Open Guard
Open guard is any bottom position where your legs are not locked around the opponent. You control them with your feet, shins, and grips at range. It is the umbrella over De La Riva, butterfly, X-guard, spider, and most of modern guard play.
Browse Open Guard flowcharts in ExploreA family, not a single guard
Open guard is less one position than a category. Each variation, from De La Riva to single-leg X to spider and lasso, controls a different limb at a different range, but they share one job: off-balance the passer and attack before they can pin your hips. Learning to transition between them is more useful than mastering any one in isolation.
Connection and recovery
The recurring battle in open guard is your feet and grips against the passer's posture and pressure. When one variation is beaten you flow to the next, which is why guard retention and the links between guards matter more than memorizing isolated sweeps.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between open and closed guard?
In closed guard your ankles are locked behind the opponent; in open guard they are not. Open guard trades the security of the lock for the range and angles you need to attack a standing or posture-heavy passer.
Which open guard should a beginner learn first?
Butterfly and De La Riva are common starting points because they teach the core skills of hooking, off-balancing, and changing angle. The other open guards are variations on the same ideas.
Why do I keep getting passed in open guard?
Usually because the passer beats your grips and reaches your hips before you off-balance them. Prioritize foot and grip connection, keep your hips mobile, and start attacking earlier rather than holding a static position.
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