How to NEVER Get Stuck in the Closed Guard Again! | Jiu Jitsu Tutorial
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From Guard·Matt Arroyo Jiu Jitsu ·Added by Admin
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From Guard
Genusガードから(Gādo kara)
TransliterationTranslation: from guard
Overview
The ear pull from guard is a pain compliance technique where the attacker, while playing guard, grips the opponent's ear and pulls or twists to create pain and disrupt posture. [1],[2] From closed or open guard, the attacker reaches for the opponent's ear during close-range engagement and uses the pulling force to break the opponent's posture downward, creating openings for chokes, sweeps, or transitions. [1] The ear pull is primarily a disruptive technique rather than a finish — it forces the opponent to address the pain, momentarily stopping their passing attempts. [1],[2]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Guard submissions exploit the bottom position's hip mobility and leg control to attack with triangles, armlocks, and chokes. [1]
Lineage
Guard-based submissions are a defining feature of BJJ, refined from judo's ne-waza and greatly expanded by Brazilian practitioners. [1]
Competition Record
Guard submissions are the most common finishing position in BJJ competition at all levels. [1]
Images
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Compression of the neck structures — restricts blood flow or airway depending on technique application
Joints Involved — Cervical spine, surrounding musculature, and vascular structures of the neck
Force Vector — Directed compression against the neck from the choking limb or body position
Finishing Mechanic — Sustained pressure causes either vascular occlusion (unconsciousness) or tracheal restriction (breathing difficulty)
Position & Entry
From dominant position — Isolate the target limb, secure the controlling grip, and apply force beyond the joint's range of motion
From guard (bottom) — Control the limb from guard position, configure the submission grip, and apply the lock
From transition — During a scramble or positional change, catch the exposed limb and lock the submission
Variants
Standard variation — primary grip configuration and finishing angle
Gi variation — using the gi material for grip assistance and control
No-gi variation — adapted grips for submission grappling without the gi
Transition variation — applied during a positional change or scramble
Videos
Jiu-Jitsu Submissions | Lots of Closed Guard Submissions
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From 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 …
Elevated Basics: The Ultimate No-Gi Closed Guard Guide
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From Guard·IsakIvanovicjj
🔺 Welcome to IsakIvanovicjj - Your Gateway to BJJ Mastery! 🔺 📚 Today's Lesson: "Elevated Basics: The Ultimate No-Gi …
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
From guard, an ear pull represents a pressure-based control technique applied while the top player is positioned in the bottom player's closed guard. The instructors collectively emphasize that successful execution from this position requires establishing proper posture and grip control before attempting the technique. Matt Arroyo Jiu Jitsu stresses the foundational importance of postural integrity—keeping the head free and clear while maintaining an upright position—as a prerequisite for any closed guard opening or submission work. IsakIvanovicjj focuses on the systematic mechanics of maintaining closed guard structure, highlighting the use of legs and core strength to control the opponent's upper body and prevent posture recovery. Knight Jiu-Jitsu provides detailed submission sequences from closed guard, demonstrating how various collar and arm attacks progress linearly, with the ear pull emerging as one tactical option within a broader submission chain. While the transcripts do not explicitly isolate the ear pull as a standalone technique, they collectively indicate that its application depends on the defender abandoning proper posture or allowing the attacker to establish the grips necessary for applying pressure to the ear region. All three instructors agree that positional control and grip management precede any successful pressure technique from closed guard.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- Matt Arroyo Jiu Jitsu — How to NEVER Get Stuck in the Closed Guard Again! | Jiu Jitsu Tutorial: Established the critical importance of postural integrity (head free and clear) as the foundation for all guard work and submissions; demonstrated that posture collapse enables submission opportunities.
- IsakIvanovicjj — Elevated Basics: The Ultimate No-Gi Closed Guard Guide: Provided systematic analysis of closed guard structure, emphasizing leg and core engagement for control; detailed the battle for inside hand position and grip management as prerequisites for pressure techniques.
- Knight Jiu-Jitsu — Jiu-Jitsu Submissions | Lots of Closed Guard Submissions: Demonstrated multiple submission chains from closed guard including collar attacks, arm locks, and triangles; showed how sequential pressure techniques depend on opponent's postural breakdown and grip responses.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
2
Low2/10
Ear pull variant — pain compliance with minimal structural risk
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Beginner
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
— IJF — Not a recognized submission category in judo
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDFRestricted
— IBJJF — Varies — pressure-based controls may be legal but...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Varies by application
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFLegal
— ADCC — Legal
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Pain compliance from guard uses the bottom player's legs and arms to create pressure on the opponent's face, neck, and ribs — discouraging posture and creating openings for submissions and sweeps (Danaher, New Wave Jiu Jitsu, 2020)
✓The cross-face from guard pulls the opponent's head across their centre line using forearm pressure on the jaw — breaking their posture and opening choke and armbar opportunities
✓Rib compression from closed guard squeezes the opponent's torso with the legs — creating discomfort that forces them to address the squeeze rather than their passing game
✓The chin strap from guard pulls the opponent's chin to their chest — creating cervical flexion discomfort while setting up chokes and armbars
✓Guard-based pressure is a tool for controlling posture: the opponent cannot pass guard effectively when their head, ribs, and breathing are compromised
✓Elbow pressure from guard drives the point of the elbow into the opponent's thigh or ribs during guard recovery — creating space through pain
✓Bottom-player pressure is often underestimated: effective guard players use continuous low-level pressure to frustrate and exhaust the top player
Common Mistakes
!Relying on guard pressure instead of technique — pressure enhances guard work but doesn't replace sweeps, submissions, and retention
!Squeezing with the legs at full power constantly — constant maximum squeeze exhausts your legs; pulse the pressure for effect
!Using the cross-face without setting up a follow-up — the cross-face creates head movement; exploit it with a choke or transition
!Applying rib pressure without foot position — the feet must be hooked and positioned correctly for the leg squeeze to be effective
!Using pain compliance as a substitute for escaping bad positions — if you're in someone's guard, the goal is to pass, not to inflict pain
!Not combining pressure with submissions — guard pressure should flow directly into submission attempts
!Training guard pressure at maximum intensity — in practice, demonstrate the technique; partners don't benefit from being hurt
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Tuck Chin — protect the neck by lowering the chin to prevent the choke from sinkingTwo-on-One Grip Fight — use both hands to strip the choking grip before it locksTurn Into — rotate toward the choking arm to relieve carotid pressurePosture Up — straighten the spine and create distance to break the choking angle
Setup Chain
1Achieve Controlling Position — secure the position from which the choke is applied
2Isolate the Neck — clear defending hands and establish access to the throat
3Set the Grip — lock the choking configuration (arm, lapel, or leg placement)
4Apply Pressure — squeeze to compress the carotid arteries for the finish
Sources & References
Primary Source
Japanese traditional martial arts terminology
1OtherJapanese Martial Arts Community Terminology
Japanese traditional martial arts 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 traditional martial arts terminology
Japanese terminology sourced from Japanese traditional martial arts terminology
Community
Athletics
Requires
grip strength, joint isolation ability, positional control
Favours
strong forearms and stable base
Key muscles
forearm flexors, core stabilisers, hip muscles for base
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I get tired so quickly when stuck in someone's closed guard?
