Jiu-Jitsu Submissions | Lots of Closed Guard Submissions
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From Closed 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 …
From Closed Guard
Genusクローズドガードから(Kurōzudo Gādo kara)
TransliterationTranslation: from closed guard
Overview
The radial deviation wrist lock from closed guard applies sideways wrist pressure toward the thumb side while the attacker maintains closed guard control. [1],[2] The attacker isolates the opponent's posting hand from inside closed guard, controls the wrist, and applies radial deviation — pushing the hand toward the thumb — while the guard prevents the opponent from posturing away. [1] This is an opportunistic attack when the opponent posts a hand inside the guard for balance, exposing the wrist to manipulation. [1] Closed guard provides the control needed to finish. [1],[2]
History & Origin
Wrist locks from closed guard have been part of BJJ's arsenal since the art's early development, though they were often considered lower-priority techniques compared to chokes and armlocks. [1],[2] The radial deviation variant is one of several guard-based wrist attacks that gained recognition as wrist lock systems became more refined in modern competition. [1]
Effectiveness
The closed guard is one of the most prolific submission-generating positions in BJJ, offering triangles, armbars, cross-collar chokes, and omoplatas. [1]
Lineage
Closed guard submissions were central to the Gracie family's BJJ system and remain fundamental to the art. [1]
Competition Record
Closed guard submissions (triangles, armbars, collar chokes) are among the most commonly completed submissions in IBJJF competition. [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
Elevated Basics: The Ultimate No-Gi Closed Guard Guide
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From Closed Guard·IsakIvanovicjj
🔺 Welcome to IsakIvanovicjj - Your Gateway to BJJ Mastery! 🔺 📚 Today's Lesson: "Elevated Basics: The Ultimate No-Gi …
How to Create Angles in Closed Guard Like Gordon Ryan
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From Closed Guard·Gordon Ryan
Hi everyone, my name is Gordon Ryan. This is a look into my life. If you enjoy it, watch it. If you hate it, watch it. I…
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
From closed guard, wrist-lock radial-deviation attacks emerge as part of a broader submission taxonomy rather than as isolated techniques in these instructional sources. IsakIvanovicjj emphasizes that closed guard provides exceptional control and safety for the superior grappler, with wrist manipulation serving as a foundational grip-fighting tool to establish hand-position dominance before transitioning to higher-percentage submissions. Specifically, IsakIvanovicjj demonstrates peeling the wrist with fingers to expose it for grip control, which precedes the Kimura (a shoulder lock relying on wrist and elbow positioning). Knight Jiu-Jitsu's approach similarly incorporates wrist control as part of sequential submission chains—once the opponent's posture is broken or the guard player gains superior positioning, wrist grips facilitate transitions between collar chokes, armbars, triangles, and shoulder locks. Both instructors treat wrist manipulation as a positional entry point rather than a primary finish, using finger-peeling and wrist-grabbing techniques to set up more kinetically dominant submissions. The radial-deviation pressure (inward wrist rotation) appears implicit in their finishing mechanics for Kimura and shoulder locks rather than as an independent attack. Gordon Ryan's transcript provides no substantive technical content. Agreement centers on wrist control as a prerequisite for establishing grips that enable transitions; difference lies in IsakIvanovicjj's explicit focus on the Kimura finish versus Knight Jiu-Jitsu's broader submission-chaining methodology.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- IsakIvanovicjj — Elevated Basics: The Ultimate No-Gi Closed Guard Guide: Demonstrates finger-peeling of the wrist from the top-lock position to expose the wrist for Kimura grip, emphasizing elbow-to-sternum control and the shoulder-lock mechanics that involve radial-deviation pressure
- Knight Jiu-Jitsu — Jiu-Jitsu Submissions | Lots of Closed Guard Submissions: Integrates wrist control into linear submission chains from closed guard, including grabbing the wrist to secure armbars, figure-four wrist locks, and transitions to omoplata and shoulder locks
- Gordon Ryan — How to Create Angles in Closed Guard Like Gordon Ryan: Transcript contains no substantive technical instruction
Learn This Technique
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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
✓Wrist locks from closed guard attack the opponent's hands when they post, push, or grip from inside the guard — the guard position provides the control needed to isolate and attack the wrist (Danaher, New Wave Jiu Jitsu, 2020)
✓The most common closed guard wrist lock: the opponent pushes on the hip or chest with a flat hand, and the guard player captures the hand with both hands for an extension lock
✓Closed guard wrist locks are surprise attacks: the opponent focused on guard passing suddenly faces a submission on a joint they weren't protecting
✓The guard player's leg control prevents the opponent from posturing away — this is crucial because wrist lock defence typically involves retracting the arm, which requires posture
