Stopping The WHIZZER
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Whizzer Defence·Aaron Benzrihem bjj
STOPPING THE WHIZZER // This is a question I always get, how do I stop the whizzer from half guard or takedowns. These …
Whizzer Defence
Familyウィザーディフェンス(Wizā Difensu)
TransliterationTranslation: whizzer defence
Overview
The Whizzer Defence family covers defensive techniques that use the overhook with hip pressure (whizzer) to counter takedown attempts, particularly single-leg takedowns and underhook drives. [1] The whizzer is one of the most important reactive takedown defences because it can be applied immediately when the opponent secures an underhook, using the overhook and hip drive to neutralise the opponent's forward pressure. [1],[2] This family includes the standard overhook counter and the whizzer-to-kimura transition, which converts the defensive whizzer into an offensive submission. [2],[3]
History & Origin
The whizzer as takedown defence is a distinctly American wrestling contribution, developed in folkstyle wrestling as the primary counter to the single-leg takedown. [1] The technique was further developed in MMA and BJJ, where the whizzer-to-kimura transition became a powerful defensive weapon. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
Lineage
The whizzer is a fundamental wrestling defensive technique. [1]
Competition Record
The whizzer is used in wrestling and MMA. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Preventing or reducing the effect of an incoming attack through physical interception, evasion, or structural positioning
Joints Involved — Varies by defence type — blocks use arms/shins, evasions use head/body movement, sprawls use hips
Force Vector — Opposing or tangential to the attack — either absorbing, redirecting, or evading the incoming force
Defensive Principle — Economy of motion — the best defence uses minimal movement to neutralise the maximum threat
Position & Entry
From fighting stance (under fire) — Bring both hands to the head, elbows tight, tuck the chin — absorb the flurry while protecting vital targets
As emergency defence — When overwhelmed by volume, shell up in the cover position until the opponent pauses
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
3
Moderate3/10
Sprawls and stuffs involve sudden body weight displacement; knee/hip strain risk
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— Unified MMA — Legal defensive technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— IBJJF — Legal — defensive techniques are fundamental to g...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— IJF — Legal defensive action
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— ADCC — Legal
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— UWW — Legal defensive technique
UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The whizzer (overhook) is the immediate counter to the opponent's underhook — it wraps over their arm to neutralize their inside position (Dan Gable, Coaching Wrestling Successfully, 1999)
✓The whizzer works by trapping the opponent's arm against your body — a tight whizzer prevents them from using the underhook for takedowns or throws
✓Apply the whizzer by looping your arm over the opponent's underhooking arm and clamping your elbow tight to your ribs
✓The whizzer is both defensive and offensive — defensively it stops takedowns; offensively it sets up throws, kimuras, and back takes
✓Drive your hip into the opponent when applying the whizzer — hip pressure amplifies the whizzer's effectiveness
✓The whizzer is temporary defence — use it to buy time for re-pummelling or transitioning to offence
✓In MMA, the whizzer is essential against the cage — it prevents the wrestler from completing body-lock or single-leg takedowns
✓The whizzer-to-kimura transition is one of the highest-percentage counters in MMA
Common Mistakes
!Applying a loose whizzer without clamping the elbow — a loose whizzer provides no control; squeeze tight
!Whizzering without hip pressure — the whizzer arm alone is insufficient; drive your hip into the opponent for full effect
!Using the whizzer as a permanent position instead of transitioning — the whizzer buys time; use it to re-pummel or attack
!Reaching too far over the opponent's arm — the whizzer wraps at the shoulder/armpit, not the forearm
!Not using the free hand while whizzering — the free hand should frame, control the head, or set up offence
!Leaning your weight onto the whizzer — maintain your own base while applying the whizzer; don't become dependent on it
!Only training the whizzer defensively — the whizzer-to-kimura and whizzer-to-hip-throw are essential offensive transitions
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Anticipate the Attack — read the opponent's intention through body cues
2Execute Defence — apply the specific defensive technique with proper timing
3Recover Stance — return to a balanced fighting position immediately
4Counter or Disengage — capitalize on the opening or create safe distance
Sources & References
Primary Source
Boxing (Edwin Haislet, 1940)
1BookFreestyle Wrestling (Petrov, 1977)
Alias sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Welker, 2010) [2] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Welker, 2010) [3] NCAA Wrestling Rules and Interpretations
2BookWrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Cejudo & Holliday, 2015)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Petrov, 1977) [2] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationFreestyle Wrestling (Petrov, 1977)
Alias sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Welker, 2010) [2] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Welker, 2010) [3] NCAA Wrestling Rules and Interpretations
5CitationWrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Cejudo & Holliday, 2015)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia (Petrov, 1977) [2] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
Community
Athletics
Requires
reaction speed, structural body mechanics, defensive awareness
Favours
quick reflexes and conditioned defensive surfaces
Key muscles
varies — forearms (blocking), legs (movement), core (stability)
Sub-techniques
Overhook Counter
SubFamilyThe Overhook Counter subfamily covers the use of the overhook (whizzer) to counter takedown attempts by hooking over the opponent's attacking arm and driving the hip forward, stopping the forward momentum of the takedown. [1] The overhook counter hooks deep over the opponent's arm at the shoulder level, then uses an aggressive hip drive on the overhook side to push the opponent's shoulder down and redirect their force. [1,2] The overhook counter can transition to a go-behind, hip throw, or front headlock depending on the angle achieved. [2,3]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Whizzer To Kimura
SubFamilyThe Whizzer To Kimura subfamily covers the transition from a defensive whizzer position into an offensive kimura (double wrist lock) submission, converting a defensive position into an attacking opportunity. [1] The transition is natural because the whizzer's overhook position already controls the opponent's arm — by grabbing the opponent's wrist with the free hand, the defender converts the overhook into a figure-four grip that is the kimura. [1,2] The whizzer-to-kimura transition demonstrates the fundamental grappling principle that defence and offence are seamlessly connected. [2,3]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Notes
The whizzer (overhook defense) appears in 82 passages across 13 books. The primary counter to the underhook — wrapping over the opponent's arm and driving the elbow down to deny the underhook advantage. BJ Penn's Closed Guard documents multiple whizzer attacks. (13 books; BJ Penn, Closed Guard)
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the simplest way to stop someone from using the whizzer on me?
Aaron Benzrihem teaches the 'limp arm' technique, a basic counter he learned from a D1 Ohio State wrestler. It's performed by relaxing your arm as your opponent drives with the whizzer.
How do I sweep someone who has the whizzer on me?
Use the old school whizzer sweep by under-hooking the leg and rolling over your hip, but the key mistake to avoid is not forcing your opponent to defend with pressure first—you must drive forward to create the action-reaction needed for the sweep to work, according to Aaron Benzrihem.
What should I do if my opponent brings their knee to the mat during the whizzer sweep?
Aaron Benzrihem emphasizes performing a hip scoot to lift their knee off the mat, which shifts their weight and allows you to continue the sweep rather than getting stuck.
How does the Whizzer Defence work?
The Whizzer Defence family covers defensive techniques that use the overhook with hip pressure (whizzer) to counter takedown attempts, particularly single-leg takedowns and underhook drives. The whizzer is one of the most important reactive takedown defences because it can be applied immediately when the opponent secures an underhook, using the overhook and hip drive to neutralise the opponent's forward pressure.
Where does the Whizzer Defence come from?
The whizzer as takedown defence is a distinctly American wrestling contribution, developed in folkstyle wrestling as the primary counter to the single-leg takedown. The technique was further developed in MMA and BJJ, where the whizzer-to-kimura transition became a powerful defensive weapon.
Is the Whizzer Defence legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal — Legal defensive technique; IBJJF: legal — Legal — defensive techniques are fundamental to grappling; IJF: legal — Legal defensive action; ADCC: legal — Legal; UWW: legal — Legal defensive technique; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Whizzer Defence?
Danger rating 3/10. Moderate — sprawls and stuffs involve sudden body weight displacement; knee/hip strain risk
How do I set up the Whizzer Defence?
The standard setup chain: Anticipate the Attack → Execute Defence → Recover Stance → Counter or Disengage.
How do I defend against the Whizzer Defence?
Standard counters include: Timing — attack when the defence is recovering or between movements / Feint — use deception to create openings in the defensive structure / Angle Change — attack from an unexpected angle that the defence does not cover.
What are the variants of the Whizzer Defence?
Common variants: Standard defence (primary defensive technique from the most common position); Reactive defence (triggered by the opponent's attack, minimal movement for …); Proactive defence (anticipating the attack and positioning to neutralise it …); Counter defence (using the defensive movement to create an immediate count…).
How effective is the Whizzer Defence in competition?
The whizzer is used in wrestling and MMA.
What are common mistakes when doing the Whizzer Defence?
Top errors to watch for: Applying a loose whizzer without clamping the elbow — a loose whizzer provides no control; squeeze tight / Whizzering without hip pressure — the whizzer arm alone is insufficient; drive your hip into the opponent for full ef… / Using the whizzer as a permanent position instead of transitioning — the whizzer buys time; use it to re-pummel or at… / Reaching too far over the opponent's arm — the whizzer wraps at the shoulder/armpit, not the forearm.
What are other names for the Whizzer Defence?
The Whizzer Defence is also known as Wizā Difensu, Overhook Defence, Whizzer, Wizzer.