Close Guard
The practitioner wraps their legs around the opponent's torso, restricting movement and enabling posture-breaking techniques. This position is particularly effective in MMA due to its ability to prevent strikes while facilitating upper body submissions such as armbars and triangles, as well as sweeps that transition the bottom player to top position.
Half Guard
The practitioner wraps their legs around one of the opponent's thighs, limiting lateral movement and preventing complete leg passes. Effective half guard application relies heavily on the near-side underhook; without it, the position becomes primarily defensive. From half guard, practitioners can transition to close guard, execute underhook wrestling techniques, or perform sweeps such as the John Wayne.
Lockdown and Hook Guards
The lockdown variation of half guard involves crossing the legs and extending the opponent's leg outward using an instep placement, making leg extraction difficult and enabling the electric chair submission. The hook guard places the feet under the opponent's thighs, allowing the practitioner to lift and sweep with multiple techniques while maintaining versatility for leg attacks and off-balancing.
Single Leg X and Reverse Variations
Single leg X guard positions the practitioner between the opponent's legs with one foot on the hip and shin on the upper thigh, primarily designed for leg lock attacks including outside heel hooks, toe holds, and straight ankles. The reverse single leg X places the connection on the far leg instead, enabling trips when the opponent stands too high or leg scoops for sweeps when the opponent's hands contact the mat.
Rubber Guard and Williams Guard
Rubber guard requires significant flexibility and involves placing the shin over the opponent's back to break posture and restrict striking and escape options. Williams guard employs similar control principles to rubber guard but requires less flexibility, making it accessible to a broader range of practitioners while maintaining the capacity for triangle, armbar, and guillotine submissions.
Knee Shield and Half Butterfly Guard
Knee shield uses one leg hooked behind the opponent with the other knee placed in front to maintain distance while remaining offensive, making it effective for counter-heavy games with available triangle and underhook wrestling options. Half butterfly guard modifies knee shield by placing the top foot between the opponent's legs rather than outside, enabling butterfly sweeps and allowing the practitioner to transition proactively to butterfly guard.
Octopus and De La Riva Guards
Octopus guard, popularized by Craig Jones, involves reaching around the opponent's back from behind to facilitate back takes, though the symmetrical nature of the position creates mutual vulnerability to back control. De La Riva guard wraps one leg around the opponent while gripping the ankle, enabling the tripod sweep, the advanced berimbolo back take, and superior space disruption that forces the opponent onto their back foot.
Reverse De La Riva and Crab Ride
Reverse De La Riva wraps the leg around the inside rather than outside, facilitating the tripod sweep and its signature inversion for back takes or leg lock attacks while leveraging the opponent's momentum defensively. Crab ride positions the practitioner behind the opponent with both hooks between the legs—distinct from butterfly guard—allowing direct back takes or base sweeps to reach back control.
50/50 and Saddle Positions
50/50 guard locks both legs around the opponent's hip to trap their legs, enabling leg lock and sweep attacks, though its symmetrical structure means the opponent can achieve identical offensive positions if they secure the entanglement. Saddle position, also called inside senkaku, provides safer leg lock opportunities including the inside heel hook—considered the strongest leg lock—with significantly less counter risk than 50/50, and permits transition to the outside heel hook.
Specialty Positions: K-Guard and Seated Variations
K-guard, favored by flexible practitioners, employs an instep attachment to the hip combined with an underhook of the opponent's leg to create triangle, armbar, and leg lock opportunities depending on opponent pressure direction. Seated guard and its shin-on-shin variation are sport jujitsu positions that enable attacks from bottom position including takedowns and leg locks, with shin-on-shin providing direct leg lock connectivity. Inverted guard represents an unconventional extreme position where the practitioner lies with legs above the head, creating triangles and leg locks while the unusual posture and knee positioning make passing difficult.
Every Jiu Jitsu Guard Explained in 8 Minutes
Key Takeaways
- •Close Guard
- •Half Guard
- •Lockdown and Hook Guards
- •Single Leg X and Reverse Variations
Every Jiu Jitsu Guard Explained in 8 minutes! XMartial: https://www.xmartial.com/?ref=joshrich Code:JOSHRICH 0:00 Closed Guard 0:22 Half Guard 0:46 Lock Down 0:59 Butterfly Guard 1:16 Single Leg X 1:32 X Guard 1:47 Rubber Guard 2:03 William's Guard 2:09 Knee Shield 2:34 Half Butterfly Guard 2:48 Octopus Guard 3:02 De La Riva 3:25 Reverse De La Riva 3:45 Crab Ride 4:01 50/50 4:25 Saddle 4:41 K Guard 5:00 Seated 5:14 Shin On Shin 6:06 Inverted Guard 6:39 Reverse Closed Guard 6:53 Reverse X 7:02 Outside Ashi 7:21 Deep Half Guard 7:35 Quarter Guard
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this video teach about position?
This video covers close guard, half guard, lockdown and hook guards. It provides detailed instruction from JoshRichBJJ.
How long does it take to learn position?
The basic mechanics can be understood in a single session, but developing reliable execution requires consistent drilling over weeks of practice. This 10-part breakdown helps structure your training by isolating each phase of the technique.
What are the key details for finishing position?
50/50 guard locks both legs around the opponent's hip to trap their legs, enabling leg lock and sweep attacks, though its symmetrical structure means the opponent can achieve identical offensive positions if they secure the entanglement. Saddle position, also called inside senkaku, provides safer leg lock opportunities including the inside heel hook—considered the strongest leg lock—with significantly less counter risk than 50/50, and permits transition to the outside heel hook.
