Whizzer

The Whizzer is a fundamental overhook control position that serves as both a powerful defensive mechanism and an offensive transition tool in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Borrowed from wrestling, this technique involves threading your arm over your opponent’s arm and controlling their shoulder, creating a mechanical advantage that neutralizes underhook-based attacks while opening pathways to dominant positions. The Whizzer excels in multiple contexts: defending single-leg takedowns, preventing back takes from turtle, controlling scrambles, and setting up your own offensive transitions to back control or reversal positions. Understanding when to establish, maintain, and abandon the Whizzer separates competent grapplers from those who get swept or taken down repeatedly. The position’s effectiveness stems from its ability to control your opponent’s posture and limit their hip mobility while preserving your own defensive structure and offensive options.

Starting Position: Overhook Control Ending Position: Back Control Success Rates: Beginner 45%, Intermediate 60%, Advanced 75%

Key Principles

• Deep overhook with elbow control creates maximum leverage against opponent’s shoulder
• Hip positioning away from opponent prevents them from completing takedowns or back takes
• Active shoulder pressure drives opponent’s head down and disrupts their base
• Maintain connection without overcommitting weight - preserve mobility for counters
• Use opponent’s commitment to their underhook as the catalyst for your transitions
• Whizzer effectiveness increases when combined with proper head position and hip awareness
• Timing the release of the Whizzer is as important as establishing it - know when to transition

Prerequisites

• Opponent has established or is attempting to establish an underhook on your body
• Your arm is free to thread over opponent’s underhooking arm at the shoulder
• Hip mobility to create angle away from opponent’s pressure direction
• Strong base or defensive posture to prevent being driven backward
• Awareness of opponent’s head position and weight distribution
• Space to maneuver - not completely flattened or pinned against a surface

Execution Steps

1. Identify underhook threat: Recognize when opponent is establishing or has established an underhook on your torso. This is most common during scrambles, turtle defense, single-leg defense, or standing clinch exchanges. Feel their arm reaching deep around your body or under your armpit. (Timing: React immediately upon feeling underhook pressure)
2. Thread the overhook: Drive your arm over the top of opponent’s underhooking arm, threading it through the gap between their arm and their body. Your bicep should connect with the back of their shoulder. Reach as deep as possible, aiming to get your hand past their far shoulder blade for maximum control depth. (Timing: Execute while opponent is committed to their underhook)
3. Lock the shoulder: Squeeze your elbow tight to your body, creating a vice grip on opponent’s shoulder and upper arm. Your forearm should be driving across their upper back. Pull their trapped arm tight to your torso, eliminating space between your body and their shoulder. This mechanical connection prevents them from extracting their arm. (Timing: Immediate upon completing the thread)
4. Create hip angle: Step or shift your hips away from the direction of opponent’s underhook, creating a 45-90 degree angle. If defending a single-leg, this means moving your hips backward and away from their grip. If in turtle, this means turning your body to face them. This hip movement prevents them from using their underhook to complete their technique. (Timing: Simultaneously with locking the shoulder)
5. Drive shoulder pressure: Use your overhook to actively drive opponent’s shoulder down toward the mat while keeping your elbow tight. Apply constant downward and rotational pressure, forcing their head to drop and their posture to break. This disrupts their base and prevents them from generating power through their underhook. (Timing: Maintain continuous pressure throughout)
6. Control head position: Use your free hand to control opponent’s head, either by cross-facing, cupping the back of their head, or establishing a front headlock grip. Head control combined with the Whizzer creates a powerful immobilization system. Keep your own head positioned on the opposite side of their trapped arm. (Timing: Establish once Whizzer is secure)
7. Transition to dominant position: Once opponent is controlled and their movement options are limited, begin transitioning to back control by stepping your near leg behind theirs, or to a kimura by releasing the Whizzer and catching their wrist. You can also use the Whizzer to complete a reversal sweep if they’re driving forward. Read their reaction and choose your transition based on their weight distribution. (Timing: When opponent’s base is compromised or they attempt to escape)

Opponent Counters

• Opponent switches to opposite underhook, abandoning their trapped arm (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Follow their rotation and establish front headlock position, or transition to the new Whizzer on their switching arm. Don’t hold the abandoned Whizzer - flow with their movement.
• Opponent drives forward aggressively with their legs, using forward pressure to negate Whizzer control (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Use their forward momentum to pull them over you into a rolling back take or sweep. Alternatively, sit to butterfly guard and use the Whizzer to control them in your guard structure.
• Opponent drops their weight and flattens their body, making it difficult to maintain Whizzer leverage (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Transition to kimura grip on their trapped arm, or use the Whizzer to roll them to their back. Low posture makes them vulnerable to rolling attacks and leg entanglements.
• Opponent grabs your Whizzer arm with their free hand and pulls it away from their body (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: This opens them up significantly - immediately attack their exposed neck with a guillotine or front headlock, or switch to a two-on-one arm control and take the back.

