What Is the Guard in BJJ?
The guard is a ground position in which the bottom player uses their legs to control the opponent. Being underneath does not mean the legs have been passed or the opponent has secured a pin.IBJJF Rule Book (v6.0) [1]The ABC’s of Jiu-Jitsu [5]
From guard, the bottom player can seek a sweep, a reversal to the top, or a submission, a hold intended to make the opponent concede. The top player tries to pass: move beyond the legs and establish control.IBJJF Rule Book (v6.0) [1]
Closed, open, and half guard
Start with the legs: what do they surround, and where do they make contact? These three configurations give the names a visible meaning.
| Guard | Body position | What the legs help control |
|---|---|---|
| Closed guard | The bottom player’s legs surround the opponent’s torso, with the ankles crossed behind the back.[6] | The opponent’s posture and the distance between the bodies.[6] |
| Open guard | The legs are not locked around the torso. Feet and shins make contact with the opponent, alongside the hands and arms.[6] | Distance and movement through changing points of contact.[6] |
| Half guard | The bottom player’s legs trap one of the opponent’s legs; the opponent’s other leg remains outside that entanglement.[6] | One leg, while the bottom player works toward a sweep or guard recovery.[6] |
Bottom and top have different goals
A sweep changes who is on top. A guard pass changes whether the bottom player’s legs still stand between the top player and upper-body control. These are different actions, even when they occur in the same exchange.IBJJF Rule Book (v6.0) [1]
Under IBJJF rules, a qualifying sweep and a completed guard pass score points. ADCC also awards positive points for sweeps and passing, although its timing and scoring details differ.IBJJF Rule Book (v6.0) [1]ADCC Championship Rules & Regulations [2]
Passing and recovering guard
After a pass, the top player may establish side control, across the opponent’s torso. Other named controls include mount, astride the torso, and back control, from behind the opponent. These describe where the bodies are; passing describes the movement beyond the legs.IBJJF Rule Book (v6.0) [1]Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Terminology & Glossary [7]
Recovering guard means bringing the legs back into the exchange. From underneath side control, for example, the bottom player can work to restore a knee between the bodies.Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Terminology & Glossary [7]
For a wider map, see BJJ positions explained.
Historical and ruleset context
Historical research on the Gracie system describes ground fighting as a defining emphasis, while also placing that development within a broader Brazilian and Japanese martial-arts history.Nationalism, Immigration and Identity: The Gracies and the Making of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, 1934-1943 [3]
Other grappling sports also recognize ground control. Under the IJF rules dated 24 July 2026, a held pin scores by elapsed time and reaches ippon, a match-winning full score, at the stated threshold.IJF Sport and Organisation Rules (SOR), Version 24 July 2026 [4]
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between closed, open, and half guard?
Closed guard wraps the torso with crossed ankles. Open guard uses unclosed legs and points of contact to control distance. Half guard traps one of the top player’s legs between the bottom player’s legs.Learning the Guard: Fundamentals at Gracie Barra Jiu Jitsu Thousand Oaks [6]
What does it mean to pass the guard?
It means getting beyond the opponent’s legs and establishing the control required by the applicable rules. A completed pass scores under IBJJF and ADCC rules.IBJJF Rule Book (v6.0) [1]ADCC Championship Rules & Regulations [2]
What can the bottom athlete do from guard?
The bottom athlete can seek a sweep or submission while preventing the top athlete from passing the legs and establishing scoring control.IBJJF Rule Book (v6.0) [1]
Which guard should a beginner learn first?
Follow the sequence taught by your coach. A useful first goal is understanding distance, posture, safe grips, and how to recognize when the guard is being passed.
Sources
- [1]IBJJF Rule Book (v6.0) — International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation. Linked 2024JUN rule-book asset; claim locators below identify the relevant articles. Accessed .
Version note: The landing page labels the rule book “v6.0”; the linked 2024JUN asset displays “VERSION 6.1” in its footer. This citation preserves that publisher-side conflict.
- Relevant section: Articles 4.2 and 4.6; linked rule-book PDF pp. 19 and 23.
- Relevant section: Articles 4.2, 4.4, and 4.5; linked PDF pp. 19, 21-22.
- Relevant section: Articles 2.1, 2.6, 4.2, and 4.6.
- Relevant section: Articles 2.6 and 3.1.
- [2]ADCC Championship Rules & Regulations — ADCC Submission Fighting World Federation. Overview; How You Can Win; Points (Positive Points). Accessed .
- Relevant section: Points (Positive Points).
- [3]Nationalism, Immigration and Identity: The Gracies and the Making of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, 1934-1943 — Martial Arts Studies, Cardiff University Press. Abstract; sections on Japanese immigration, Gracie reinvention, and the 1930s-1940s. Accessed .
- Relevant section: English PDF, pp. 35-36 and 41.
- [4]IJF Sport and Organisation Rules (SOR), Version 24 July 2026 — International Judo Federation. Article 7, p. 152; Article 14, pp. 166-167; Article 15, pp. 168-172; Article 17, pp. 173-175. Accessed .
- Relevant section: Articles 7, 15 and 17, pp. 152 and 168-175.
- [5]The ABC’s of Jiu-Jitsu — Gracie Barra Institute. G is for Guard; R is for Roll; T is for Triangle. Accessed .
- Relevant section: G is for Guard.
- [6]Learning the Guard: Fundamentals at Gracie Barra Jiu Jitsu Thousand Oaks — Gracie Barra Thousand Oaks. 2. The Fundamental Guard Positions Taught at GB Thousand Oaks: Closed Guard; Open Guard (General Principles); Half Guard. Accessed .
- Relevant section: 2. The Fundamental Guard Positions Taught at GB Thousand Oaks: Closed Guard, Open Guard (General Principles), Half Guard; definitions and Purpose Control paragraphs.
- [7]Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Terminology & Glossary — Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Gainesville. Positions: Side Control, Mount, Back Control, Turtle; Submissions: Armbar, Triangle, Guillotine; Escapes: Side Control: Reguard; Movements & Drills: Shrimping, Bridging; Quick Reference: Hooks. Accessed .
- Relevant section: Side Control (Side Mount); Mount; Back Control; Quick Reference: Hooks.
- Relevant section: Escapes & Defenses: Side Control: Reguard.