10th Planet Counters: Einstein's Triangle Escape
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10th Planet Escape·Alder Hampel
Scott "Einstein" Epstein shows us how he gets out of the triangle choke
10th Planet Escape
Familyテンスプラネットエスケープ(Tensu Puranetto Esukēpu)
Translation: 10th Planet escape
Overview
The 10th Planet Escape family covers escape techniques for positions unique to Eddie Bravo's 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu system — addressing the specific challenge of escaping the Truck, Twister Side Control, and other proprietary 10th Planet control positions that don't appear in traditional BJJ. [1] As the 10th Planet system gained popularity and its practitioners began using positions like the Truck (back-body control with a calf-crank hook and far-side leg control) in competition, opponents needed to develop escape knowledge for these unfamiliar positions. [1],[2] 10th Planet escapes require understanding the specific mechanics of each position — for example, the Truck escape requires addressing the calf hook before addressing the seatbelt grip, while the Twister defence prioritises preventing the head-pull that completes the spinal crank. [2],[3] Competitors in ADCC, EBI, and no-gi competition increasingly need these escapes as 10th Planet techniques spread beyond the system's original schools. [3]
10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu Escape10P EscapeEddie Bravo System Escape
History & Origin
10th Planet escape techniques developed as Eddie Bravo's system (founded 2003) gained widespread adoption and opponents began encountering Truck, Twister, and Lockdown positions in competition. [1] The need for specific escapes became apparent when 10th Planet practitioners began winning EBI tournaments and performing well in ADCC. [1],[2] Traditional BJJ practitioners and MMA fighters who encountered these positions without preparation were caught in unfamiliar submissions, driving the development of escape curricula. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
10th Planet escapes are increasingly important as the system spreads worldwide. [1] Competitors who understand 10th Planet positions can defend against them effectively; those who don't are vulnerable to unfamiliar submissions. [2] The Truck and Twister have produced numerous submission victories at EBI and ADCC, demonstrating the real competitive threat that makes these escapes necessary. [3]
Lineage
Competition Record
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Breaking the specific control mechanisms of 10th Planet positions (calf hooks, Lockdown, Rubber Guard overhooks, Truck entanglements) to escape to a safe position
Joints Involved — Position-specific — Truck escape requires addressing the calf hook (ankle/knee), seatbelt grip (arms/shoulders), and body positioning; Twister defence requires protecting the neck (cervical spine) from the rotation crank
Force Vector — Against the primary control: directed at the weakest point of each specific 10th Planet position, For escape: lateral or rotational movement to disentangle from the unique leg and arm configurations
Escape Mechanic — 10th Planet positions use leg entanglements and body positioning not found in traditional BJJ; each position has a specific 'key' that must be addressed first — in the Truck, it's the calf hook; in the Twister, it's the head control; in the Lockdown, it's freeing the trapped leg
Position & Entry
Truck escape — When caught in the Truck (opponent controlling from the back with a calf hook on the far leg), first fight the seatbelt hands to prevent choke threats, then address the calf hook by straightening the leg and sliding the calf free, finally turn to face the opponent and recover guard [1]
Twister defence — When the opponent is setting up the Twister (spinal crank), the priority is preventing them from pulling your head sideways — keep the chin tucked toward the controlled side and fight to free the trapped arm; if the head pull is prevented, the Twister cannot be completed
Lockdown escape — When caught in the opponent's Lockdown half guard, stand up to break the figure-four leg lock; the standing position straightens the leg and breaks the Lockdown configuration [2]
Videos
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
7
Very High7/10
10th Planet positions like the Truck and Twister target vulnerable areas (calf/knee for calf crank, cervical spine for Twister); failing to escape can result in submission via calf crank, Twister (spinal crank), or rear naked choke from the Truck's back-control element
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— Unified MMA — Legal defensive/transitional technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— IBJJF — Legal
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— IJF — Legal
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— ADCC — Legal
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— UWW — Legal
UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Learn the 10th Planet system to understand the escapes — you can only effectively escape a position you understand; study how Truck, Twister, and Lockdown are applied before drilling escapes [1]
✓The Truck escape priority is: (1) defend the choke, (2) free the calf hook, (3) turn to face the opponent — this sequence is critical
✓Twister defence = chin control — if the opponent cannot pull your head sideways, the Twister cannot be completed; keep the chin tucked toward the controlled side at all costs
✓Against the Lockdown, standing up is the solution — the figure-four leg lock cannot maintain integrity when the trapped leg is fully extended through standing
✓Cross-train with 10th Planet practitioners — the best way to develop escape skills is to train with people who actively use these positions [2]
✓Don't ignore 10th Planet positions — many traditional BJJ practitioners dismiss the system until they encounter it in competition and have no answers
✓The Truck is closely related to the back — Truck escape principles overlap with back escape principles (hand fighting, hip movement, turning to face)
Common Mistakes
!Not knowing the position — many traditional BJJ practitioners have never seen the Truck or Twister and panic when caught; familiarise yourself with 10th Planet positions in advance
!Addressing the wrong control point first — in the Truck, fighting the seatbelt before the calf hook allows the calf crank to be applied; address the calf hook first
!Allowing the head pull in Twister defence — once the head is pulled laterally, the Twister crank is extremely powerful and difficult to escape; the head must be protected from the first moment
!Trying to muscle out of the Lockdown — the figure-four leg lock is very strong; standing up uses leverage rather than strength to break it
!Not training these escapes — assuming 10th Planet positions are rare or only used by specific practitioners is a dangerous assumption in modern no-gi competition
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
When attacking with 10th Planet positions: tighten the calf hook immediately when the escape beginsTransition between attacks — if Truck is being escaped, transition to choke or calf crank before the escape completesApply the Twister head pull explosively — a gradual head pull gives the defender time to tuck the chinMaintain the Lockdown by following the opponent's standing attempt and pulling them back down
Setup Chain
1Identify Position — recognise which 10th Planet position you are caught in
2Identify Primary Control — determine the key control point (calf hook, head pull, Lockdown, etc.)