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Overcommitting weight onto the Whizzer and losing base or mobility
  • Consequence: Opponent can roll you over your Whizzer arm or sweep you because you’re off-balance
  • Correction: Maintain an athletic base with your legs and hips. The Whizzer provides control through leverage and positioning, not through loading all your weight onto it. Stay mobile and ready to transition.
• Mistake: Establishing a shallow Whizzer that only controls opponent’s elbow or mid-upper arm
  • Consequence: Opponent can easily extract their arm by rotating their shoulder or simply pulling away. You have no meaningful control.
  • Correction: Drive your overhook as deep as possible, getting your hand across their back and your elbow tight to your ribs. The deeper the connection at their shoulder, the more leverage you have.
• Mistake: Holding the Whizzer statically without creating hip angle or applying pressure
  • Consequence: Opponent maintains their attacking position and can continue to work their underhook-based techniques despite your Whizzer
  • Correction: The Whizzer must be dynamic - constantly adjust your hip position away from their pressure, drive their shoulder down, and control their head. Static Whizzers are easily countered.
• Mistake: Keeping hips square to opponent instead of creating defensive angle
  • Consequence: In single-leg defense, they can still finish the takedown. In scrambles, they can still take your back. Your Whizzer becomes just an arm tie without defensive value.
  • Correction: As soon as the Whizzer is locked, shift your hips away from the direction of their underhook at a 45-90 degree angle. This angle is what makes the Whizzer defensively sound.
• Mistake: Neglecting head control and only focusing on the Whizzer arm
  • Consequence: Opponent can posture up, create space, and work around your Whizzer control because their head is free to move
  • Correction: Use your free hand to control their head immediately after establishing the Whizzer. Head + Whizzer control is exponentially more effective than Whizzer alone.
• Mistake: Holding the Whizzer too long and missing transition opportunities
  • Consequence: Opponent adapts to your control, finds counters, or the position stagnates. You expend energy without advancing position.
  • Correction: The Whizzer is a transitional control, not an end position. Once you’ve neutralized their attack and disrupted their base, immediately transition to back take, kimura, or sweep.

Training Progressions

Week 1-2: Fundamental Mechanics - Establishing and maintaining basic Whizzer control Partner drills starting from standing clinch or turtle position. Partner establishes underhook, you respond with Whizzer. Focus on proper threading depth, elbow position, and hip angle creation. Hold position for 30 seconds while partner attempts light extraction. Repeat 10 times per side. (Resistance: Light)

Week 3-4: Defensive Applications - Using Whizzer to defend takedowns and back takes Partner shoots single-leg takedowns or attacks from turtle with underhook. Defend using Whizzer and recover to neutral position. Progress to defending with Whizzer and returning to standing or guard. Partner uses 50% resistance. Drill 5-minute rounds. (Resistance: Medium)

Week 5-6: Offensive Transitions - Transitioning from Whizzer to back control and kimura Start with established Whizzer control. Practice flowing to back take by controlling head and stepping behind. Also drill transitioning to kimura grip by releasing Whizzer and catching wrist. Partner offers moderate resistance and attempts to counter. 8-10 repetitions per transition per side. (Resistance: Medium)

Week 7-8: Live Scramble Integration - Applying Whizzer in live situations with full resistance Start rolling from neutral positions (standing, turtle, or scrambles). Apply Whizzer control when underhook opportunities arise. Focus on recognizing the right moments to establish, maintain, and release the Whizzer. Flow through complete sequences from defense to dominant position. Full intensity specific training. (Resistance: Full)

Advanced: Counter-Counter Responses - Handling high-level counters to your Whizzer Training partner uses sophisticated counters: switching underhooks, dropping weight, driving forward pressure, hand fighting your Whizzer. Develop responses to each counter and chain multiple Whizzer applications together. Include wrestling-up scenarios and complex scrambles. (Resistance: Full)

Variations

Seatbelt Whizzer: Instead of using your free hand for head control, connect it to your Whizzer hand in a seatbelt grip configuration. This creates an extremely tight body lock that’s difficult to escape and sets up back takes directly. (When to use: When opponent’s posture is already broken and you want maximum control before taking the back. Common in no-gi where head control grips are less reliable.)

