10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu uses leglock-heavy techniques and no-gi grappling as its core method

10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu is a grappling system created by Eddie Bravo that emphasizes leglocks, footlock attacks, and no-gi (without a uniform) training over the gi-based techniques that dominate most traditional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academies. Where conventional BJJ builds around collar chokes, arm drags, and guard passes performed in a heavy cotton uniform, 10th Planet trains in shorts and rash guards and treats the legs and feet as primary targets from the start.

The system emerged in the early 2000s when Bravo, a self-taught grappler and guitarist, began competing in no-gi tournaments and noticed that traditional BJJ competitors struggled against aggressive leglock attacks they rarely trained to defend. He systematized these techniques, named positions after cannabis strains and pop culture references (the Rubber Guard, the Twister, the Truck), and opened the first 10th Planet location in Los Angeles. The method has since spread to dozens of affiliated schools worldwide and influenced how many traditional BJJ gyms now teach leglock defense.

Key Takeaways

  • 10th Planet training happens without a gi and focuses on leglocks and footlock attacks as primary submission routes, not secondary ones.
  • The system uses different position names and a different hierarchy of techniques than traditional BJJ, so a 10th Planet blue belt and a traditional BJJ blue belt have trained different core skills.
  • No-gi grappling is faster and more explosive than gi training, which changes how positions are held and how transitions happen.
  • 10th Planet has its own belt ranking system separate from the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), so belts do not transfer between systems.

How 10th Planet positions and submissions differ from traditional BJJ

In traditional BJJ, the guard (legs wrapped around an opponent's torso or head) is the primary defensive position, and submissions focus on chokes and arm locks. In 10th Planet, the guard is still important, but the system names and organizes guard variations differently. The Rubber Guard — where you hook your foot behind your opponent's head and control their arm — is a foundational 10th Planet position that most traditional BJJ students do not train extensively. From there, 10th Planet teaches the Twister (a spinal lock), the Truck (a position that leads to back control and leg attacks), and the Calf Slicer (a leglock that compresses the calf muscle).

Leglocks in traditional BJJ are often taught as advanced techniques or restricted by rule in lower belt levels. In 10th Planet, straight footlocks, heel hooks, and knee reaping are taught from the beginning. This means a 10th Planet white belt has spent months defending and attacking the legs, while a traditional BJJ white belt may have spent minimal time on leglock defense. When these two grapplers roll together, the 10th Planet student's leg attack knowledge often creates an when ready advantage, even if the traditional student has better upper-body technique.

No-gi training changes the speed and grip mechanics of grappling

Without a gi, there are no sleeves to grab, no lapels to control, and no heavy fabric to slow movement. Grapplers wear only shorts and a rash guard, which means submissions that rely on fabric grip — like collar chokes — do not work the same way. Instead, 10th Planet emphasizes arm-in chokes (where you wrap your arm around the neck without gripping cloth) and leg-based submissions that do not depend on fabric at all.

No-gi grappling is also faster. Transitions happen more quickly because there is less friction and fewer grip points to slow momentum. A guard pass that takes five seconds in the gi might take two seconds in no-gi. This speed means 10th Planet training builds explosive, dynamic movement. For MMA fighters, this translates directly: MMA happens without a gi, so training without one from day one means your techniques are already adapted to the speed and grip environment of a fight.

10th Planet belt ranking is separate from traditional BJJ certification

10th Planet has its own belt system: white, blue, purple, brown, and black. These belts are awarded by 10th Planet instructors and are not recognized by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), which oversees most traditional BJJ tournaments and rank standardization. A 10th Planet black belt is not automatically a traditional BJJ black belt, and vice versa.

This separation exists because the two systems teach different core techniques and have different standards for what each belt level should know. A traditional BJJ black belt may be a white belt in 10th Planet leglock technique. Some grapplers train in both systems and earn belts in each, but the belts do not transfer. If you earn a 10th Planet blue belt and later join a traditional BJJ academy, you will likely start as a white belt or test into a higher rank based on your overall grappling ability — but your 10th Planet rank does not automatically place you.

How 10th Planet fits into MMA training

10th Planet's no-gi focus and leglock emphasis make it directly applicable to MMA. In a cage, you cannot grab a gi, and leg attacks are legal at all levels. Fighters who train 10th Planet arrive at MMA with footlock and heel hook knowledge that many traditional BJJ fighters lack. This has made 10th Planet popular among MMA gyms, particularly those focused on grappling depth.

However, 10th Planet does not teach takedowns or striking, so MMA fighters typically train 10th Planet for grappling, wrestling for takedowns, and boxing or kickboxing for striking. Some MMA academies have 10th Planet instructors on staff; others send grapplers to dedicated 10th Planet schools. The leglock emphasis means 10th Planet grapplers often have to adjust when they compete in IBJJF tournaments (where heel hooks are restricted at lower belt levels) or train with traditional BJJ students who have not drilled leglock defense.

Training 10th Planet versus traditional BJJ: what to expect

A 10th Planet class looks similar to a traditional BJJ class in structure: warm-up, technique instruction, drilling, and rolling (sparring). The difference is in what techniques are taught and how they are sequenced. A 10th Planet class might spend 20 minutes on footlock entries and defenses; a traditional BJJ class might spend that time on guard passes. Both are legitimate grappling training, but they build different skill sets.

If you join a 10th Planet gym as a beginner, you will learn leglock mechanics from day one. If you join a traditional BJJ gym, you will learn guard and passing mechanics first, with leglocks added later. Neither path is wrong — they are different priorities. For MMA, the 10th Planet path gives you leglock skills faster. For IBJJF competition, traditional BJJ aligns with the ruleset. Many serious grapplers train both.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer my 10th Planet belt to a traditional BJJ academy?

No. 10th Planet and traditional BJJ have separate ranking systems. If you move to a traditional academy, you may test for a rank based on your overall grappling ability, but your 10th Planet belt does not automatically convert. Some academies place you at the equivalent level; others ask you to start over or test in.

Is 10th Planet better for MMA than traditional BJJ?

Neither is objectively better — they teach different things. 10th Planet's leglock focus and no-gi training are directly applicable to MMA. Traditional BJJ teaches guard and passing mechanics that are also valuable in MMA. Many successful MMA fighters train both systems or focus on one depending on their grappling strengths.

Do 10th Planet gyms teach takedowns?

Most 10th Planet schools focus on grappling (ground fighting) and do not teach takedowns. Some affiliated gyms partner with wrestling coaches or have separate wrestling classes, but leglock grappling is the core. MMA fighters training 10th Planet usually learn takedowns elsewhere.

What does "no-gi" mean?

No-gi means training without a jiu-jitsu uniform (gi). Grapplers wear shorts and a rash guard instead. Without the gi, certain techniques (like collar chokes) do not work the same way, and the pace is faster because there is less fabric to grip and control.

Can I train 10th Planet and traditional BJJ at the same time?

Yes. Many grapplers train both systems, though it requires time and money for two separate memberships. Training both gives you leglock skills from 10th Planet and guard-passing skills from traditional BJJ, making you a more complete grappler.