How To Attack Anyone From Seated Guard - Delete Stallers
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From Seated : Guard·Josh Saunders
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From Seated : Guard
Species座位・ガードから(Zai / Gādo kara)
HybridTranslation: from seated/guard
Overview
The chin-down wrist lock from seated guard uses a sharp downward flexion of the opponent's wrist while controlling the forearm from guard position. [1] The attacker traps the opponent's hand and drives the wrist into extreme flexion using body weight and guard mechanics, targeting the carpal and radiocarpal ligaments. [1],[2]
History & Origin
The chin-down wrist lock from guard applies downward flexion pressure on the opponent's wrist by pushing the hand toward the inner forearm. Wrist locks (kote-gaeshi and related techniques) appear in classical Japanese jujutsu and were included in Kodokan judo's katame-waza, though they were later restricted in judo competition rules. [1] In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, wrist locks from guard gained prominence through practitioners who exploited opponents' gripping habits during guard passing. [2] Cunningham documents the chin-down variation as a small-joint lock that capitalises on the natural weakness of the wrist in flexion, noting that the guard position provides the attacker with two free hands to isolate and manipulate the opponent's wrist while their hands are occupied with grips. [3]
Effectiveness
Seated guard submissions exploit the seated position's hip mobility to attack with guillotines, arm drags to back takes, and leg entanglements. [1]
Lineage
Seated guard submissions were refined in modern BJJ competition, particularly in no-gi formats where seated guard became a primary playing position. [1]
Competition Record
Seated guard attacks are a standard part of modern no-gi competition, used extensively at ADCC and no-gi IBJJF events. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Forced flexion, extension, or rotation of the wrist beyond its normal range of motion
Joints Involved — Radiocarpal joint (wrist), intercarpal joints, distal radioulnar joint
Force Vector — Two-point control — one hand stabilises the forearm while the other drives the wrist into flexion, extension, or deviation
Vulnerability — Small joint with limited muscular protection makes it susceptible to sudden, low-force submissions
Position & Entry
From any grip exchange — During grip fighting, isolate the opponent's wrist with two-on-one control and apply sudden flexion or rotation
From guard (gi) — When opponent posts a hand on the mat or chest, trap the wrist and apply downward pressure for the wrist lock
From mount or side control — Opponent posts to escape, trap the wrist against the mat and apply the lock
Variants
Standard wrist lock (kote gaeshi) — two-handed rotational lock on the wrist
Gooseneck wrist lock — flexion lock bending the wrist down toward the forearm
Standing wrist lock — applied during grip fighting or a standing exchange
Ground wrist lock — catching the opponent's posted hand from mount, side control, or guard
Videos
BJJ No Gi Kimura from Sit up Guard Tutorial
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From Seated : Guard·Stuart Tomlinson
Jimmy Hey, Head Coach of Apex MMA in Great Harwood is here filmed by the Warrior Collective giving a step by step tutori…
How to play seated open guard (BJJ Analysis)
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From Seated : Guard·Less Impressed More Involved BJJ
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
From seated guard, practitioners employ integrated systems combining upper-body grip control, leg positioning, and positional transitions to neutralize aggressive guard passers. Josh Saunders (Delete Stallers) emphasizes gaining initial contact through two-on-one grip upgrades when opponents pull away, then transitioning to shin guard with deep wrist control and secondary leg engagement, progressing into reaping sequences or ex-guard depending on opponent resistance. Stuart Tomlinson (Apex MMA) teaches a disguised Kimura setup from sit-up guard that keeps submission intentions hidden until the final moment, utilizing hip elevation and controlled tricep trapping before rolling back and applying wrist pressure. Less Impressed More Involved provides systematic risk management through foot positioning and hip control: maintaining both feet on the outside when possible to preserve hip switching ability, using one-hip-loaded posture with grip-fighting to control opponent hand placement, and orchestrating movement to predictably force the passer into specific leg attacks like inside-reach single-leg takedowns. All three instructors agree on the critical importance of hip elevation and control—whether through riniashi mechanics (Saunders), guard stability (Tomlinson), or preventing pinned-hip positions like reverse de la riva or headquarters (Less Impressed). They diverge slightly on entry methodology: Saunders prioritizes aggressive leg wrapping from initial contact, Tomlinson emphasizes disguised arm-trapping submissions, and Less Impressed focuses on preventative positional design and hand-fighting hierarchies. Each approach shares the principle that maintaining superior connection and weight distribution over the opponent determines control and submission access.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- Josh Saunders — How To Attack Anyone From Seated Guard - Delete Stallers: Detailed two-on-one grip mechanics for gaining contact against retreating opponents; shin guard entry with elbow-inside positioning; reaping sequences with hip elevation and secondary leg control; ex-guard transitions and rear-body-lock takedowns; emphasis on keeping opponent weight distributed toward hands and head.
