Every BJJ guard explained: closed guard, open guards, half guard, lapel guards and more. Which to learn first and how each fits your game.
Why Your Guard Choice Matters
Your guard is your primary defensive weapon and offensive platform when on the bottom. The guard you develop shapes your entire BJJ game β your sweeps, submissions, and transitions all flow from it. Choosing the right guards to specialize in early will save years of unfocused development.
Fundamental Guards (Learn First)
| Guard | Best For | Key Techniques |
|---|
| Closed Guard | All levels β fundamental control | Armbar, triangle, hip bump sweep, guillotine |
| Half Guard | Defensive players, beginners | Deep half, lockdown, sweep to single leg |
| Side Control Recovery | All levels | Bridge, shrimp, guard recovery |
Open Guards (Intermediate)
| Guard | Style | Key Techniques |
|---|
| Butterfly Guard | Active, scramble-based | Butterfly sweep, back take, X-guard entry |
| De La Riva Guard | Leg entanglement | DLR sweep, berimbolo, back take |
| Spider Guard | Gi only, flexible players | Lasso sweep, triangle setup, omoplata |
| Lasso Guard | Gi only, long limbs | Pendulum sweep, triangle, omoplata |
| Sit-Up Guard | Takedown entries | Single leg entry, back take, high crotch |
Advanced Guards
| Guard | Notes |
|---|
| X-Guard | Powerful sweeping platform. High commitment. |
| 50/50 Guard | Leg lock entry. Dominant in no-gi and heel hook rulesets. |
| Worm Guard | Gi lapel guard. Complex but highly effective. |
| Inverted Guard | Berimbolo and back take system. |
No-Gi Guards
βΉοΈ No-gi considerations: Without gi grips, guards that rely on sleeve/collar grips don't work. Focus on guards with body/leg control.
- Butterfly Guard: Works identically in no-gi β underhooks replace grips.
- Single Leg X / Ashi Garami: The foundation of modern leg lock systems.
- Half Guard: Underhook-based half guard translates perfectly.
- Seated Guard / Paw Guard: Effective against standing opponents in no-gi competition.
How to Choose Your Guard
- Body type: Longer legs β spider/lasso/triangle. Flexible hips β inverted/berimbolo. Explosive hips β butterfly/X-guard.
- Game style: Prefer submissions from bottom β closed guard / spider. Prefer sweeps and scrambles β butterfly / DLR.
- Ruleset: IBJJF competition β spider/lasso/DLR. No-gi / ADCC β butterfly / ashi garami systems.
- Start with 1β2: Master closed guard and one open guard before adding more. Depth beats breadth.
π‘ The compound interest effect: Every guard shares underlying principles β hip movement, frames, angles. Getting really good at closed guard makes every other guard easier to learn.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best guard for beginners?
Closed guard is the best starting point for most beginners. It provides control, is forgiving of mistakes, and teaches the core principles (frames, posture breaking, hip engagement) that transfer to all other guards.
Which guards work best for leg locks?
Ashi garami (single leg X), 50/50 guard, and saddle/inside heel hook position are the primary leg lock platforms. These dominate no-gi and ADCC-ruleset competition.
Can I use spider guard in no-gi?
Spider guard specifically requires sleeve grips and doesn't work in no-gi. However, the underlying principles (extending with legs, breaking posture, creating angles) transfer to lasso hooks and bicep control in no-gi.