Best BJJ Guards (2026) — Complete <strong>Guard</strong> System Guide
BJJBJJ App Team·⏱️ 2 min read·🔄 Mar 31, 2026
The most effective BJJ guard positions ranked and explained. From closed guard to berimbolo — find the right guard for your game.
Your guard is your foundation on the bottom. Choosing the right guard style can define your entire BJJ game. Here are the most effective guard positions ranked by versatility, offense, and ease of learning.
Contents
🥋 Essential Techniques
Closed Guard
The foundation of all guards. Best for beginners. Slows the pace and gives you time to think.
→Half Guard
Highly effective at all levels. Easy to enter, hard to pass. Great for sweeps and back takes.
→Butterfly Guard
Offensive guard for sweeps and back takes. Marcelo Garcia's signature weapon.
→De La Riva Guard
Essential for gi BJJ. Leads to berimbolo, sweeps, and back takes.
→Spider Guard
Powerful control guard for gi. Breaks posture and sets up triangles and sweeps.
→X-Guard
Devastating guard for back takes and sweeps. Requires good hip flexibility.
→Lasso Guard
Wrapping control that immobilizes the passing arm. Hard to pass, leads to triangles and armbars.
→Deep Half Guard
Sneaky bottom position. Hard to pass and leads to the Waiter sweep and back takes.
→Rubber Guard
Eddie Bravo's flexible guard. Requires good hip mobility but controls the head tightly.
→50/50 Guard
Modern leg attack guard. Creates leg entanglement for heel hook exchanges.
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
❓ What is the best guard in BJJ for beginners?
Closed guard is the best starting point — it's simple, safe, and forces you to use technique over strength. Half guard is the second most important for beginners.
❓ What guard is hardest to pass?
Spider guard and lasso guard in gi are notoriously difficult to pass because of the wrist control. In no-gi, 50/50 guard is the hardest to escape from.
❓ Should I specialize in one guard or learn many?
Focus on 1-2 guards deeply before adding more. A deep half guard specialist is more dangerous than someone who knows 5 guards superficially.