3Address First Priority — defend the immediate submission threat (choke in Truck, crank in Twister)
4Break Primary Control — defeat the key control mechanism
5Escape — turn to face the opponent, recover guard, or stand up
6Recover — establish a safe position (guard, standing, or neutral)
Sources & References
Primary Source
Mastering the Rubber Guard (Eddie Bravo, 2006)
1BookMastering the Rubber Guard (Bravo, 2006)
Description sources — [1] Mastering the Rubber Guard (Bravo, 2006) [2] EBI competition records [3] 10th Planet position evolution in competition
2BookTwister (Bravo, 2007)
3BookEBI competition analysis
4CitationMastering the Rubber Guard (Bravo, 2006)
Description sources — [1] Mastering the Rubber Guard (Bravo, 2006) [2] EBI competition records [3] 10th Planet position evolution in competition
5CitationTwister (Bravo, 2007)
6CitationEBI competition analysis
Community
Athletics
Requires
flexibility (especially for escaping Rubber Guard), positional knowledge (understanding 10th Planet nomenclature and mechanics), calm under pressure
Favours
flexible hips, strong legs (escaping Lockdown), good neck strength (Twister defence)
Key muscles
legs (freeing the calf hook), neck (Twister defence), core (turning and rotating), hip flexors (flexibility for Rubber Guard escape)
Sub-techniques
Guantanamo Escape
SubFamilyThe Guantanamo Escape is a 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu technique for recovering half guard from the mounted position, using a specific hip movement combined with knee insertion that differs from the standard BJJ elbow-knee mount escape by incorporating the lockdown as the target recovery position rather than simply recovering full guard. [1] When mounted, the standard BJJ escape involves framing with the arms, bridging to create space, and inserting the knee to recover full guard or half guard. [1] The Guantanamo refines this by specifically targeting the lockdown half guard as the recovery position: instead of simply getting a leg inside (standard half guard), the escaping player hooks the opponent's far ankle with their outside foot during the escape, immediately establishing Eddie Bravo's signature lockdown control. [1] This distinction is tactically significant: a standard half guard recovery from mount puts the bottom player in a DEFENSIVE half guard (where they must rebuild their offensive game from scratch), while the Guantanamo's lockdown recovery puts them in an OFFENSIVE half guard (the lockdown immediately threatens sweeps via the Jean Jacques, Electric Chair, and Godfather systems). [1] The name 'Guantanamo' — in Bravo's characteristic naming style — references the idea of being imprisoned (mounted) and executing a sophisticated escape: you're not just getting out of prison (recovering guard), you're escaping into a position where you can fight back immediately (the lockdown offensive system). [1] The technique was specifically designed for the no-gi environment where gi-dependent mount escapes (collar grips, sleeve grips) are unavailable, and the lockdown provides a grip-free leg control that functions without fabric. [1]
Explore
Stack Attack Defence
SubFamilyStack Attack Defence is a rubber guard technique for countering the opponent's stacking pressure by adjusting hip angle and maintaining leg control. [1]
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The B. Smith Escape
SubFamilyThe B. Smith Escape recovers half guard from north-south position using a specific bridging and hip movement sequence. [1]
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The Cock Block
SubFamilyThe Cock Block is a defence against being slammed from closed guard or rubber guard, using leg positioning and grip adjustment to prevent the opponent from lifting. [1]
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The Jailbreak Variation
SubFamilyThe Jailbreak Variation is an alternate version of the standard Jailbreak side control escape using an arm hook instead of the standard underhook for guard recovery. [1]
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The J.J. Back Escape
SubFamilyThe J.J. Back Escape recovers half guard from back control using a specific hip slide and leg hook technique, named after Jean Jacques Machado. [1]
Explore
The Tunnel Escape
SubFamilyThe Tunnel Escape from side control creates space by threading the near-side arm through a tunnel-like gap under the opponent's chest to recover butterfly guard. [1]
Explore
Notes
10th Planet escapes are specific to Eddie Bravo's system — counters to positions like the truck, twister, and lockdown that don't exist in traditional BJJ. The 10th Planet system appears in 33 passages across 5 books in our corpus. (5 books; Bravo, Mastering the Rubber Guard; Bravo, Mastering the Twister)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I prevent my opponent from escaping the 10th Planet Escape by controlling their knee?
