Guard
Guard
Core BJJ bottom ground position where a practitioner controls the opponent using their legs.
Quick Facts
CategoryConcept / Principle
Pronunciation/[gahrd]/
Alternative NamesBottom ground position, Closed guard, Open guard
Definition
The Guard revolutionized ground fighting in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. By placing legs around the opponent's torso (Closed Guard) or controlling distance with feet on hips (Open Guard), the bottom fighter neutralizes top weight and sets up sweeps or submissions.
Related Terms
Mount / Full MountMount
Highly dominant top ground position where a fighter straddles the opponent's torso.
Sweep / ReversalSweepTechnique executed from the bottom Guard to reverse position and land on top.
Submission / TapoutSubmissionMatch-ending choke or joint lock forcing the opponent to signal defeat by tapping.
Guard PassGuard PassBJJ tactical sequence where the top fighter bypasses the opponent's legs to establish side control.