Octopus Guard

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The octopus guard is a bottom position where you sit up beside the top player and reach an arm over their back instead of keeping them in front of you. From there, the passer's forward pressure feeds you toward their back rather than flattening you. Eduardo Telles popularized it, and Craig Jones rebuilt it for modern no-gi as Octopus Guard 2.0.

Why it works

Most guards fight to keep the passer square in front of you. The octopus guard gives up that fight: you come up to the passer's side, wrap an arm over the back, and stay attached. Each thing they do to escape, flattening you, squaring up, or circling away, opens the back or a sweep, so it is learned as a set of reactions rather than a position to hold.

Getting there

The usual ways in are from half guard when the top player's head drops low, from losing the underhook battle, or from turtle when you can sit out to their side. Once the arm is over the back, the main branches are taking the back, sweeping to come up on top, and re-guarding when the passer backs out.

From half guard
When the top player's head drops low and they crossface, sit up to their side instead of fighting the underhook.
From turtle
When they sprawl on you, sit out to their hip and reach over the back.

Octopus Guard 2.0: attach, tilt, redirect

Craig Jones' Octopus Guard 2.0 frames the position as three steps and a decision tree. Attach: a deep reverse underhook over the passer's back. Tilt: bridge your hips to load their weight onto one side. Redirect: follow what they do with their base, their hips, and their direction to the back, the legs, or the top.

Open the free Octopus Guard 2.0 flowchart, with clips for each technique →

Community flows for Octopus Guard

Frequently asked questions

What is the octopus guard in BJJ?

A bottom position where you sit up beside your opponent and wrap an arm over their back instead of keeping them in front of you. It turns their passing pressure into back takes and sweeps.

Who created the octopus guard?

Eduardo Telles is credited with popularizing it. Craig Jones later rebuilt it for no-gi in his Octopus Guard 2.0 instructional.

Does the octopus guard work in no-gi?

Yes. It depends on an arm over the back and body position rather than gi grips, so it works with or without the gi, and Octopus Guard 2.0 is built around no-gi.

Is there a free Octopus Guard 2.0 flowchart?

Yes. The Grapple Flows Octopus Guard 2.0 study map lays out the attach, tilt, and redirect branches as a flowchart you can open free, with each technique linked to where it is taught. You still need the instructional for the full teaching.

What is the difference between the octopus guard and half guard?

In half guard you stay under the passer and trap a leg. In the octopus guard you come up beside them with an arm over the back, so their forward pressure helps you to the back instead of flattening you.

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Related positions

From the blog

Map your own Octopus Guard game

Turn your notes, videos, and rolls into a visual flowchart of techniques, transitions, and reactions you can study and share. Free to start, no account needed.

Build a flowchart Or start from a free printable BJJ flowchart