Matt Arroyo explains that struggling to open the guard forces you to perform repetitive push-ups and exhausts your energy bar, leaving you depleted for guard passes and submissions. Learning an efficient guard opening technique preserves your energy for more important offensive work.
What's the step-by-step process to open a closed guard without burning energy?
Matt Arroyo teaches four key steps: (1) Posture up with your head back and chest popped off, (2) Grab the wrist on the same side as the leg you'll lift and pin it to their body, (3) Turn your knee slightly into their hip—keeping your leg completely vertical, not bent, (4) Lock your elbow out completely and use your core to drive straight down like a bench press, which opens the guard regardless of their grip strength.
What's a quick way to make my opponent open their closed guard without effort?
Matt Arroyo reveals a 'ninja hack': simply stand up, and your opponent will almost always open their guard on their own (about 90% of the time) because they want to attempt a sweep or leg lock. Just be ready to defend those two techniques and keep your head clear to avoid arm bars.
In closed guard, what position should my hands be in to maintain control?
Isak Ivanovic explains that closed guard is a battle for inside position—you want your hands in the middle rather than on the floor so you can grab the head, use over hooks, and set up shoulder crunches. If your opponent gets their hands in your armpits, reach over and grab their four fingers to pull them back to the middle.
How do I set up the top lock position from closed guard?
Isak Ivanovic describes pulling the opponent's elbow to your belly button (keeping it inside your hip), then swapping to a head grip so they can't posture as you open your legs. Put your foot in their hip, shift out slightly, and lock your legs above their shoulder in the top lock—this gives you safe offensive options like armbars and Kimuras.
How does the From Guard work?
The ear pull from guard is a pain compliance technique where the attacker, while playing guard, grips the opponent's ear and pulls or twists to create pain and disrupt posture. From closed or open guard, the attacker reaches for the opponent's ear during close-range engagement and uses the pulling force to break the opponent's posture downward, creating openings for chokes, sweeps, or transitions.
Where does the From Guard come from?
Guard-based ear manipulation developed as a practical technique in self-defense oriented martial arts and was integrated into some BJJ and MMA training as a dirty technique for close-range disruption. It is prohibited in virtually all sport grappling competitions.
Is the From Guard legal in competition?
IBJJF: restricted — Varies — pressure-based controls may be legal but direct pain holds without s…; IJF: banned — Not a recognized submission category in judo; ADCC: legal — Legal; Unified MMA: legal — Legal; FIAS Sport Sambo: restricted — Varies by application; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the From Guard?
Danger rating 2/10. Ear pull variant — pain compliance with minimal structural risk
How do I set up the From Guard?
The standard setup chain: Achieve Controlling Position → Isolate the Neck → Set the Grip → Apply Pressure.
How do I defend against the From Guard?
Standard counters include: Tuck Chin — protect the neck by lowering the chin to prevent the choke from sinking / Two-on-One Grip Fight — use both hands to strip the choking grip before it locks / Turn Into — rotate toward the choking arm to relieve carotid pressure / Posture Up — straighten the spine and create distance to break the choking angle.
What are the variants of the From Guard?
Common variants: Standard variation (primary grip configuration and finishing angle); Gi variation (using the gi material for grip assistance and control); No-gi variation (adapted grips for submission grappling without the gi); Transition variation (applied during a positional change or scramble).
How effective is the From Guard in competition?
Guard submissions are the most common finishing position in BJJ competition at all levels.
What are common mistakes when doing the From Guard?
Top errors to watch for: Relying on guard pressure instead of technique — pressure enhances guard work but doesn't replace sweeps, submissions… / Squeezing with the legs at full power constantly — constant maximum squeeze exhausts your legs; pulse the pressure fo… / Using the cross-face without setting up a follow-up — the cross-face creates head movement; exploit it with a choke o… / Applying rib pressure without foot position — the feet must be hooked and positioned correctly for the leg squeeze to….
What are other names for the From Guard?
The From Guard is also known as Gādo kara, Guard Ear Pull, Guard Pressure Hold.