The Easiest Guard Recovery In BJJ
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Full Guard Recovery·MMA Leech
Guard Recovery Fundamentals Online Course: https://guardrecoveryfundamentals.com/ If your guard sucks and keeps getting…
Full Guard Recovery
SubFamilyフルガードリカバリー(Furu Gādo Rikabarī)
TransliterationTranslation: full guard recovery
Overview
The Full Guard Recovery subfamily covers techniques for re-establishing closed (full) guard — legs wrapped around the opponent's torso with ankles crossed — after the guard has been opened or partially passed. [1] Full guard recovery typically involves creating enough hip space through shrimping or framing to bring both legs around the opponent's body and close the ankles behind their back. [1],[2] Recovering full guard is often the defensive priority because closed guard is the most controlling bottom position, eliminating the opponent's ability to stand, posture, or pass without first opening the guard. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Full guard recovery has been a fundamental BJJ defensive skill since the art's foundation, as the closed guard was the primary bottom position in early BJJ competition. [1] The ability to recover full guard after an opponent's passing attempt remains a critical defensive skill at all levels. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
Full guard recovery re-establishes closed guard from an inferior position. [1]
Lineage
A fundamental BJJ defensive technique. [1]
Competition Record
Used in BJJ competition. [1]
Images
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Preventing or reducing the effect of an incoming attack through physical interception, evasion, or structural positioning
Joints Involved — Varies by defence type — blocks use arms/shins, evasions use head/body movement, sprawls use hips
Force Vector — Opposing or tangential to the attack — either absorbing, redirecting, or evading the incoming force
Defensive Principle — Economy of motion — the best defence uses minimal movement to neutralise the maximum threat
Position & Entry
From fighting stance (under fire) — Bring both hands to the head, elbows tight, tuck the chin — absorb the flurry while protecting vital targets
As emergency defence — When overwhelmed by volume, shell up in the cover position until the opponent pauses
Videos
Guard Recovery and Inverting (Lachlan Giles)
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Full Guard Recovery·Absolute MMA St Kilda - Melbourne
Follow the links below for detailed instructional series by Lachlan Giles The Guard Passing Anthology: Half Guard can b…
2 videos
What Instructors Say
Full Guard Recovery encompasses a family of inversion and repositioning techniques used when an opponent begins passing the guard, ranging from early-stage passes (foot-line distance) to advanced scenarios where the passer has already crossed the knee line or established an underhook. The unifying principle is that the defender maintains or re-establishes contact with the passer while rotating their hips off the mat and spinning back into guard position, rather than attempting to chase with the legs alone—a strategy that would lose the race to a standing opponent. Lachlan Giles (Absolute MMA St Kilda) emphasizes that inversion has become a fundamental skill necessary for modern guard retention, distinguishing recovery by distance and pressure conditions: at far range, the defender lifts hips and spins through while maintaining shin contact; at closer range, pressure assists the motion; and once the knee line is passed, the inversion becomes a tighter, sit-up-like movement using an underhook and foot-post. Critical technical details include keeping shoulders flat on the mat to avoid neck strain, freeing the far leg to enable hip lift, preventing the passer from establishing head control, and using momentum from the passer's movement rather than fighting against pressure. MMA Leech frames guard recovery differently, prioritizing double-sleeve grip control before the pass develops, arguing that maintaining grip on both the passer's wrists forces them to expend energy and grants the defender time to escape—a preventative rather than reactive approach. Both instructors agree that guard recovery is a layered problem: stopping the pass at the feet is easiest, at the knees is intermediate, and at the hips is most difficult, making early contact maintenance essential.
Synthesized from 2 instructors
- Absolute MMA St Kilda - Melbourne — Guard Recovery and Inverting (Lachlan Giles): Detailed breakdown of inversion mechanics across multiple distances and pass scenarios, emphasizing hip lift, contact maintenance, neck safety, and specific differences between far-range, mid-range, and knee-line-passed situations. Introduced the concept that inversion is now fundamental to modern guard retention.
