BJJ guard cheat sheet
The main guards, where your legs go and what to do from each one. One page, ready to print.
The main guards
| Guard | Your legs | Best against |
|---|---|---|
| Closed guard | Ankles locked behind their back | A kneeling opponent |
| Half guard | One of their legs trapped between yours | A passer, when you catch one leg during the pass |
| Knee shield | Half guard, with your shin across their body as a frame | A heavy opponent who leans in |
| Butterfly guard | Seated, feet hooked inside their thighs | A kneeling or low opponent |
| De la Riva | Outside hook on their lead leg | A standing opponent, knee pointing out |
| Reverse De la Riva | Inside hook on their lead leg | A standing opponent, knee turned in |
| Spider guard (gi) | Feet on their biceps, hands on their sleeves | A standing or kneeling opponent |
| Sit-up guard | Sitting up, one hand posted behind you | A standing or kneeling opponent |
First sweeps from each guard
| Guard | Sweeps to learn first |
|---|---|
| Closed guard | Scissor sweep, hip bump sweep, flower sweep |
| Half guard | Old school sweep |
| Butterfly guard | Butterfly sweep: they fall toward the arm you control |
| Collar-and-sleeve guard (gi) | Tripod sweep |
| Closed guard, opponent standing | Double-ankle sweep |
Keep your guard
- Stay connected: a foot or a grip on them at all times.
- Keep your hips facing them.
- Frames first, then move your hips.
- Do not lie flat. Sit up or turn on your side.
- When they get past one leg, shrimp and bring the knee back in.
Train it on the Path
The What a guard is unit turns this into short lessons: you see a position and pick the best move.
The Path goes in order: start free from lesson one and you reach What a guard is on the way. With Rolla Plus you can jump straight here.