Bottom:
Controls: Double sleeve, cross collar, overhook, underhook
Sweeps: Hip bump, scissor, flower, pendulum
Submissions: Armbar, triangle, cross choke, omoplata
Transitions: To back, rubber guard, open guard
Top:
Passing: Posture, stand-to-open, knee wedge, double under pass
Counter Threats: Avoid collar-sleeve, block angles, preempt armbars
Bottom:
Controls: Knee shield, underhook, lockdown
Sweeps: Old school, waiter, dogfight, deep half sweep
Submissions: Kimura, guillotine, triangle from lockdown
Transitions: Deep half, full guard, back takes
Top:
Passing: Knee cut, smash pass, windshield wiper
Countering Underhook: Crossface pressure, Whizzer, tripod base
Bottom:
Controls: Double underhooks, collar-sleeve, shin-to-shin
Sweeps: Basic butterfly, arm drag to back, X-entry
Submissions: Guillotine, triangle (from overhook), kimura
Transitions: X-guard, single leg X, standing sweeps
Top:
Passing: Smash pass, knee twist, standing break and cut
Kill Hooks: Controlling ankles, stepping out, flattening hips
Bottom:
Controls: Ankle grip, collar-sleeve, belt or far sleeve
Sweeps: Tomoe nage, hook sweep, waiter, berimbolo
Submissions: Triangle, omoplata, kneebar (No-Gi)
Transitions: X-guard, RDLR to back
Top:
Passing: Staple pass, leg drag, backstep
Kill the hook: Shin staple, inside knee turn, hand pummel
Bottom:
Controls: Lasso, foot-in-bicep, spider-X
Sweeps: Balloon sweep, tripod, collar drag
Submissions: Triangle, omoplata, armbar
Transitions: Lasso guard, De La Riva, back takes
Top:
Passing: Strip grips, torreando, knee slice with pummel
Kill grips: Frame control, standing base, leg circling
Bottom:
Controls: Underhook leg, far collar, knee pull
Sweeps: Technical stand-up, dump sweep, reap
Submissions: Straight ankle lock, kneebar, heel hook (No-Gi)
Transitions: Full X, 50/50, back
Top:
Passing: Backstep, counter-leg drag, shin pressure
Counter-Sweeps: Counter grips, pull hips away
Bottom:
Controls: Leg entanglement, inside elbow frame
Sweeps: Hip switch, roll-over sweep, underhook turn
Submissions: Heel hooks (No-Gi), straight ankle, triangle
Transitions: Deep DLR, back take, saddle
Top:
Passing/Exiting: Knee pummel, stand-up rotation, leg pin
K-Guard → For entries to leg locks
Octopus Guard → For surprise back takes
Z-Guard (Knee Shield) → For blocking pressure passes and setting up sweeps
Description: One leg is lassoed around opponent’s arm (with spider or collar grip).
Use: Excellent control and transitions to omoplatas, triangles.
Common Combo: Lasso + DLR, Lasso + Spider
Worm Guard: You wrap their lapel around their leg and trap it with your own.
Squid Guard: Same idea, but using different grips.
Ringworm Guard: Uses the lapel to control the outside leg.
Purpose: Immobilizes their base; used to off-balance and sweep.
Great for: Gi players who like lapel entanglements.
Key feature: Pulling your leg high over their shoulder while keeping posture broken.
Submissions: Triangle, omoplata, go-go plata.
Entry: Usually from closed guard.
Requirement: Flexibility + posture control.
Position: Underhook leg, your shin across their torso or hip.
Goal: Entry to legs, especially inside heel hook.
Modern No-Gi weapon.
From: Half guard (you come to your knees, underhooking opponent).
Goal: Stand-up single leg, back take, sweep.
Leg goes across the front of their shin (not behind like DLR).
Used when opponent is kneeling or posting on one leg.
Links to: Back takes, leg drags, matrix roll.
Made famous by: Kazushi Sakuraba and later Marcelo Garcia.
Entry: From seated or half guard, overhooking opponent’s far side like a “hug”.
Purpose: Arm drags, back takes.
From closed guard: You triangle your legs around their torso (like a body triangle).
Limits movement but requires long legs.
Saddle (a.k.a. Inside Sankaku / 411 / Honeyhole)
Outside Ashi / Straight Ashi Garami
Cross Ashi
Double Outside Ashi (DOA)
These are "guards" in the sense that you maintain control from the bottom while threatening submissions or sweeps.
When: You invert upside down under your opponent, often to enter leg attacks or sweep.
Links: Tornado guard, berimbolo setups, crab ride.
Subcategory of RDLR / Lasso — uses your legs to elevate their hips and off-balance for sweeps or back takes.
Berimbolo alternative.
From deep half or inverted.
Goal: Spin underneath for sweep or leglock.
Recent trend in submission grappling.
You trap your opponent’s arm using your legs while isolating it.
Transitions to triangle, kimura, armbar.
Z-Guard: Knee shield-style half guard for defensive posture.
Quarter Guard: You trap only the ankle, often a last-ditch retention tool.
Shell: Defensive posture-focused open guards (knees up, elbows in), made popular in No-Gi.
Basic Guards: Closed, Open, Half, Butterfly
Advanced Guards: DLR, RDLR, Spider, X, Single Leg X, 50/50
Hybrid / Modern: Lasso, K-Guard, Worm, Rubber, Octopus, Tornado, Inverted, Z-Guard
Leglock-based: Ashi Garami (all types), Saddle, DOA, Cross Ashi
Transition States: Dogfight, Matrix, Clamp, Shell, Body Triangle