- Stuart Tomlinson (Apex MMA) — BJJ No Gi Kimura from Sit up Guard Tutorial: Disguised Kimura submission from sit-up guard position; tricep control and hand trapping mechanics; importance of hip elevation to neutralize escape attempts and maintain guard integrity; alternative options including hip bump sweep and guillotine chains.
- Less Impressed More Involved BJJ — How to play seated open guard (BJJ Analysis): Risk-management framework for seated open guard design to ensure failure modes lead to de la riva (feet outside) rather than headquarters (feet inside); one-hip-loaded posture with grip-fighting using primary hand to control opponent's same-side hand; movement mechanics to force predictable passer responses; inside-reach single-leg wrestling patterns with head-inside positioning; foot-on-mat sequencing to control leg entry timing.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
5
High5/10
Wrist lock variant targeting carpal and radioulnar joints through forced deviation or torsion
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
— kansetsu-waza
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDFLegal
— IBJJF — Legal at all belt levels
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— ADCC — Legal — all submissions legal in ADCC
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal submission technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Submissions from seated or guard position attack the opponent from the bottom — using the legs and guard to control while the arms apply locks (Danaher, New Wave Jiu Jitsu, 2020)
✓The seated guard provides a unique submission angle: the bottom player can attack the wrist, arm, or shoulder of the top player who is trying to pass
✓Guard-based wrist locks target the hands that the top player posts on the mat or on the bottom player's body — these posted hands are vulnerable to immediate locks
✓The closed guard provides the best wrist lock platform: the legs prevent the opponent from posturing away while the hands attack the wrist
✓Seated guard wrist locks appear during sweeping attempts: the hand control for a sweep naturally exposes the wrist for a lock
✓The transition between sweep, submission, and wrist lock is seamless from guard: failing one opens the others
✓Guard wrist locks are legal from blue belt in IBJJF — they are among the first surprise submissions available to advancing competitors
Common Mistakes
!Sacrificing guard position for the wrist lock — maintain guard integrity while attacking the wrist; losing guard for a failed wrist lock is a poor trade
!Not using the legs to prevent posture — the guard must restrict the opponent's ability to retract the arm
!Attempting against retracted hands — the opponent's hands must be committed (pushing, posting, gripping) for the wrist lock to work
!Not integrating wrist locks with the guard game — wrist locks should complement sweeps, armbars, and triangles, not exist in isolation
!Signalling the attack — don't telegraph by staring at or reaching for the hand; maintain normal guard grips until the moment of attack
!Using wrist locks as the sole guard strategy — they are supplementary; build them into a complete guard system
!Releasing after a failed attempt without transitioning — the hand control from a failed wrist lock should feed directly into a sweep or armbar
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Establish Position — achieve the controlling position needed for this submission
2Create the Threat — begin the submission setup to force a defensive reaction
3Secure the Hold — lock the submission grip with proper body mechanics
4Finish — apply increasing pressure until the opponent taps or the joint/choke takes effect
Sources & References
Primary Source
Japanese BJJ community standard katakana transliteration
1OtherJapanese Martial Arts Community Terminology
Japanese BJJ community standard katakana transliteration
2OtherJapanese Martial Arts Hybrid Terminology
Mixed Japanese-Western terminology — combines traditional Japanese terms with katakana loanwords
3CitationJapanese BJJ community standard katakana transliteration
Japanese terminology sourced from Japanese BJJ community standard katakana transliteration
Community
Athletics
Requires
fine motor control, grip sensitivity, quick hand transitions
Favours
dexterous hands with strong fingers
Key muscles
forearm flexors and extensors, intrinsic hand muscles
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I prevent my opponent from pushing me away and stalling in seated guard?
