Electric Chair Sweep

SubFamily

Translation: electric chair sweep

Range & classification

Overview

The Electric Chair Sweep subfamily covers the half guard sweep that uses a lockdown (double leg interlock) on the opponent's trapped leg combined with an underhook to stretch and sweep the opponent by lifting their leg with the lockdown and driving with the underhook. ^[1] The electric chair gets its name from the stretching effect on the opponent's groin and hip — the lockdown pulls the trapped leg while the underhook pushes the body, creating an uncomfortable split that either sweeps the opponent or forces them to give up the position. ^[1],[2] The electric chair is both a sweep and a submission threat, as the stretch can force a tap-out from groin or hip pain. ^[2],[3]

Also known as

Electric Chair^[1]Lockdown Sweep^[2]Calf Slicer Sweep^[3]

Used in

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu MMA

History & Origin

The electric chair sweep was popularised by Eddie Bravo as part of his 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu system, built around the lockdown half guard. ^[1] Bravo developed the electric chair as a centrepiece of his rubber guard and lockdown system, and it became one of the most recognisable techniques associated with 10th Planet. ^[2],[3]

Country of origin· shown in random order

BrazilBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu, MMA
JapanBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu
USAMMA

Effectiveness

The electric chair sweep uses a lockdown half guard to split the opponent's legs and sweep them. ^[1]

Lineage

The electric chair was developed by Eddie Bravo as part of the 10th Planet system. ^[1]

Competition Record

Used in no-gi and EBI competition by 10th Planet practitioners. ^[1]

Images

No images yet for this technique.

Biomechanical Mechanism

Primary Action — Breaking the opponent's leg control to advance to a more dominant position

Joints Involved — Hips (posture and pressure), knees (opening the guard with knee-in or standing), hands (grip fighting)

Force Vector — Forward pressure (stack/smash) or backward posture (stand-up break) to open the closed guard

Passing Mechanic — Once the guard is opened, speed passing, pressure passing, or toreando passing advances the position

Position & Entry

From guard (bottom) — Off-balance the opponent using grips and hip movement, execute the sweep to reverse position to top

From half guard — Secure an underhook, drive into the opponent and execute the sweep

From butterfly guard — Use the butterfly hooks to elevate the opponent, then direct them to the side to complete the sweep

Videos

BJJ4Breakfast

Lockdown to electric chair sweep

Electric Chair Sweep·BJJ4Breakfast

Using the lockdown to get your underhook and do the electric chair sweep

Groundworx Freestyle Jiu-Jitsu

4 Purple Electric Chair Sweep

Electric Chair Sweep·Groundworx Freestyle Jiu-Jitsu

2 videos

Learn This Technique

No instructional courses yet for this technique.

Ratings

Danger Rating

Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to

Moderate3/10

Sweeps reverse position from bottom; moderate impact on landing for top player

Difficulty

Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably

Intermediate

Competition Legality

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 RulesPDF

Training Notes

✓The electric chair sweep is a lockdown-based half guard sweep that uses extreme flexibility to stretch the opponent's trapped leg while sweeping them (Eddie Bravo, Mastering the Rubber Guard, 2006)

✓The lockdown is the prerequisite: double-overhook the trapped leg with your legs, creating a figure-four lock on their foot

✓From the lockdown, control the opponent's far arm (whizzer side) and begin stretching their trapped leg by extending your hips

✓The stretch creates tremendous pressure on the opponent's groin and inner thigh — this forces them to move or creates the sweep

✓Execution: lockdown → old school underhook → extend the lockdown stretch → sweep by extending hips and driving forward

✓Eddie Bravo developed and popularized this technique through 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu

✓The electric chair also has a submission finish: the lockdown stretch itself can submit if the opponent doesn't move

✓The electric chair is effective in no-gi specifically — the lockdown doesn't require gi grips

Common Mistakes

!Attempting the electric chair without the lockdown — the lockdown is essential for the stretch

!Not extending the stretch far enough — the stretch must threaten the opponent's groin/inner thigh to force movement

!Forgetting the underhook — the electric chair still requires the underhook for the sweep component

!Applying the stretch too aggressively in training — the groin stretch can injure your partner; apply gradually

!Not rising to the side before extending — the stretch and sweep work from the side position

!Keeping the lockdown without sweeping — the lockdown is a means to the sweep, not an end position

!Not training the lockdown specifically — the figure-four leg lock requires dedicated practice

Related Techniques

Guard Recovery — common follow-up after escaping to create a defensive barrier Bridge — foundational escape mechanic using hip elevation

Counter Techniques

Base and Posture — maintain wide base and upright posture to resist the sweep Grip Strip — break controlling grips before the sweep can be loaded Back Step — retreat the leg being attacked to remove the sweep fulcrum

Setup Chain

1Control Grips — establish the controlling grips needed to load the sweep

2Off-Balance — shift the opponent's weight to the target direction

3Execute Sweep — apply the sweeping mechanic to topple the opponent

4Follow to Top — ride the sweep momentum to establish top position

Sources & References

Primary Source

Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008)

1BookThe Guard (Moreira & Beneville, 2008)

