Guard
Guarda
A Brazilian jiu-jitsu position in which the practitioner lies on their back and controls the opponent with the legs. From guard they attack with joint locks, chokes and sweeps.
Quick Facts
Definition
Guard (Portuguese guarda) is a position in Brazilian jiu-jitsu in which the bottom fighter lies or sits with their legs between themselves and the opponent. In closed guard, the legs are crossed behind the opponent's back. In open guard, the opponent is controlled with the feet, knees and grips. In half guard, only one of the opponent's legs is held. Guard is an attacking position in BJJ. From it the bottom fighter can sweep the opponent, apply a joint lock or a choke. The top fighter tries to pass the guard (guard pass). There are many kinds of guard, with names of their own, for example De La Riva or butterfly.
Relations to other terms
See also
Rolling the opponent over from the bottom position in guard so that the fighter ends up on top. In BJJ it earns two points under IBJJF rules.
Guard passPassagem de guardaGetting past the legs of an opponent lying in guard into side control or another top position. In BJJ it earns three points under IBJJF rules.
Guard pullPuxar para a guardaMoving from standing into guard without a throw: the fighter sits or lies down and pulls the opponent in. A common tactic in competitive BJJ.