BJJ Self-Defense Course | Lesson 140: Sitting Guard Pull
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Standard Sit Guard Pull·Gracie Schwarzwald Jiu-Jitsu·Added by Admin
Obviously, pulling guard is bad from a Self-Defense Perspective. But, I am teaching it so that students will learn how…
Standard Sit Guard Pull
Genusスタンダード座りガードプル(Sutandādo Suwari Gādo Puru)
HybridTranslation: standard sit guard pull
Overview
The Standard Sit Guard Pull establishes a collar or sleeve grip, then sits directly to the ground while maintaining grip control, immediately establishing a seated guard position with the feet posted against the opponent's hips or legs. [1] The pull is executed by gripping the opponent's collar and sleeve (in gi) or wrist and collar tie (in no-gi), then sitting back while pulling the opponent forward to prevent them from simply backing away. [1],[2] The seated position immediately transitions to a specific guard system — butterfly, De La Riva, or shin-to-shin — depending on the practitioner's preference. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
The standard sit guard pull is the baseline seated guard pull. [1]
Lineage
A BJJ competition technique. [1]
Competition Record
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 bottom (opponent has back control) — Fight the hands to prevent the choke, slide hips to the mat on the choking side, escape the hooks and turn into the opponent
From standing (opponent has back clinch) — Drop the hips, peel the hands, turn and face the opponent
From body triangle — Address the body triangle first by positioning the trapped leg to pry it open, then escape the hooks
Variants
Slide to side (choking-arm side) — fighting hands and sliding hips to the mat on the choking side
Peel-and-turn — stripping the seatbelt grip and turning into the opponent
Trap-arm escape — trapping one arm and rolling to pin the opponent's back
Body triangle escape — addressing the body triangle lock before escaping the hooks
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
✓Standard sit guard pull execution: from standing, establish collar-sleeve or wrist-collar grips, sit directly to the mat pulling the opponent forward, and immediately establish butterfly hooks (Marcelo Garcia, Advanced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, 2011)
✓Step 1: from standing, establish grips — cross-collar + sleeve (gi) or collar tie + wrist (no-gi)
✓Step 2: pull the opponent's weight slightly forward with the grips
✓Step 3: sit directly to the mat in a controlled descent — don't fall or jump
✓Step 4: as you sit, insert butterfly hooks inside the opponent's thighs
✓Step 5: maintain the grips and immediately begin offensive guard — butterfly sweep, arm drag, or guillotine
✓The controlled descent is the key: sit smoothly, don't drop or collapse
✓The grips must be established before sitting — never sit without controlling the opponent
✓The butterfly hooks must be in place upon landing — don't sit and then try to establish hooks
✓Drill: partner stands in front, establish grips, sit to butterfly guard with hooks — 10 reps per side
Common Mistakes
!Sitting without grips — the opponent will simply walk around your guard
!Falling backward instead of sitting controlled — the descent must be smooth and deliberate
!Not inserting butterfly hooks as you sit — the hooks must be in place when you land
!Sitting too far from the opponent — the grips should keep them within engagement range
!Not immediately beginning offensive guard after sitting — the sit pull must lead to an attack
!Sitting and lying back to a flat position — stay upright in the seated butterfly guard
!Using the sit guard pull when you have the takedown advantage — don't concede the standup if you're winning there
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
Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008)
1BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Alias sources — [1] X-Guard (Marcelo Garcia, 2008) [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008)
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] X-Guard (Marcelo Garcia, 2008) [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008)
5CitationMastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003)
Community
Athletics
Requires
grip fighting ability, hip mobility for sliding to the mat, chin defence
Favours
strong hands for grip fighting, flexible hips
Key muscles
forearms (grip fighting), core, hip flexors, neck
Frequently Asked Questions
When I sit guard pull, should I fall straight back or land on my hip?
You should sit and spin to land on your hip, not fall straight back. According to Gracie Schwarzwald Jiu-Jitsu, falling straight back allows your opponent to hop over your leg and attack, plus it risks hurting yourself and flattening your back—instead, sit, spin, and fall to your side with your leg extended out of reach.
Where should my foot be positioned during a sitting guard pull?
Place your foot on your opponent's hip, and specifically the foot on the side of the arm you're controlling. Gracie Schwarzwald Jiu-Jitsu emphasizes keeping your leg extended and locked at about 99% capacity so your opponent cannot hop over it or access it.
Should I use a high grip or low grip for the sitting guard pull?
Use a high grip on the collar, not a low grip. Gracie Schwarzwald Jiu-Jitsu notes that a high grip allows you to sit and pull your opponent while spinning, forcing him to step and preventing him from working on guard passes.
What should I do once I land in the guard position after pulling?
Once landed, pull hard with both grips, lift your hips, bend your knee, and clamp both legs high to secure the guard position. Gracie Schwarzwald Jiu-Jitsu also recommends creating frames between you and your opponent so they cannot jump out of the guard.
How does the Standard Sit Guard Pull work?
The Standard Sit Guard Pull establishes a collar or sleeve grip, then sits directly to the ground while maintaining grip control, immediately establishing a seated guard position with the feet posted against the opponent's hips or legs. The pull is executed by gripping the opponent's collar and sleeve (in gi) or wrist and collar tie (in no-gi), then sitting back while pulling the opponent forward to prevent them from simply backing away.
Where does the Standard Sit Guard Pull come from?
The standard sit guard pull became a common competition technique in modern sport BJJ, used by guard players who prefer to fight from seated open guard positions. It is now a standard skill taught in BJJ competition preparation.
Is the Standard 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 Standard Sit Guard Pull?
Danger rating 3/10. Moderate — standing escapes from clinch/holds; involves explosive disengagement
How do I set up the Standard Sit Guard Pull?
The standard setup chain: Create Space → Disrupt Control → Execute Escape → Recover Position.
How do I defend against the Standard 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 Standard Sit Guard Pull?
Common variants: Slide to side (choking-arm side) (fighting hands and sliding hips to the mat on the choking…); Peel-and-turn (stripping the seatbelt grip and turning into the opponent); Trap-arm escape (trapping one arm and rolling to pin the opponent's back); Body triangle escape (addressing the body triangle lock before escaping the hooks).
How effective is the Standard Sit Guard Pull in competition?
Used in IBJJF competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard Sit Guard Pull?
Top errors to watch for: Sitting without grips — the opponent will simply walk around your guard / Falling backward instead of sitting controlled — the descent must be smooth and deliberate / Not inserting butterfly hooks as you sit — the hooks must be in place when you land / Sitting too far from the opponent — the grips should keep them within engagement range.
What are other names for the Standard Sit Guard Pull?
The Standard Sit Guard Pull is also known as Sutandādo Suwari Gādo Puru, Basic Sit Pull, Standard Butt Scoot.