Closed guard is the foundation of BJJ's bottom game. By locking your legs around their waist, you create a position where you can attack with sweeps and submissions while being relatively safe from strikes and passes. Many techniques you'll learn from other guards started in closed guard. It's not the most dynamic guard, but understanding it deeply makes everything else make more sense.
🎯Key Details
Posture control
Their posture determines your offense. Broken posture = submissions. Good posture = sweeps. Control their posture with collar grips and your legs.
Hip position
Your hips should be angled and close to them, not flat on the ground. Flat hips = weak attacks. Angled hips = strong leverage.
Grips matter
Every grip serves a purpose—collar for posture, sleeve for arm isolation, belt for sweeps. Purposeless gripping wastes energy.
Breaking guard ≠ passing
When they stand to open your guard, you don't lose—your game just changes. Have a plan for when guard opens.
High guard
Climbing your guard high on their back gives you more control and better attack angles.
⚠️Common Mistakes
Flat on your back
Angle your hips and stay dynamic. Flat = defensive. Angled = offensive.
No grips
Always have controlling grips. No grips = they posture and pass.
Staying closed when they stand
Transition to open guard attacks. Hanging on while they stand = eventual pass.
Guard too loose
Lock your guard tight—feet crossed, knees pinching. Loose guard = easy to open.
🚀Setups
- •Pull guard directly to closed
- •Transition from open guard
- •Recover guard from bad position
🛡️Counters / Defenses
- •Stand up to break guard
- •Posture hard
- •Open guard with technique
- •Log splitter/can opener (white belt)
🔄Variations
📍Applicable Positions
🔗Related Techniques
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