Modern Guard

The modern guard game as a network of interconnected positions & transitions

Flow outline

  1. Open Guard

    • From here, usually the foundational hub of modern guard play. is your creative canvas, where distance management and dynamic leg entanglements begin. from here, you launch into a spectrum of specialized guards based on your opponent's posture and pressure. timing beats strength

  2. De La Riva

    • A cornerstone of the modern distance game. guard uses a hook behind the opponent's leg to disrupt their base, creating angles for sweeps, back takes, and submissions. It's your gateway to off-balancing and rotational attacks. Timing beats strength

  3. Worm Guard

    • Usually The lapel wizard's domain. advanced guard wraps the opponent's lapel around their leg, creating a powerful control that limits their mobility and opens pathways to sweeps, back takes, and submissions directly from the grip

  4. X Guard

    • The elevation engine. guard positions your legs in an 'X' configuration under the opponent, lifting them off the mat to neutralize their base. It's a powerful platform for high-amplitude sweeps and transitions to dominant top positions. Angle matters

  5. Y Guard

    • Often A dynamic leg entanglement that combines elements of X Guard and Single Leg X. It focuses on controlling the opponent's far leg while attacking the near leg, creating opportunities for sweeps and leg locks

  6. Squid Guard

    • Once set, often a modern, pressure-based guard that uses deep lapel wraps and leg hooks to smother the opponent's posture. it creates a web of control that is difficult to pass and sets up sweeps and submissions from a dominant angle. timing beats strength

  7. K Guard

    • Most of the time An innovative entry point into the leg lock game. guard uses a knee shield and a deep heel hook grip to control the opponent's leg, creating immediate threats and pathways to advanced leg entanglements

  8. Spider Guard

    • Once set, usually the classic control guard reimagined. using sleeve and collar grips with foot-on-biceps pressure, guard creates immense frames to manage distance, break posture, and set up a variety of sweeps and submissions. don’t force it

  9. Butterfly Guard

    • If they frame, most of the time the hub for explosive elevation and underhook dynamics. guard uses butterfly hooks to lift and disrupt the opponent's base, enabling powerful sweeps, back takes, and seamless transitions to other guards or attacks

  10. Shin Ride

    • Most of the time A transitional control position often used to counter standing passes. It involves riding the opponent's shin with your own, using it as a lever to off-balance them and create openings to regain full guard or attack. Don’t force it

  11. Reverse De La Riva

    • Most of the time The inverted counterpart to DLR. guard is used when the opponent is kneeling or applying heavy forward pressure. It allows for off-balancing towards the back and creates entries to leg locks and back takes. Don’t force it

  12. Back

    • Most of the time The ultimate dominant position. Securing the back with hooks and upper body control offers the highest percentage path to submission finishes, primarily the rear naked choke. It's the pinnacle of positional hierarchy

  13. Side Control

    • A fundamental pinning position that offers immense pressure and control. From here, you can stabilize to drain the opponent's energy or transition to a myriad of submissions, including kimuras, americanas, and north-south chokes

  14. Mount

    • Key detail: often the throne of top control. achieving mount places you in a dominant position with high mobility and numerous submission options, including armbars, triangles, and collar chokes. it represents a major shift in the positional battle. angle matters

  15. Mount

    • The throne of top control. Achieving mount places you in a dominant position with high mobility and numerous submission options, including armbars, triangles, and collar chokes. It represents a major shift in the positional battle

Branch conditions