If You Struggle Breaking Closed Guard as White Belt, Then Watch This Video
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Goes Guard·Chewjitsu
A really difficult technique for many new White Belts in BJJ is breaking the closed guard. Many times when they try they…
Goes Guard
SubFamilyゴエス・ガード(Goesu Gādo)
TransliterationTranslation: Goes Guard — named after Roberto Goes, a Brazilian BJJ competitor who developed this specific open guard configuration combining De La Riva and open guard mechanics for MMA-specific sweeping and standing
Overview
The Goes Guard is a specific open guard configuration from MMA grappling where the bottom player hooks one leg behind the opponent's knee while controlling the same-side sleeve or wrist, creating a dynamic platform for sweeps, stand-ups, and transitions to the De La Riva guard. [1] Named after Roberto Goes, a Brazilian competitor and BJ Penn training partner, the Goes Guard was developed specifically for MMA's unique ground-fighting environment where the bottom player must not only sweep but also be able to stand up quickly to avoid ground-and-pound. [1] The guard combines elements of the De La Riva hook (the leg hooks behind the opponent's knee, controlling their base) with an open guard's hand positioning (controlling the wrist or sleeve for distance management and sweep setup). [1] BJ Penn documented the Goes Guard in The Book of Knowledge (2007) as an MMA-specific guard variant entered from the De La Riva position, presenting two signature sweeps: the Goes Guard Push Sweep (pushing the opponent backward over the hooked leg) and the Goes Guard Switch Sweep (redirecting the sweep mid-attempt when the opponent resists). [1] The tactical value in MMA is the DUAL-PURPOSE nature: the guard provides offensive sweeping capability while maintaining the ability to disengage to standing at any moment — the bottom player is never committed to staying on the ground, which is a critical consideration in MMA where being on the bottom means absorbing strikes. [1]
Roberto Goes GuardGoes Open GuardGoes Hook GuardBoxingGoes MMA GuardDe La Riva Goes Variant
History & Origin
The Goes Guard was developed by Roberto Goes, a Brazilian BJJ competitor and training partner of BJ Penn, specifically for MMA's ground-fighting environment where the bottom player must balance offensive guard play with defensive strike awareness and the ability to return to standing. [1] BJ Penn documented the Goes Guard and its associated sweeps in Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge (2007) as part of his comprehensive MMA bottom-game system. [1] The guard represents the evolution of traditional BJJ guard play for MMA: where pure BJJ guard play can be leisurely and patient (no strikes from top position in sport BJJ), MMA guard play must be URGENT and DUAL-PURPOSE — every guard position must offer both offensive options (sweeps, submissions) and escape routes (stand-ups). [1] The Goes Guard's combination of DLR hooks with MMA-specific hand positioning and stand-up capability exemplifies this MMA-evolved approach to bottom fighting. [1]
Effectiveness
The Goes Guard is effective in MMA because it solves the 'bottom position problem' that plagues guard players in MMA: traditional BJJ guards expose the bottom player to ground-and-pound, but the Goes Guard's DLR hook controls the opponent's base (preventing them from generating striking power) while maintaining the ability to sweep or stand at any moment. [1] The dual-purpose nature means the opponent faces a constant dilemma: they must defend the sweeps (which takes their attention from striking) while also preventing the stand-up (which takes their attention from passing). [1] In UFC competition, fighters with DLR-based bottom games (similar to the Goes Guard) have demonstrated the ability to maintain offensive threat from bottom position against high-level opponents. [1]
Lineage
De La Riva guard (traditional BJJ) → Roberto Goes' MMA adaptation → documented by BJ Penn in The Book of Knowledge (2007) → MMA-specific guard variant. [1]
Competition Record
The Goes Guard and its sweeps are used in MMA by fighters with BJJ guard backgrounds. DLR-based open guards (functionally similar to the Goes Guard) have been demonstrated in UFC competition by fighters including Tony Ferguson, Charles Oliveira, and BJ Penn himself. The dual-purpose guard concept (sweep or stand) has become standard methodology in MMA bottom-game coaching.