Defensive Whizzer from Guard Bottom: When opponent attempts to pass your guard with an underhook, establish a Whizzer from bottom position to prevent the pass and set up sweeps. Your hips stay mobile and you can use the Whizzer to off-balance them. (When to use: In half guard bottom when opponent is driving an underhook pass, or in butterfly guard when they attempt an underhook bodylock pass. Particularly effective against over-under passing attempts.)

Standing Whizzer to Throw: In standing exchanges, use the Whizzer combined with leg attacks to execute throws like uchi mata or harai goshi. The Whizzer controls their upper body while your leg attacks their base. (When to use: In gi when opponent commits heavily to an underhook and you want to attack with throws rather than just defending or back taking. Requires strong standing grappling fundamentals.)

Crucifix Whizzer: From back control or when opponent is turtled, use a Whizzer on one arm while trapping their other arm with your legs, creating a crucifix control position. This immobilizes both arms and opens submission attacks. (When to use: When you have back control or a dominant turtle position and opponent’s arms are extended or vulnerable. This is a high-control position for finishing chokes or armlocks.)

Test Your Knowledge

Q1: What is the primary mechanical advantage created by a properly executed Whizzer? A: The Whizzer creates a lever system where your overhook controls the opponent’s shoulder joint while your hip angle prevents them from using their underhook to complete their technique. By controlling the top of their arm structure at the shoulder, you have superior leverage over their attempt to control your body with an underhook. The combination of shoulder control and hip angle makes it mechanically impossible for them to finish most underhook-based attacks.

Q2: Why must you create a hip angle away from your opponent when establishing a Whizzer? A: Creating a hip angle (45-90 degrees away from their underhook direction) prevents your opponent from using their underhook to complete takedowns, back takes, or passes. If your hips remain square to them, they can still drive through your Whizzer and finish their technique using their legs and forward pressure. The angle turns your Whizzer from a simple arm tie into a true defensive structure by removing their ability to drive into your center line and generate power through their underhook.

Q3: When defending a single-leg takedown with a Whizzer, what are the three key elements that must work together? A: First, the deep overhook on their shoulder that prevents them from driving forward or lifting your leg. Second, your hip movement backward and away from their grip, creating distance and angle that makes completing the takedown mechanically difficult. Third, your free hand controlling their head or cross-facing to break their posture and further limit their mobility. All three elements working together create an escape system where the Whizzer is the foundation but not the complete solution.

Q4: What is the most common mistake when transitioning from Whizzer control to taking the back? A: The most common mistake is releasing the Whizzer too early before establishing proper back control grips, allowing the opponent to turn into you or recover their defensive posture. The correct sequence is to maintain the Whizzer while stepping your leg behind theirs, controlling their head with your free hand, and establishing your first back control grip (typically the far arm or neck control) before releasing the Whizzer and completing your second grip for full back control. Releasing the Whizzer prematurely loses all the control you worked to establish.

Q5: How should you respond if your opponent switches their underhook to the opposite side while you have a Whizzer established? A: Do not hold onto the abandoned Whizzer. Instead, immediately follow their rotation and either establish a new Whizzer on their switching arm, or transition to a front headlock position as they turn. Holding a Whizzer on an arm they’ve abandoned gives them free movement and often leads to them taking your back. Flowing with their switch and maintaining connection through the transition is key - treat their switch as an opportunity to advance position rather than a defensive reset.

Q6: Why is the Whizzer considered a transitional control rather than a dominant position? A: The Whizzer is transitional because it primarily neutralizes opponent’s attacks and creates opportunities but does not score points or provide submission opportunities by itself. It’s a control that should lead to back takes, kimuras, sweeps, or returning to neutral rather than being held statically. Holding a Whizzer indefinitely expends energy without advancing your position and gives your opponent time to find counters. The most effective use is recognizing when the Whizzer has achieved its purpose (stopping their attack, breaking their base) and immediately transitioning to a dominant position or submission setup.

Safety Considerations

The Whizzer is generally a safe technique when applied properly, as it focuses on positional control rather than joint manipulation or choking. However, practitioners should be aware that over-rotating the opponent’s shoulder while maintaining the Whizzer can place stress on their rotator cuff and shoulder joint. Release pressure if your partner taps or indicates discomfort in their shoulder. When drilling Whizzer transitions to kimura, ensure smooth transition between controls without cranking the shoulder suddenly. In live training, avoid using the Whizzer to force opponent’s arm into dangerous positions - the control should be based on leverage and position, not raw shoulder torque. Be particularly careful when combining Whizzer control with leg entanglements, as this can create unusual joint angles.

