcing lockdown players to abandon their primary control strategy and fight from less favorable positions.
From Position: Vaporizer (Top) Success Rate: 50%
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | Side Control | 50% |
| Failure | Half Guard | 20% |
| Failure | Vaporizer | 15% |
| Counter | Half Guard | 15% |
Attacker vs Defender
| Attacker | Defender | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Execute technique | Prevent or counter |
| Key Principles | Address lockdown and upper body control simultaneously rathe… | Maintain constant lockdown pressure by extending the trapped… |
| Options | 7 execution steps | 4 defensive options |
Playing as Attacker
Key Principles
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Address lockdown and upper body control simultaneously rather than isolating one control point at a time
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Use controlled leg circulation with knee-toward-mat orientation rather than explosive yanking that tightens the lockdown reflexively
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Maintain heavy shoulder pressure throughout extraction to limit bottom player’s ability to re-adjust controls or generate whip-up power
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Widen base immediately when sensing whip-up pressure to create a stable platform resistant to lateral rolling
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Transition to passing position only after both lockdown and underhook controls have been neutralized
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Stay patient and grind through the position rather than creating space through explosive movements that benefit the bottom player
Execution Steps
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Establish defensive base: Widen your base by sprawling your free leg out to the side and lowering your hips. Drive heavy shoul…
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Neutralize the underhook: Counter the bottom player’s underhook with a deep whizzer, threading your arm over theirs and drivin…
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Begin lockdown degradation: Point your trapped knee toward the mat to narrow the leg profile. This makes the figure-four configu…
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Circulate the trapped leg: Using small controlled movements, work your trapped heel toward your buttock while maintaining the k…
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Extract the leg from lockdown: Once sufficient looseness exists, pull your foot through the lockdown gap by driving your knee forwa…
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Secure passing position: With the lockdown cleared, immediately drive your knee across their hip line while maintaining cross…
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Establish side control: Complete the pass by settling your chest perpendicular to their torso with your hips low and heavy. …
Common Mistakes
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Attempting explosive leg extraction instead of controlled circulation
- Consequence: Triggers bottom player’s lockdown tightening reflex, creates space for sweeps, wastes energy, and often results in an even tighter entanglement than before the attempt
- Correction: Use slow controlled circulation movements with knee-toward-mat orientation, treating extraction as a gradual loosening process over 15-30 seconds rather than a single explosive motion
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Addressing only the lockdown while ignoring the underhook
- Consequence: Even with the leg partially free, bottom player uses underhook to generate whip-up, re-establish lockdown, or transition to sweep before pass can be completed
- Correction: Neutralize underhook with whizzer or crossface control before committing to lockdown clearance. Both controls must be degraded simultaneously for the pass to succeed
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Maintaining narrow base during extraction attempts
- Consequence: Whip-up motion easily rolls you laterally, resulting in Old School sweep completion or transition to bottom player’s Electric Chair sequence
- Correction: Widen base immediately by sprawling free leg out to the side, creating a wide stable platform that resists lateral rolling forces
Playing as Defender
Key Principles
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Maintain constant lockdown pressure by extending the trapped leg away from your body whenever you feel extraction attempts beginning
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Re-establish the underhook immediately whenever it is threatened by whizzer or crossface, as the underhook is the engine of all your offensive options
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Use the top player’s weight shifts during pass attempts as triggers for sweep execution rather than passively trying to retain the position
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Threaten multiple attacks simultaneously so the top player cannot focus exclusively on extraction without exposing themselves to sweeps or submissions
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Keep close distance at all times to prevent the top player from creating the space needed for effective lockdown clearing
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Read the top player’s leg orientation and pressure direction to anticipate which extraction variant they are attempting
Recognition Cues
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Top player widens base significantly and drives shoulder pressure down, indicating they are establishing a stable platform for extraction attempts
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Top player’s trapped knee begins pointing toward the mat rather than staying wide, signaling the start of leg circulation to narrow their profile
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Top player establishes whizzer control or strong crossface against your underhook, indicating they are neutralizing upper body control before attempting lockdown clearance
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Top player’s weight shifts laterally in small controlled movements rather than explosive bursts, indicating methodical extraction rather than desperate yanking
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Top player’s free leg posts wider than normal, suggesting they are preparing base stability for the extraction phase
Defensive Options
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Increase lockdown extension and re-establish underhook depth to counter extraction - When: As soon as you feel the top player’s trapped knee pointing toward the mat or any loosening in the lockdown configuration
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Execute Old School sweep using top player’s weight shift as the trigger - When: When top player shifts weight laterally during extraction attempt and posts a hand on the mat creating a leverage fulcrum
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Insert knee for half guard retention as lockdown begins to clear - When: When you feel the lockdown is about to be fully cleared and you cannot re-establish it in time
Position Integration
The Pass Vaporizer Position sits at the intersection of half guard passing and 10th Planet defense systems. It connects the lockdown-based guard game to the side control dominant position, serving as the primary pathway for top players to escape the Vaporizer control chain. Mastery of this pass is essential for anyone competing in no-gi environments where lockdown half guard is prevalent, as it removes the bottom player’s ability to funnel the match through the 10th Planet attack sequences including the Electric Chair, Old School sweep, and Truck transitions. This pass chains naturally into side control submissions and mount advancement, making it a critical link in the top-game positional hierarchy.