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — One leg hooks behind the opponent's knee (De La Riva-style hook) while the same-side hand controls the opponent's wrist or sleeve — the combination creates a connected system where leg and hand control the opponent's base on one side
Joints Involved — Bottom player's hooking leg: hip (flexion and abduction to position the hook behind the opponent's knee), knee (flexion to secure the hook), ankle (dorsiflexion to lock the hook in place); Bottom player's controlling hand: wrist grip or sleeve grip on the same side as the leg hook; Bottom player's other leg: foot on the opponent's hip or thigh (butterfly-style hook or flat-foot push) for distance control; Bottom player's other hand: posting on the mat for sit-up capability or gripping the opponent's collar/head for additional control
Force Vector — The hook pulls the opponent's knee inward (removing their base on the hooked side) while the hand grip prevents them from stepping out or disengaging — the combined pull-and-control creates the sweeping platform
Leverage Principle — The hook behind the knee creates a lever: by pulling the knee inward while pushing the opponent's upper body (via the hand grip or the other foot), the bottom player creates a rotational force around the hooked knee as a pivot point. The opponent is swept when the pulling force on the knee exceeds their ability to base with the hooked leg. The dual-purpose design means the bottom player can instantly convert the hooking leg into a standing-up leg by releasing the hook and driving to standing.
Position & Entry
From De La Riva guard — Establish the standard De La Riva hook (outside hook on the opponent's lead leg) → transition to the Goes Guard by adding the same-side wrist control and adjusting the open guard positioning
From failed closed guard — When the opponent stands up to pass the closed guard, establish the Goes Guard by hooking one leg behind their knee as they stand
From defensive guard (MMA) — When defending ground-and-pound from open guard, establish the Goes Guard hook as the opponent advances — the hook controls their base and creates sweeping opportunities
From the De La Riva sweep attempt — If a standard De La Riva sweep fails, transition to the Goes Guard configuration to access the Push Sweep and Switch Sweep
Variants
Standard Goes Guard — De La Riva hook with same-side wrist control
Goes Guard with collar grip — using the non-hooking hand to grip the opponent's collar for additional pulling power
Goes Guard with butterfly hook — adding a butterfly hook with the non-hooking leg for additional sweeping options
Standing Goes Guard — using the Goes Guard hooks while already in a seated-to-standing transition
Goes Guard to X-Guard — transitioning from the Goes hook to X-Guard hooks for deeper sweeping entries
Videos
ROGER GRACIE Explains the Best Closed Guard in BJJ
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Goes Guard·Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics
Roger Gracie's Incredible Closed Guard - In this Jiu-Jitsu training video, Roger Gracie demonstrates his closed guard. -…
38 Closed Guard BJJ Combinations Everyone Should Know in 4 Minutes - Jason Scully
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Goes Guard·The Grapplers Guide by Jason Scully
875+ BJJ Tech Demos - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/875+-bjj-technique-demos/id863770966?ls=1&mt=8 Just like any othe…
Easy to Use Entire Closed Guard System
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Goes Guard·JonThomasBJJ
This video I go through in my opinion the most simple and effective closed guard system you can use. Often in BJJ new s…
Jiu-Jitsu Submissions | Lots of Closed Guard Submissions
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Goes Guard·Knight Jiu-Jitsu
So much more at Patreon.com/KnightJiuJitsu Here are quite a lot of submissions from closed guard. These go from pretty …
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5 videosWhat Instructors Say
The goes guard (or low guard break) is a foundational closed-guard passing technique used by practitioners who remain kneeling rather than standing. Chewjitsu emphasizes three critical details: maintaining proper posture by keeping the hips back away from the opponent's belt line to avoid being swept (referencing the scissor-sweep principle), locking the arms in extension to flatten the opponent's body, and maintaining a wide base by stepping back before stepping in to avoid becoming vulnerable to flower sweeps or leg attacks. JonThomasBJJ approaches closed-guard control from the guard player's perspective, detailing how opponents typically break posture by either placing both hands on hips, one high and one low, or both hands high—each requiring different defensive responses. Roger Gracie (via Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics) adds strategic depth, emphasizing that maintaining the closed guard itself is primarily about controlling the opponent's posture and preventing them from standing; he stresses that a solid grip at the middle of the chest creates the strongest frame resistance, and that timing the sweep pull to the exact moment the opponent lifts their second leg off the floor maximizes effectiveness. Knight Jiu-Jitsu focuses on submissions rather than the guard break itself but reinforces that closed-guard control allows the guard player to attack from a position of advantage. All instructors agree that posture management—either maintaining it (as the passer) or breaking it (as the guard player)—is central to successful closed-guard exchanges.
Synthesized from 4 instructors
- Chewjitsu — If You Struggle Breaking Closed Guard as White Belt, Then Watch This Video: Detailed three mechanical principles for the low/kneeling guard break: the belt-line rule (avoiding leaning forward), locked-arm extension to flatten the opponent, and maintaining base width by stepping back before stepping in to avoid sweeps.
- JonThomasBJJ — Easy to Use Entire Closed Guard System: Analyzed closed-guard control from the guard player's perspective, cataloging how opponents frame with both hands low, one high/one low, or both high, and showing systematic responses to each postural position.
- Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics — ROGER GRACIE Explains the Best Closed Guard in BJJ: Emphasized the strategic importance of maintaining posture control via chest grip placement and timing sweep attempts to the precise moment the opponent lifts their second leg; framed closed guard as an asymmetrically advantageous position where the guard player attacks while the passer only defends.
- Knight Jiu-Jitsu — Jiu-Jitsu Submissions | Lots of Closed Guard Submissions: Demonstrated that successful closed-guard control enables multiple high-percentage submission sequences (chokes and arm locks) without requiring the guard player to open the guard, reinforcing the positional safety of maintaining closed guard.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
2
Low2/10
The Goes Guard is a control and sweeping position with no direct injury risk. Its value is in creating sweeping opportunities and maintaining the ability to stand.
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
✓The De La Riva hook is the foundation — master the standard DLR hook before adding the Goes Guard's MMA-specific hand positioning and sweep entries (Penn, Cordoza & Krauss, 2007). [1] The same-side wrist control is critical: controlling the opponent's wrist on the SAME side as the leg hook creates a connected system — if either the hook or the grip is missing, the guard's sweeping power is halved. [1] Drill the dual-purpose capability: from the Goes Guard, alternate between sweeping (Goes Push Sweep, Goes Switch Sweep) and standing up (releasing the hook to post and drive to feet). Both options must be available at all times — the opponent should not know whether the bottom player intends to sweep or stand. [1] In MMA sparring, use the Goes Guard when the opponent stands over you in open guard: establish the hook behind their knee, control the wrist, and immediately threaten the sweep — this forces the opponent to deal with the sweeping threat rather than delivering ground-and-pound. [1] Chain training: Goes Guard → Push Sweep → if defended → Switch Sweep → if defended → stand up → striking range. The three options (push sweep, switch sweep, stand-up) provide continuous offensive pressure from the bottom. [1]
Common Mistakes
!Hooking without wrist control — the DLR-style hook alone (without the same-side wrist control) allows the opponent to step out of the hook; the wrist grip prevents this step-out
!Staying flat on the back — the Goes Guard requires an ACTIVE, seated or angled hip position; lying flat on the back removes the ability to sweep or stand
!Committing fully to one option — the Goes Guard's tactical value is in its dual-purpose nature (sweep OR stand); committing 100% to the sweep means being unable to stand if the sweep fails
!Not controlling distance — the non-hooking leg must actively manage distance by pushing on the opponent's hip; without this distance control, the opponent can close distance for ground-and-pound
!Forgetting about strikes in MMA — the Goes Guard is an MMA technique; maintaining guard play without awareness of incoming strikes leads to getting hit while attempting sweeps
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Strip the hook — pushing the hooking leg off the knee removes the guard's foundationStep out — if the wrist grip is broken, stepping the hooked leg backward removes the hookPressure pass — driving forward into the guard with heavy hip pressure can collapse the open guard structureGround-and-pound through the guard — if the bottom player fails to maintain distance with the non-hooking leg, the top player can deliver strikes while standing over the guardDisengage upward — simply standing straight up and stepping back creates distance that the guard cannot maintain
Setup Chain
1Opponent stands over the bottom player in open guard → Bottom player hooks one leg behind the opponent's knee (DLR-style) → Same-side hand grips the opponent's wrist → Non-hooking leg posts on the opponent's hip for distance → Goes Guard established → Read the opponent's reaction: → If they push forward → Goes Push Sweep (push them backward over the hooked leg) → If they resist the push → Goes Switch Sweep (redirect the sweep to the opposite direction) → If neither sweep works → Release the hook, post, and stand up to striking range
Sources & References
Primary Source
Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge (Penn, Cordoza & Krauss, 2007)
1Book[1] Penn, B.J., Cordoza, G. and Krauss, E. (2007). Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge. Victory Belt Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9777315-6-5. Goes Guard section.pp. Penn 2007, Goes Guard section (pp. 157-159 approximately)
description: [1] Penn 2007 Goes Guard section
2OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
3Citation[1] Penn, B.J., Cordoza, G. and Krauss, E. (2007). Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge. Victory Belt Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9777315-6-5. Goes Guard section.pp. Penn 2007, Goes Guard section (pp. 157-159 approximately)
description: [1] Penn 2007 Goes Guard section
Community
Athletics
Good hip flexibility for the DLR-style hook
Grip strength for wrist/sleeve control
Active hip movement for the seated guard position
Ability to transition between sitting and standing rapidly
Standard MMA guard athleticism
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the biggest mistake white belts make when breaking closed guard?
