Learn the fundamental principles of Spider Guard in BJJ. This guide covers grip fighting, leg placement, sweeps, and submissions to dominate your...
Guard
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The Spider Guard is a highly effective Open Guard in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, known for its ability to create distance, control posture, and set up a wide array of sweeps and submissions. It relies on strong leg and sleeve grips to manipulate your opponent's balance and dictate the pace of the fight. Mastering the Spider Guard allows you to maintain a safe distance while constantly threatening your opponent with offensive actions.
Technique Map
graph LR
Guard["Guard"]:::catNode
Guard --> Spider_Guard
Spider_Guard["Spider Guard"]:::currentNode
Spider_Guard -.-> Closed_Guard["Closed Guard"]:::relNode
Spider_Guard -.-> Open_Guard["Open Guard"]:::relNode
Spider_Guard -.-> Half_Guard["Half Guard"]:::relNode
Spider_Guard -.-> De_La_Riva_Guard["De La Riva Guard"]:::relNode
Spider_Guard -.-> Berimbolo["Berimbolo"]:::relNode
classDef currentNode fill:#3b82f6,stroke:#fff,color:#fff,font-weight:700
classDef relNode fill:#141926,stroke:#1f2840,color:#a78bfa
classDef catNode fill:#1f2840,stroke:#7c6af7,color:#7c6af7,font-style:italic
How to Execute
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Step 1: Initial Setup & Grips. Start from a closed guard or open guard. Establish strong sleeve grips on both of your opponent's wrists, ensuring your thumbs are on the inside.
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Step 2: Leg Placement. Place the soles of your feet on your opponent's biceps, keeping your knees flared out to create tension and prevent them from collapsing their arms.
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Step 3: Creating Distance & Control. Use your feet to push your opponent away, extending your legs to break their posture and keep them off balance. Simultaneously, pull on their sleeves to disrupt their base.
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Step 4: Hip Escaping & Angles. Utilize hip escapes (shrimping) to create angles, making it harder for your opponent to pass and easier for you to initiate attacks. Always aim to keep your hips perpendicular to your opponent's chest.
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Step 5: Maintaining Tension. Continuously apply tension through your feet and grips, never allowing your opponent to settle or regain a strong base. This constant pressure is key to effective Spider Guard.
Key Details & Tips
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Grip Dominance: Always fight for dominant sleeve grips. If your opponent breaks a grip, immediately re-establish it or transition to another guard.
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Active Feet: Your feet are not just hooks; they are active tools for pushing, pulling, and creating angles. Keep your toes engaged and soles flat on the biceps.
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Hip Movement: Effective Spider Guard relies heavily on hip movement. Shrimp often to create space, adjust angles, and escape pressure.
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Common Mistake: Allowing your opponent to collapse their arms or break your grips without immediate reaction. This compromises your control and opens you to passes.
Variations
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Lasso Guard: A powerful variation where one leg hooks under the opponent's armpit and wraps around their back, creating immense control and sweeping opportunities.
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Spider-X Guard: A hybrid guard where one foot is on the bicep and the other foot is on the hip, often leading to single-leg X entries and back takes.
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De La Riva Spider Guard: Combining the DLR hook with a spider hook on the opposite side, offering strong sweeping opportunities and transitions.
When to Use
The Spider Guard is excellent when your opponent is standing or kneeling, trying to pass your open guard. It's particularly effective against opponents who rely on strong posture and pressure passing, as it breaks their base and creates distance. Use it when you want to control the distance, wear down your opponent's grips, and set up sweeps or submissions from a safe range.
Counters & Defenses
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Grip Breaking: Aggressively break sleeve grips by peeling fingers, rotating wrists, or using two-on-one grip breaks to dismantle the guard.
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Posture Up & Stand: Stand up tall and posture strongly, pulling your arms away from the hooks, making it harder for the guard player to maintain tension.
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Leg Weave Pass: Once grips are broken or weakened, pin one of the guard player's legs and weave around to the side, maintaining head and arm control while isolating their legs.
Elite Athletes Who Use This Technique
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Q: What are the most common attacks from Spider Guard?
From Spider Guard, you can launch a variety of attacks including Armbars, triangle chokes, omoplatas, and numerous sweeps like the pendulum sweep, tripod sweep, and flower sweep. The control allows for seamless transitions between these offensive options.
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