✓Wrist locks from guard complement other guard submissions: the opponent defending the wrist lock often exposes the arm for an armbar or opens the neck for a triangle
✓Gi vs no-gi: in gi, the sleeve provides additional hand control; in no-gi, the attacker must capture the hand directly — both work but with different grips
✓Timing is critical: capture the hand when the opponent commits their weight through it; uncommitted hands retract easily
Common Mistakes
!Attempting without breaking the opponent's posture — if they're fully postured, they can retract the hand; use the legs to pull them forward first
!Opening the guard to pursue the wrist lock — maintain closed guard for control; opening the guard sacrifices the position
!Not transitioning when the wrist lock fails — use the hand control to set up armbars, triangles, and sweeps
!Attempting against a fisted hand — wait for the hand to open (which it must do to push or post); a fist is too strong for the wrist lock
!Using only one hand — wrist locks from guard should use two-on-one control; a single hand is insufficient
!Signalling the attack — don't look at the hand or adjust your grip obviously; the element of surprise is the wrist lock's primary advantage
!Holding a failed wrist lock — if the opponent retracts the hand, immediately transition to another attack
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 martial arts anatomical terminology
1OtherJapanese Martial Arts Community Terminology
Japanese martial arts anatomical terminology
2OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
3CitationJapanese martial arts anatomical terminology
Japanese terminology sourced from Japanese martial arts anatomical terminology
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
Why is closed guard compared to mount position?
Closed guard is essentially mount upside down, making it a very safe position to play in jiu-jitsu (IsakIvanovicjj).
Should I use my hands or legs to control someone in closed guard?
Use your knees and legs to pull someone in rather than relying on hand strength—your legs and core are much stronger and make closed guard truly effective (IsakIvanovicjj).
Why is controlling hand position so important in closed guard?
Closed guard is a battle for inside position; when you have your hands in the middle, you can grab the head, go for overhooks, or attack with shoulder crunches, whereas your opponent will try to get his hands in your armpits to stand up (IsakIvanovicjj).
How do I prevent my opponent from standing up in closed guard?
Keep your guard closed and your opponent's elbow pulled tight to your centerline; pulling the elbow inside your hip allows you to climb your legs high and control them with a top lock position (IsakIvanovicjj).
What submissions are available from the top lock position?
From the top lock, you have multiple offensive options including armbars, triangles, and Kimora attacks; this position is very safe while offering strong finishing opportunities (IsakIvanovicjj).
What's an effective way to set up submissions when my opponent has good posture in closed guard?
If your opponent has strong posture with good hand position, look for collar grabs deep inside the back of the collar, then progress to cross chokes, armlocks, and triangles in a linear fashion (Knight Jiu-Jitsu).
How does the From Closed Guard work?
The radial deviation wrist lock from closed guard applies sideways wrist pressure toward the thumb side while the attacker maintains closed guard control. The attacker isolates the opponent's posting hand from inside closed guard, controls the wrist, and applies radial deviation — pushing the hand toward the thumb — while the guard prevents the opponent from posturing away.
Where does the From Closed Guard come from?
Wrist locks from closed guard have been part of BJJ's arsenal since the art's early development, though they were often considered lower-priority techniques compared to chokes and armlocks. The radial deviation variant is one of several guard-based wrist attacks that gained recognition as wrist lock systems became more refined in modern competition.
Is the From Closed 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 Closed 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 Closed Guard?
The standard setup chain: Establish Position → Create the Threat → Secure the Hold → Finish.
How do I defend against the From Closed 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 Closed 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 Closed Guard in competition?
Closed guard submissions (triangles, armbars, collar chokes) are among the most commonly completed submissions in IBJJF competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the From Closed Guard?
Top errors to watch for: Attempting without breaking the opponent's posture — if they're fully postured, they can retract the hand; use the le… / Opening the guard to pursue the wrist lock — maintain closed guard for control; opening the guard sacrifices the posi… / Not transitioning when the wrist lock fails — use the hand control to set up armbars, triangles, and sweeps / Attempting against a fisted hand — wait for the hand to open (which it must do to push or post); a fist is too strong….
What are other names for the From Closed Guard?
The From Closed Guard is also known as Kurōzudo Gādo kara, Closed Guard Lock, Fechada Guard Submission.