Position Integration

The Whizzer functions as a critical connecting technique within the broader BJJ system, serving as both a defensive tool and an offensive transition mechanism. Defensively, it’s essential for single-leg takedown defense, preventing back takes from turtle, and stopping underhook-based guard passes. Offensively, it creates direct pathways to back control, kimura attacks, and reversal sweeps. The Whizzer integrates particularly well with front headlock systems, wrestling-based scrambling, and no-gi grappling where underhook battles are constant. Understanding Whizzer control is fundamental for anyone developing turtle defense, takedown defense, or back attack systems. It bridges the gap between pure positional grappling and submission hunting by creating control structures that enable safe transitions to dominant positions. In modern BJJ competition, the Whizzer appears across all rule sets and is equally valuable in gi and no-gi contexts.

Related Techniques

• Kimura to Back Take - Common follow-up transition from Whizzer control
• Front Headlock to Back - Complementary control system often combined with Whizzer
• Turtle to Back Take - Primary defensive context where Whizzer is applied
• Back Control - Common ending position after successful Whizzer transition
• Kimura Defense - Alternative defensive response in similar scenarios
• Arm Drag to Back - Alternative transition when underhook battle is present
• Single Leg Takedown - Primary attack that Whizzer defends against
• Overhook Control - Base position where Whizzer control is established
• Guillotine Setup - Alternative attack when opponent counters Whizzer by ducking
• Kimura - Direct submission transition from Whizzer control
• Darce Choke - Alternative submission when opponent drops head under Whizzer
• Anaconda Choke - Submission option when transitioning from Whizzer to front headlock

Expert Insights

• Danaher System: The Whizzer represents one of wrestling’s most important contributions to modern jiu-jitsu - a mechanically sound defensive structure that simultaneously creates offensive opportunities. The key to understanding the Whizzer is recognizing it as a lever system where you control the fulcrum (their shoulder) while creating distance at the working end (their hand attempting to control your body). Most students make the error of treating the Whizzer as purely defensive, holding it statically to prevent their opponent’s attack. This is a fundamental misunderstanding. The Whizzer should be viewed as the first step in a kinetic chain that leads to dominant position - specifically back control or kimura attacks. The moment you establish the Whizzer and create the necessary hip angle to neutralize their attack, you must immediately begin your transition to the next phase. Static Whizzers are energy-inefficient and tactically unsound. The depth of your overhook connection is paramount - shallow Whizzers that control only the elbow provide minimal leverage and are easily escaped. Drive your connection deep to their shoulder blade, creating a structural control that affects their entire upper body. When combined with proper head control and hip positioning, the Whizzer becomes an nearly unstoppable defensive system that invariably leads to superior position.
• Gordon Ryan: In competition, the Whizzer is absolutely essential for both offensive and defensive grappling, but most people use it wrong - they treat it like a stalling position instead of a transition tool. When I’m defending takedowns or fighting out of bottom turtle, the Whizzer gives me the control I need to prevent the immediate threat while setting up my counter-attack. The key is never holding the Whizzer longer than necessary. Once I’ve stopped their attack and broken their base, I’m immediately transitioning - usually to the back or to a kimura trap depending on how they react. Against high-level opponents, you can’t hold static positions like the Whizzer because they’ll find ways to counter or at minimum, force a stalemate that kills your momentum. I use the Whizzer most in scramble situations where there’s a lot of movement and position changes happening quickly. In those moments, establishing a Whizzer gives me a positional anchor - I know I’m safe from their immediate attack, and now I can read their weight distribution and choose my transition. One thing coaches don’t emphasize enough: the Whizzer is incredibly effective from bottom half guard against over-under passes. When they drive that underhook, establishing the Whizzer and creating the angle stops their pass completely and often leads to taking their back as they try to recover.
• Eddie Bravo: The Whizzer is old-school wrestling technique that’s absolutely crucial in 10th Planet system, especially when you’re working your lockdown game from half guard or defending takedowns in no-gi competition. What makes the Whizzer so valuable in our system is how it connects to electric chair sweeps and back takes - it’s not just a defensive position, it’s the setup for some of our highest-percentage attacks. When someone’s driving an underhook trying to flatten you out in half guard, the Whizzer lets you create the angle you need to work your lockdown and start your attacking sequences. The mistake people make is thinking about the Whizzer as this rigid, strength-based control. It’s actually very fluid - you’re constantly adjusting pressure, changing angles, threatening transitions. In our system, we teach the Whizzer as part of the larger half guard bottom framework where you’re using it to control their upper body while your legs are doing work with the lockdown or setting up sweeps. The Whizzer also shows up huge in our turtle defense sequences - when someone’s trying to take your back from turtle with that over-under control, Whizzer on the underhook side combined with turning into them creates immediate back-take opportunities for you instead. It flips the script. Train the Whizzer not as an isolated technique but as a control that connects to all your submission chains and transition sequences. That’s when it becomes really dangerous.