Alias sources — [1] Mastering the Rubber Guard (Eddie Bravo, 2006) [2] 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu terminology [3] Descriptive term for the finishing mechanic

2BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)

Effectiveness sources — [1] Mastering the Rubber Guard (Bravo, 2006)

3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention

Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities

4CitationThe Guard (Moreira & Beneville, 2008)

Alias sources — [1] Mastering the Rubber Guard (Eddie Bravo, 2006) [2] 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu terminology [3] Descriptive term for the finishing mechanic

5CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)

Effectiveness sources — [1] Mastering the Rubber Guard (Bravo, 2006)

Community

Athletics

Requires

timing, hip power, off-balancing skill

Favours

strong hips and active legs for sweeping leverage

Key muscles

hip flexors, glutes, quadriceps, core rotators

Sub-techniques

Find by what a technique does — not its name

Every move, in any martial art, shares a few universal traits. Mix and match below to pinpoint the right tool — or compare equivalents across styles.

Standard Electric Chair

Genus

The Standard Electric Chair executes the sweep by securing the lockdown on the opponent's trapped leg, obtaining an underhook, then driving upward and outward with the underhook while extending the lockdown to stretch the opponent's legs apart and roll them over. [1] The guard player first locks the lockdown (figure-four on the opponent's leg with both legs), then works for the underhook, and finally executes the sweep by bridging and extending simultaneously. [1,2] The combined upward bridge, underhook drive, and lockdown stretch creates three simultaneous forces that make the sweep extremely difficult to defend. [2,3]

Explore

Notes

The electric chair appears in 17 passages in Bravo's Mastering the Rubber Guard — it is one of the core techniques of the 10th Planet system. From lockdown half guard, the attacker hooks under the opponent's far leg and stretches it while sweeping. Functions as both a sweep and a submission. (Bravo, Mastering the Rubber Guard, 2006)

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get my opponent to post so I can set up the electric chair sweep?

Use the whip down technique by bringing your knees up to your chest and pushing your opponent's body away, which forces them to post their hands. According to BJJ4Breakfast, you don't need a huge post—even a small one will work.

What's the correct direction to sweep my opponent with the electric chair?

Lift your opponent up and place them to the side of you using your legs, keeping them straight during the lift. Groundworx Freestyle Jiu-Jitsu emphasizes not sweeping them on top of you, as this will cause you to fall flat.

How do I transition my arms during the electric chair sweep?

Keep your lockdown on while the arm around their hip transitions inside, then push and guide them in the direction of the sweep. Your other hand wraps around their joint to control the movement.

How does the Electric Chair Sweep work?

The Electric Chair Sweep subfamily covers the half guard sweep that uses a lockdown (double leg interlock) on the opponent's trapped leg combined with an underhook to stretch and sweep the opponent by lifting their leg with the lockdown and driving with the underhook. The electric chair gets its name from the stretching effect on the opponent's groin and hip — the lockdown pulls the trapped leg while the underhook pushes the body, creating an uncomfortable split that either sweeps the opponent or forces them to give up the position.

Where does the Electric Chair Sweep come from?

The electric chair sweep was popularised by Eddie Bravo as part of his 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu system, built around the lockdown half guard. Bravo developed the electric chair as a centrepiece of his rubber guard and lockdown system, and it became one of the most recognisable techniques associated with 10th Planet.

Is the Electric Chair Sweep 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 Electric Chair Sweep?

Danger rating 3/10. Moderate — sweeps reverse position from bottom; moderate impact on landing for top player

How do I set up the Electric Chair Sweep?

The standard setup chain: Control Grips → Off-Balance → Execute Sweep → Follow to Top.

How do I defend against the Electric Chair Sweep?

Standard counters include: Base and Posture — maintain wide base and upright posture to resist the sweep / Grip Strip — break controlling grips before the sweep can be loaded / Back Step — retreat the leg being attacked to remove the sweep fulcrum.

What are the variants of the Electric Chair Sweep?

Common variants: Standard sweep (primary off-balancing and reversal technique from the guard); Combination sweep (chaining two sweep directions to catch the opponent's adj…); Counter sweep (sweeping as the opponent initiates a guard pass attempt); Competition sweep (optimised for point-scoring in tournament settings).

How effective is the Electric Chair Sweep in competition?

Used in no-gi and EBI competition by 10th Planet practitioners.

What are common mistakes when doing the Electric Chair Sweep?

Top errors to watch for: Attempting the electric chair without the lockdown — the lockdown is essential for the stretch / Not extending the stretch far enough — the stretch must threaten the opponent's groin/inner thigh to force movement / Forgetting the underhook — the electric chair still requires the underhook for the sweep component / Applying the stretch too aggressively in training — the groin stretch can injure your partner; apply gradually.

What are other names for the Electric Chair Sweep?

The Electric Chair Sweep is also known as Erekutorikku Chea Suīpu, Electric Chair, Lockdown Sweep, Calf Slicer Sweep.

electric chair sweep erekutorikku chea su pu escape and reversal sweep guard reversal half guard sweep brazilian jiu-jitsu mma electric chair lockdown sweep calf slicer sweep