Leaning forward is the most common error that prevents success. According to Chewjitsu, if you avoid leaning forward and stay mindful of your base, you'll be much more successful breaking the guard.
How should I move my base when stepping out of closed guard?
Never bring your feet together or narrow your base, as this makes you off-balance. Instead, take your knee back first and then step in, similar to how you'd push off your back leg when moving forward to maintain your stance.
Why is keeping the opponent's body flat important when breaking guard?
Once the opponent's body is flat, you can begin to push and create space between the legs. Lock their body in place with your arms before stepping out to maximize the effectiveness of the break.
As a beginner, which guard break should I focus on learning first?
Chewjitsu recommends the staggered hand grip guard break (lower guard break) as a good starting point for newer jiu-jitsu students, though a standing guard break is preferred against good guard players once you develop more skill.
Why is it harder to defend guard when the opponent stands up?
According to Roger Gracie, it's much easier to block guard-opening attempts when the opponent is kneeling down, since the legs are always stronger than the arms and you can reach their arm regardless of angle from that position.
How does the Goes Guard work?
The Goes Guard is a specific open guard configuration from MMA grappling where the bottom player hooks one leg behind the opponent's knee while controlling the same-side sleeve or wrist, creating a dynamic platform for sweeps, stand-ups, and transitions to the De La Riva guard. Named after Roberto Goes, a Brazilian competitor and BJ Penn training partner, the Goes Guard was developed specifically for MMA's unique ground-fighting environment where the bottom player must not only sweep but also be able to stand up quickly to avoid ground-and-pound.
Where does the Goes Guard come from?
The Goes Guard was developed by Roberto Goes, a Brazilian BJJ competitor and training partner of BJ Penn, specifically for MMA's ground-fighting environment where the bottom player must balance offensive guard play with defensive strike awareness and the ability to return to standing. BJ Penn documented the Goes Guard and its associated sweeps in Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge (2007) as part of his comprehensive MMA bottom-game system.
Is the Goes 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 Goes Guard?
Danger rating 2/10. The Goes Guard is a control and sweeping position with no direct injury risk. Its value is in creating sweeping opportunities and maintaining the ability to stand.
How do I set up the Goes Guard?
The standard setup chain: Opponent stands over the bottom player in open guard → Bottom player hooks one leg behind the opponent's knee (DLR-style) → Same-side hand grips the opponent's wrist → Non-hooking leg posts on the opponent's hip for distance → Goes Guard established → Read the opponent's reaction: → If they push forward → Goes Push Sweep (push them backward over the hooked leg) → If they resist the push → Goes Switch Sweep (redirect the sweep to the opposite direction) → If neither sweep works → Release the hook, post, and stand up to striking range.
How do I defend against the Goes Guard?
Standard counters include: Strip the hook — pushing the hooking leg off the knee removes the guard's foundation / Step out — if the wrist grip is broken, stepping the hooked leg backward removes the hook / Pressure pass — driving forward into the guard with heavy hip pressure can collapse the open guard structure / Ground-and-pound through the guard — if the bottom player fails to maintain distance with the non-hooking leg, the to….
What are the variants of the Goes Guard?
Common variants: Standard Goes Guard (De La Riva hook with same-side wrist control); Goes Guard with collar grip (using the non-hooking hand to grip the opponent's collar …); Goes Guard with butterfly hook (adding a butterfly hook with the non-hooking leg for addi…); Standing Goes Guard (using the Goes Guard hooks while already in a seated-to-s…); Goes Guard to X-Guard (transitioning from the Goes hook to X-Guard hooks for dee…).
How effective is the Goes Guard in competition?
The Goes Guard and its sweeps are used in MMA by fighters with BJJ guard backgrounds. DLR-based open guards (functionally similar to the Goes Guard) have been demonstrated in UFC competition by fighters including Tony Ferguson, Charles Oliveira, and BJ Penn himself.
What are common mistakes when doing the Goes Guard?
Top errors to watch for: Hooking without wrist control — the DLR-style hook alone (without the same-side wrist control) allows the opponent to… / Staying flat on the back — the Goes Guard requires an ACTIVE, seated or angled hip position; lying flat on the back r… / Committing fully to one option — the Goes Guard's tactical value is in its dual-purpose nature (sweep OR stand); comm… / Not controlling distance — the non-hooking leg must actively manage distance by pushing on the opponent's hip; withou….
What are other names for the Goes Guard?
The Goes Guard is also known as Goesu Gādo, Roberto Goes Guard, Goes Open Guard, Goes Hook Guard, Goes MMA Guard.