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What is Guard?

Definition​

As the second fighting station (see Fight Stations), guards are positions adopted by the person on the bottom, using limbs (legs and arms) as the main tools of defense and control.

The objective is to keep the opponent within the legs' area of influence, creating barriers and possibilities for attack or defense.

Why Guard Matters: Unlike other martial arts where being on bottom means losing, BJJ's guard transforms the bottom position into an offensive platform. This revolutionary concept is what makes BJJ unique.

Core Purpose​

The name itself carries the primary intention: to guard oneself against attempts at immobilizations and submissions from the opponent.

Therefore, before attacking, the person must be able to defend themselves based on the interpretation of the system of lines.

Guard Types​

The combination of limb positions generates different types of guard:

Fundamental Guards​

  • Closed Guard - Full leg wrap around opponent's waist for maximum control
  • Half Guard - Single leg entanglement controlling one of opponent's legs
  • Spider Guard - Grips on sleeves with feet on biceps for distance control
  • De la Riva Guard - Hook-based open guard named after Ricardo De la Riva
  • Arm Guard - Frames and distance management using arms as primary tool

Advanced Variations​

  • Butterfly Guard - Hook-based sweeping guard
  • Open Guard - Modern guard variations framework
  • X-Guard - Underneath position with crossed legs for sweeps
  • K Guard - Modern leg entanglement system
  • Reverse De la Riva
  • Lasso Guard
  • Worm Guard

Each type has specific strategies for control and transition.

Guard Passing Context​

The person on top must try to pass the guard of the one on bottom. To accomplish this, they need to:

  1. Move their legs past the line of the opponent's legs/hips
  2. Stabilize an immobilization for 3+ seconds

Primary Objectives​

  1. Defensive: Prevent guard passes and submissions
  2. Offensive: Create sweep and submission opportunities
  3. Transitional: Move between guard types for optimal position

Next Steps​

  1. Body as Lines - Understand defense lines
  2. Guard Dynamics - Learn the battle dynamics
  3. Grips & Connections - Master control