- MMA Leech — The Easiest Guard Recovery In BJJ: Presented preventative recovery strategy using double-sleeve grip control to delay or prevent pass completion, contrasting reactive inversion with proactive hand-fighting that forces the passer to expose vulnerabilities before needing to physically escape.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
2
Low2/10
Guard retention uses frames and hip movement; minimal direct injury risk
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— Unified MMA — Legal defensive technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— IBJJF — Legal
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— IJF — Legal defensive action
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDFWBC/Boxing — Legal {src— WBC Rules of Boxing}
— WKF — Legal
WKF Competition Rules 2024PDF— WT — Legal
WT Competition Rules 2024PDFTraining Notes
✓Full guard recovery is the act of re-establishing closed guard (legs around the opponent's waist) from a compromised bottom position
✓The goal is to get your legs around the opponent's torso and lock your ankles behind their back — the classical closed guard
✓Full guard recovery requires: creating space (frames + hip escape), inserting the legs (around the opponent's body), and locking the guard
✓In MMA, full guard recovery is critical — closed guard controls the opponent's posture and limits their ground-and-pound options
✓Use a frame on the hip combined with a shrimp to create enough space to swing the legs around
✓Once one leg crosses the opponent's body, lock the ankles to secure the guard
✓Drill guard recovery from side control: bridge, frame, shrimp, insert legs, lock guard — as one flowing sequence
Common Mistakes
!Trying to close guard without first creating space — you must frame and shrimp to make room for the legs
!Pulling the opponent into guard with your arms instead of using your legs — the legs do the work
!Not locking the ankles immediately — an unlocked guard is easily opened
!Recovering full guard when half guard or open guard would be more effective — read the situation
!Lying flat while attempting to recover guard — turn to your side and use hip movement
!Focusing on the legs while ignoring the opponent's posture — use frames to manage their upper body simultaneously
!Not drilling guard recovery under resistance — it must work against a resisting opponent, not just in drilling
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Anticipate the Attack — read the opponent's intention through body cues
2Execute Defence — apply the specific defensive technique with proper timing
3Recover Stance — return to a balanced fighting position immediately
4Counter or Disengage — capitalize on the opening or create safe distance
Sources & References
Primary Source
Boxing (Edwin Haislet, 1940)
1BookBoxing (Dempsey, 1950)
Alias sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [2] Fundamentals of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Danaher, 2012) [3] Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Gracie, 2001)
2BookMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationBoxing (Dempsey, 1950)
Alias sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [2] Fundamentals of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Danaher, 2012) [3] Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Gracie, 2001)
5CitationMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Community
Athletics
Requires
reaction speed, structural body mechanics, defensive awareness
Favours
quick reflexes and conditioned defensive surfaces
Key muscles
varies — forearms (blocking), legs (movement), core (stability)
Sub-techniques
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is grip control important when recovering guard?
Establishing control and grips makes it harder for your opponent to pass your guard, allowing you to play your guard effectively once recovered. MMA Leech emphasizes keeping your arm locked on your elbows and maintaining strong grips to prevent your opponent from breaking your control.
Is inverting a necessary skill for modern guard recovery?
Yes—Lachlan Giles notes that inverting is now so common in modern jiu-jitsu that it should be considered a fundamental technique if you want to have a good guard.
What's the key mechanic for inverting to recover guard?
Lift your hips off the ground and roll through rather than trying to force your bottom leg through. Lachlan Giles emphasizes that your hips must come up to generate the momentum needed for the invert.
How do I maintain contact while inverting so my opponent doesn't pass easily?
Keep contact with your opponent throughout the inversion and avoid pushing them away so far that you lose connection. Lachlan Giles stresses maintaining leg contact so when your opponent moves, you have the chance to lift your hips and spin through.
How does the Full Guard Recovery work?
The Full Guard Recovery subfamily covers techniques for re-establishing closed (full) guard — legs wrapped around the opponent's torso with ankles crossed — after the guard has been opened or partially passed. Full guard recovery typically involves creating enough hip space through shrimping or framing to bring both legs around the opponent's body and close the ankles behind their back.
Where does the Full Guard Recovery come from?
Full guard recovery has been a fundamental BJJ defensive skill since the art's foundation, as the closed guard was the primary bottom position in early BJJ competition. The ability to recover full guard after an opponent's passing attempt remains a critical defensive skill at all levels.
Is the Full Guard Recovery legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal — Legal defensive technique; IBJJF: legal — Legal; IJF: legal — Legal defensive action; WBC/Boxing: legal — Legal; WKF: legal — Legal; WT: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Full Guard Recovery?
Danger rating 2/10. Low — guard retention uses frames and hip movement; minimal direct injury risk
How do I set up the Full Guard Recovery?
The standard setup chain: Anticipate the Attack → Execute Defence → Recover Stance → Counter or Disengage.
How do I defend against the Full Guard Recovery?
Standard counters include: Timing — attack when the defence is recovering or between movements / Feint — use deception to create openings in the defensive structure / Angle Change — attack from an unexpected angle that the defence does not cover.
What are the variants of the Full Guard Recovery?
Common variants: Standard defence (primary defensive technique from the most common position); Reactive defence (triggered by the opponent's attack, minimal movement for …); Proactive defence (anticipating the attack and positioning to neutralise it …); Counter defence (using the defensive movement to create an immediate count…).
How effective is the Full Guard Recovery in competition?
Used in BJJ competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Full Guard Recovery?
Top errors to watch for: Trying to close guard without first creating space — you must frame and shrimp to make room for the legs / Pulling the opponent into guard with your arms instead of using your legs — the legs do the work / Not locking the ankles immediately — an unlocked guard is easily opened / Recovering full guard when half guard or open guard would be more effective — read the situation.
What are other names for the Full Guard Recovery?
The Full Guard Recovery is also known as Furu Gādo Rikabarī, Closed Guard Recovery, Full Guard Replacement, Guard Re-Close.