Inverted Guard
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Inverted Guard·Ethan Pino
Dan Faggella teaches the details of his inverted guard game
Inverted Guard
SubFamilyインバーテッドガード
TransliterationTranslation
Not yet documented
Overview
The Inverted Guard is an advanced guard position where the bottom player inverts (goes upside down on their shoulders/upper back) to create angles for guard retention, sweeps, and back takes — a high-level defensive and offensive tool used by elite guard players to recover guard when being passed. [1] Inversion allows the guard player to reposition their hips underneath the passer when conventional hip escape cannot create enough space. [1],[2]
Inverted Guard PositionUpside Down GuardTornado Guard Base
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Lineage
Developed within the modern BJJ competition framework. [1]
Competition Record
Used in IBJJF, ADCC, and/or EBI competition. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Establishing and maintaining this specific positional configuration for control, transition, or submission
Joints Involved — Position-specific — each configuration uses different leg hooks, arm controls, and body positioning to achieve its tactical purpose
Force Vector — Determined by the position's function — control positions apply compression and containment; transitional positions create directional movement; attack positions isolate joints for submission
Position Mechanic — This position serves a specific tactical role within the broader grappling positional hierarchy — either as a control point, a transition station, or a submission platform
Position & Entry
From guard/bottom — Enter this position through the appropriate guard transition
From top/passing — Achieve this position through passing or scramble transitions
From back control or scramble — Transition to this position from back control or during a scramble
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
5
High5/10
Varies based on the submissions accessible from this position
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Restricted
— IJF — Guard pulling penalized as non-combativity — ground...
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDFLegal
— IBJJF — Legal — guard is fundamental to BJJ, sweeps from ...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— ADCC — Legal, guard pull penalized -1 point in points por...
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal — no penalty for playing guard
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Understand this position's role in the broader system before drilling techniques from it
✓Train entries from multiple positions
✓Develop both offensive attacks and defensive escapes from this position
✓Partner drilling with progressive resistance builds real competence
Common Mistakes
!Entering without proper control
!Not understanding the position's purpose
!Staying too long without attacking
!Not chaining with transitions to other positions
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Establish Entry Position
2Transition to This Position
3Consolidate Control
4Attack or Transition
5Maintain or Advance
Sources & References
Primary Source
Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008)
1BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Description sources — [1] Modern BJJ positional development [2] Competition evolution
2BookModern BJJ instructional resources
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Description sources — [1] Modern BJJ positional development [2] Competition evolution
5CitationModern BJJ instructional resources
Community
Athletics
Requires
positional awareness, body control, specific attribute for this position
Key muscles
core, hip flexors, legs
Sub-techniques
Notes
The inverted guard places the bottom player upside-down, using the legs overhead to attack and defend. Ryan Hall and the Mendes Brothers popularized inverted guard in high-level competition. High flexibility requirement limits its use to specialist practitioners. (BJJ competition records)
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main advantage of using inverted guard?
According to Ethan Pino, inverted guard gives you increased mobility with all your limbs spaced toward your opponent, while the ground protects you from back-take attempts that would be easier to execute from other positions.
How do I transition from inverted guard to a sweep?
Ethan Pino teaches that you can pull yourself underneath your opponent to reach a sweeping position, and you can also turn this into an x-guard to set up the sweep—you can sometimes attack from farther away by picking up speed this way.
How does the Inverted Guard work?
The Inverted Guard is an advanced guard position where the bottom player inverts (goes upside down on their shoulders/upper back) to create angles for guard retention, sweeps, and back takes — a high-level defensive and offensive tool used by elite guard players to recover guard when being passed. Inversion allows the guard player to reposition their hips underneath the passer when conventional hip escape cannot create enough space.
Where does the Inverted Guard come from?
This position developed within the modern BJJ/grappling positional framework as the art evolved.
Is the Inverted Guard legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal — Legal — guard is fundamental to BJJ, sweeps from guard score 2 points; IJF: restricted — Guard pulling penalized as non-combativity — groundwork from guard permitted …; ADCC: legal — Legal, guard pull penalized -1 point in points portion; Unified MMA: legal — Legal — no penalty for playing guard; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Inverted Guard?
Danger rating 5/10. Moderate — varies based on the submissions accessible from this position
How do I set up the Inverted Guard?
The standard setup chain: Establish Entry Position → Transition to This Position → Consolidate Control → Attack or Transition → Maintain or Advance.
How do I defend against the Inverted Guard?
Standard counters include: Positional escape / Prevention (not allowing the position to be established) / Transition to a more advantageous position.
What are the variants of the Inverted Guard?
Common variants: Standard execution (the fundamental version); Modified variation (adapted for specific scenarios); Transitional version (used as a waypoint between positions).
How effective is the Inverted Guard in competition?
Used in IBJJF, ADCC, and/or EBI competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Inverted Guard?
Top errors to watch for: Entering without proper control / Not understanding the position's purpose / Staying too long without attacking / Not chaining with transitions to other positions.
What are other names for the Inverted Guard?
The Inverted Guard is also known as Inverted Guard Position, Upside Down Guard, Tornado Guard Base.