Josh Saunders emphasizes using your opponent's momentum against them, especially when they keep moving back. Keep your elbows and knees together to anchor your entire body, so if your opponent tries to pull away, they pull you with them instead of creating distance.
What's the correct elbow position when playing shin guard to prevent underhooks and knee cuts?
According to Josh Saunders, you should get a full grip wrist-deep in the back of the knee and tuck your elbow on the inside of your own leg. This prevents your opponent from easily punching an underhook and limits the space they have to execute a knee cut.
How do I keep control of my opponent's weight in ex-guard?
Josh Saunders stresses keeping good tension in your hooks and constantly driving your opponent's weight forward toward their hands and head. If you don't maintain this weight distribution, your opponent can put weight into their feet and use a C-post to pass your guard.
Why is hip elevation important when finishing a kimura from sit-up guard?
Stuart Tomlinson explains that elevating your hips off the floor prevents your opponent from pushing your leg down and starting a guard pass. Keeping your hips elevated neutralizes escape attempts and makes the submission finish much stronger.
How does the From Seated : Guard work?
The chin-down wrist lock from seated guard uses a sharp downward flexion of the opponent's wrist while controlling the forearm from guard position. The attacker traps the opponent's hand and drives the wrist into extreme flexion using body weight and guard mechanics, targeting the carpal and radiocarpal ligaments.
Where does the From Seated : Guard come from?
The chin-down wrist lock from guard applies downward flexion pressure on the opponent's wrist by pushing the hand toward the inner forearm. Wrist locks (kote-gaeshi and related techniques) appear in classical Japanese jujutsu and were included in Kodokan judo's katame-waza, though they were later restricted in judo competition rules.
Is the From Seated : Guard legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal — Legal at all belt levels; IJF: banned — Only elbow joint locks (kansetsu-waza) permitted in judo — all other joint lo…; ADCC: legal — Legal — all submissions legal in ADCC; Unified MMA: legal — Legal submission technique; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the From Seated : Guard?
Danger rating 5/10. Wrist lock variant targeting carpal and radioulnar joints through forced deviation or torsion
How do I set up the From Seated : Guard?
The standard setup chain: Establish Position → Create the Threat → Secure the Hold → Finish.
How do I defend against the From Seated : Guard?
Standard counters include: Early Recognition — identify the submission attempt early and begin defence immediately / Posture and Base — maintain strong posture and base to prevent submission setups / Grip Fight — deny the attacker their preferred gripping configuration.
What are the variants of the From Seated : Guard?
Common variants: Standard wrist lock (kote gaeshi) (two-handed rotational lock on the wrist); Gooseneck wrist lock (flexion lock bending the wrist down toward the forearm); Standing wrist lock (applied during grip fighting or a standing exchange); Ground wrist lock (catching the opponent's posted hand from mount, side cont…).
How effective is the From Seated : Guard in competition?
Seated guard attacks are a standard part of modern no-gi competition, used extensively at ADCC and no-gi IBJJF events.
What are common mistakes when doing the From Seated : Guard?
Top errors to watch for: Sacrificing guard position for the wrist lock — maintain guard integrity while attacking the wrist; losing guard for … / Not using the legs to prevent posture — the guard must restrict the opponent's ability to retract the arm / Attempting against retracted hands — the opponent's hands must be committed (pushing, posting, gripping) for the wris… / Not integrating wrist locks with the guard game — wrist locks should complement sweeps, armbars, and triangles, not e….
What are other names for the From Seated : Guard?
The From Seated : Guard is also known as Zai / Gādo kara, Guard Chin-Down Wrist Lock, Seated Chin-Down Lock.