Rebuilding Behind a Frame
Mat mode
TOP PLAYER
POSITION
Engaged in front of bottom's framing limbs, working to beat the elbow-and-knee frame.
OBJECTIVE
Pass the frame to a pin before the guard re-forms.
CONSTRAINTS
Elevated tier: an entanglement is a live option. Confirm tap-release reliability before running it. Reset when the bottom player forms a connected guard or entanglement, or the top player confirms the pin. Role rotates after each reset. Score one point per win condition. Default rounds 2:30.
WIN CONDITION
Pass the frame to a pin — chest-to-chest or chest-to-back control held for three continuous seconds without the guard re-formed.
BOTTOM PLAYER
POSITION
Supine with an elbow-and-knee frame established. The passer's weight is in front of the framing limbs, not yet around them.
OBJECTIVE
Turn the frame into a guard that engages and threatens, or into a confirmed entanglement. The recovery is driven by the hips.
CONSTRAINTS
Starts with a defensive frame only — holding the frame is not the win. Same elevated entanglement rules, reset logic, and role rotation.
WIN CONDITION
Build a meaningful connected guard — one that engages and threatens the passer — or a confirmed leg entanglement.
More — series, chips, coach notes
InGrappling, Rebuilding Behind a Frame. GAME-RET-02.
Problem
Engaged in front of bottom's framing limbs, working to beat the elbow-and-knee frame.
Tell the room
Pass the frame to a pin before the guard re-forms. Turn the frame into a guard that engages and threatens, or into a confirmed entanglement.
Setup
Engaged in front of bottom's framing limbs, working to beat the elbow-and-knee frame. Supine with an elbow-and-knee frame established. The passer's weight is in front of the framing limbs, not yet around them.
Score
Pass the frame to a pin — chest-to-chest or chest-to-back control held for three continuous seconds without the guard re-formed. Build a meaningful connected guard — one that engages and threatens the passer — or a confirmed leg entanglement.
Rules
- Elevated tier: an entanglement is a live option.
- Confirm tap-release reliability before running it.
- Reset when the bottom player forms a connected guard or entanglement, or the top player confirms the pin.
- Role rotates after each reset.
- Score one point per win condition.
- Default rounds 2:30.
- Starts with a defensive frame only — holding the frame is not the win.
- Same elevated entanglement rules, reset logic, and role rotation.
Trains
Progressions
Harder constraint variants from the source. Same game, tighter problem.
- The hardest rung removes the frame and the engagement together: recovering from flat , supine with the passer off to the side and out of reach. For the full ladder, see reverse phase progression .
guard