BJJ Guard Mastery Guide

Guard is the most fundamental position in BJJ. From guard, you can sweep, submit, and threaten from the bottom position. Guard mastery means dominating from the bottom through strong attacks and submissions.

Guard Types

• Closed Guard: Most controlling. Lock legs around opponent, prevent posture, attack arms.
• Open Guard: More space but more positioning options. Butterfly, de la Riva, half-guard variations.
• Hybrid Guards: Combine open and closed elements for flexibility.

Guard Attacks

• Armlock Chains: From closed guard, isolate arm, execute various armlocks.
• Triangle Choke: Control head and arm, lock legs around neck.
• Omoplata: Control shoulder joint, set up arm submission.

Guard Sweeps

Reverse the position without escaping: bump hips, control posture, transition to top. Essential sweeps: underhook sweep, collar-drag sweep, pendulum sweep.

Guard Retention

When guard is passed, you need escape options. Half-guard retention prevents side control. Sit-up escapes create scramble opportunities. Footlock threats deter aggressive passing.