According to Alder Hampel, by placing your foot under the opponent's knee, you eliminate their rolling options and escape routes before they can attack your foot with a toe hold.
What's the key to making the heel hook more effective in this position?
Alder Hampel explains that the more the opponent's knee is bent on the heel hook, the more effective it becomes, so sitting up as you apply it increases its power.
What should I do if I have a bad back and want to escape this position?
Alder Hampel recommends avoiding the arching escape if you have a bad back; instead, push your opponent away with your feet and pull to escape, which is easier on the spine.
How does the 10th Planet Escape work?
The 10th Planet Escape family covers escape techniques for positions unique to Eddie Bravo's 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu system — addressing the specific challenge of escaping the Truck, Twister Side Control, and other proprietary 10th Planet control positions that don't appear in traditional BJJ. As the 10th Planet system gained popularity and its practitioners began using positions like the Truck (back-body control with a calf-crank hook and far-side leg control) in competition, opponents needed to develop escape knowledge for these unfamiliar positions.
Where does the 10th Planet Escape come from?
10th Planet escape techniques developed as Eddie Bravo's system (founded 2003) gained widespread adoption and opponents began encountering Truck, Twister, and Lockdown positions in competition. The need for specific escapes became apparent when 10th Planet practitioners began winning EBI tournaments and performing well in ADCC.
Is the 10th Planet Escape legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal — Legal defensive/transitional technique; IBJJF: legal — Legal; IJF: legal — Legal; ADCC: legal — Legal; UWW: legal — Legal; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the 10th Planet Escape?
Danger rating 7/10. High — 10th Planet positions like the Truck and Twister target vulnerable areas (calf/knee for calf crank, cervical spine for Twister); failing to escape can result in submission via calf crank, Twister (spinal crank), or rear naked choke from the Truck's back-control element
How do I set up the 10th Planet Escape?
The standard setup chain: Identify Position → Identify Primary Control → Address First Priority → Break Primary Control → Escape → Recover.
How do I defend against the 10th Planet Escape?
Standard counters include: When attacking with 10th Planet positions: tighten the calf hook immediately when the escape begins / Transition between attacks — if Truck is being escaped, transition to choke or calf crank before the escape completes / Apply the Twister head pull explosively — a gradual head pull gives the defender time to tuck the chin / Maintain the Lockdown by following the opponent's standing attempt and pulling them back down.
What are the variants of the 10th Planet Escape?
Common variants: Truck escape (breaking the calf hook and seatbelt to escape the Truck p…); Twister defence (preventing the head-pull that completes the spinal crank;…); Lockdown escape (standing up to break the figure-four leg lock); Rubber Guard escape (posture up) (driving posture upward to break the leg-on-shoulder contr…); Electric chair defence (fighting the leg split by keeping the knees together and …); Vaporizer escape (preventing the leg-based submission from the Truck positi…).
How effective is the 10th Planet Escape in competition?
10th Planet positions have produced numerous submissions at EBI and ADCC; the development of escape knowledge is driven by these competitive results.
What are common mistakes when doing the 10th Planet Escape?
Top errors to watch for: Not knowing the position — many traditional BJJ practitioners have never seen the Truck or Twister and panic when cau… / Addressing the wrong control point first — in the Truck, fighting the seatbelt before the calf hook allows the calf c… / Allowing the head pull in Twister defence — once the head is pulled laterally, the Twister crank is extremely powerfu… / Trying to muscle out of the Lockdown — the figure-four leg lock is very strong; standing up uses leverage rather than….
What are other names for the 10th Planet Escape?
The 10th Planet Escape is also known as Tensu Puranetto Esukēpu, 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu Escape, 10P Escape, Eddie Bravo System Escape.