BJJ Pathfinder
Illustration of closed guard from the top: the player in orange kneels inside their opponent's legs, which are locked around their waist
Position 02 / 11

Closed guard

You are kneeling inside their legs. Keep your posture, stay safe, then open the guard and pass.

What do you want to do?

14 moves
SubmissionsStraight ankle lock when standing · Ezekiel choke from inside guard4 videosPassesKnee slice after kneeling break · Double-under pass · Under-one-leg stack pass6 videosGuard breaksKneeling guard break · Standing guard break7 videosControlsPosture and base inside closed guard · Grip breaking4 videosDefencesArmbar defence · Triangle defence · Kimura defence · +210 videos

About Closed guard, top

Inside someone's closed guard you are on top but not yet ahead. Their legs are locked around you and they want to break your posture to set up sweeps and submissions. Your first job is to stay safe: back straight, head up, hands on their hips or chest, elbows tucked in.

Once your posture is solid, open the guard, either by standing up or by wedging a knee in the middle. Then pass to side control or mount. Rushing the guard opening is the most common beginner mistake, and the reason so many people get triangled.