How to Pull Guard
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Sit Guard Pull·Tarik BJJ
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Sit Guard Pull
SubFamily座りガードプル(Suwari Gādo Puru)
HybridTranslation: sit guard pull
Overview
The Sit Guard Pull subfamily covers guard pulling techniques where the practitioner sits directly to the ground from standing, establishing a seated guard position. [1] The sit guard pull avoids the risks of jumping to closed guard (which can fail against a strong base) by simply sitting down and using grip control to prevent the opponent from immediately passing. [1],[2] Sit guard pulls typically lead to butterfly guard, De La Riva guard, or other open guard positions that are effective from the seated position. [2],[3]
History & Origin
The sit guard pull became popular in sport BJJ competition as an alternative to the jumping guard pull, particularly among lighter weight competitors who preferred open guard systems. [1] The Miyao brothers and other modern guard players helped popularise the seated guard pull as a competitive strategy. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
The sit guard pull sits directly to the ground and engages guard from a seated position. [1]
Lineage
Developed in competitive BJJ as a guard pull variation. [1]
Competition Record
Commonly used in IBJJF competition. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Breaking the opponent's leg control to advance to a more dominant position
Joints Involved — Hips (posture and pressure), knees (opening the guard with knee-in or standing), hands (grip fighting)
Force Vector — Forward pressure (stack/smash) or backward posture (stand-up break) to open the closed guard
Passing Mechanic — Once the guard is opened, speed passing, pressure passing, or toreando passing advances the position
Position & Entry
From standing (competition) — Grip the opponent's collar or sleeve, sit down pulling them into your guard
From standing (self-defence) — When unable to maintain standing position, pull guard to establish a controlled bottom position
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
3
Moderate3/10
Standing escapes from clinch/holds; involves explosive disengagement
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 — escapes and sweeps are fundamental to BJJ...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— IJF — Legal
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— 4 from mount/back
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The sit guard pull transitions from standing to a seated guard position (typically butterfly or seated open guard) by sitting directly to the mat with grip control (Marcelo Garcia, Advanced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, 2011)
✓The sit pull is safer than the jump pull — there's no risk of the opponent stepping aside and scoring a takedown
✓Establish grips (collar-sleeve in gi, wrist-collar tie in no-gi), then sit directly to butterfly guard
✓The sit pull immediately puts you in an offensive guard: butterfly hooks are in place, grips are established
✓The sit guard pull is Marcelo Garcia's signature entry — he would sit pull and immediately attack with butterfly sweeps
✓The sit pull works in both gi and no-gi — the grip requirements differ but the mechanics are the same
✓After sitting, immediately engage: butterfly hooks, arm drag, or guillotine — don't sit passively
✓The sit guard pull is the safest guard pull method because you maintain your base throughout the descent
Common Mistakes
!Sitting without grips — the opponent will simply walk around your guard without grips to control them
!Sitting to a flat back instead of an active seated position — maintain the upright seated posture
!Sitting too far from the opponent — the grips must keep the opponent within engagement range
!Not immediately establishing butterfly hooks — the hooks control the opponent's base from the seated position
!Sitting and waiting for the opponent to engage — the sit pull must lead to immediate offensive action
!Sitting too slowly — a slow sit lets the opponent disengage and circle; sit decisively
!Using the sit pull when the opponent has dominant grips — break their grips or establish yours first
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Create Space — use frames, hip movement, or leverage to generate room to move
2Disrupt Control — break or weaken the opponent's grips and weight placement
3Execute Escape — apply the specific escape mechanic with timing and commitment
4Recover Position — establish a safe position (guard, standing, or top)
Sources & References
Primary Source
Advanced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Techniques (Marcelo Garcia, 2011)
1BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008) [2] X-Guard (Marcelo Garcia, 2008) [3] IBJJF competition terminology
2BookMastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
3OtherJapanese Martial Arts Hybrid Terminology
Mixed Japanese-Western terminology — combines traditional Japanese terms with katakana loanwords
4CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008) [2] X-Guard (Marcelo Garcia, 2008) [3] IBJJF competition terminology
5CitationMastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
Community
Athletics
Requires
hip mobility, explosive bridge/shrimp power, timing
Favours
flexible hips and strong glutes for escape movements
Key muscles
glutes, hip flexors, core, triceps (framing)
Sub-techniques
Frequently Asked Questions
Why shouldn't I just sit straight down when pulling guard?
If you sit straight down, your opponent can create pivoting power against your hips, which gives them an advantage. You need to make a deliberate movement rather than dropping straight down.
Does the way I pull guard depend on my weight division?
Yes, according to Tarik BJJ, there are many ways to pull guard and the approach depends on your weight division and the type of fight you have ahead.
How does the Sit Guard Pull work?
The Sit Guard Pull subfamily covers guard pulling techniques where the practitioner sits directly to the ground from standing, establishing a seated guard position. The sit guard pull avoids the risks of jumping to closed guard (which can fail against a strong base) by simply sitting down and using grip control to prevent the opponent from immediately passing.
Where does the Sit Guard Pull come from?
The sit guard pull became popular in sport BJJ competition as an alternative to the jumping guard pull, particularly among lighter weight competitors who preferred open guard systems. The Miyao brothers and other modern guard players helped popularise the seated guard pull as a competitive strategy.
Is the Sit Guard Pull legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal — Legal defensive technique; IBJJF: legal — Legal — escapes and sweeps are fundamental to BJJ, sweep from bottom scores 2…; IJF: legal — Legal; ADCC: legal — Legal, sweep scores 2 points (4 from mount/back); FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Sit Guard Pull?
Danger rating 3/10. Moderate — standing escapes from clinch/holds; involves explosive disengagement
How do I set up the Sit Guard Pull?
The standard setup chain: Create Space → Disrupt Control → Execute Escape → Recover Position.
How do I defend against the Sit Guard Pull?
Standard counters include: Maintain Pressure — keep consistent weight distribution to limit escape space / Anticipate Direction — read escape attempt direction and block early / Transition — flow to a new position when the current one is threatened.
What are the variants of the Sit Guard Pull?
Common variants: Standard escape (primary escape mechanic using frames, bridges, or hip mov…); Combination escape (chaining two escape directions or methods); Counter escape (using the opponent's attack attempt to create the escape …); Competition variation (modified for rule-set optimisation).
How effective is the Sit Guard Pull in competition?
Commonly used in IBJJF competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Sit Guard Pull?
Top errors to watch for: Sitting without grips — the opponent will simply walk around your guard without grips to control them / Sitting to a flat back instead of an active seated position — maintain the upright seated posture / Sitting too far from the opponent — the grips must keep the opponent within engagement range / Not immediately establishing butterfly hooks — the hooks control the opponent's base from the seated position.
What are other names for the Sit Guard Pull?
The Sit Guard Pull is also known as Suwari Gādo Puru, Seated Guard Pull, Sit Pull, Butt Scoot.