Seated Guard, Head Free: Wrestle Up to Top vs Push, Pluck, Snap, or Front Headlock
Mat mode
3:00
Tell the roomPut them flat, pluck their heels, or get behind them. If they wrestle up into your legs, you can attack the front headlock.
Reference video
Open video · Robert Howell
Show full gameHide full gameRules · how to win
Notes (this phone)
TOP PLAYER (STANDING)
POSITION
Standing in front of your seated partner.
OBJECTIVE
Put them flat, pluck their heels, or get behind them. If they wrestle up into your legs, you can attack the front headlock.
CONSTRAINTS
Front headlock attacks open up once they enter your legs (darce, anaconda, guillotine, anything). Tap and release on any choke. That's the elevated safety rule. The source doesn't say it.
WIN CONDITION
Push them down so their back touches the mat and hold it for a second. Or pluck their heels. Or snap their head to the ground and get behind them. Once they've wrestled up: finish a front headlock submission, or end up on top.
BOTTOM PLAYER (SEATED)
POSITION
Seated, actively hand fighting.
OBJECTIVE
Stay seated, keep your momentum going forward, and take the top with a wrestle up.
CONSTRAINTS
Don't let your back touch the mat. Hand fight, and track them so they never get behind you. If they catch a front headlock during your wrestle up, it isn't over until your head is free.
WIN CONDITION
Enter the legs and put them down, and finish on top with your head free.
Robert Howell, 4 Games To Help Your Guard (free video on the Robert Howell YouTube channel, 23 Jan 2026).
Problem
Standing in front of your seated partner.
Setup
Standing in front of your seated partner. Seated, actively hand fighting.
Score
Push them down so their back touches the mat and hold it for a second. Or pluck their heels. Or snap their head to the ground and get behind them. Once they've wrestled up: finish a front headlock submission, or end up on top. Enter the legs and put them down, and finish on top with your head free.
Rules
- Front headlock attacks open up once they enter your legs (darce, anaconda, guillotine, anything).
- Tap and release on any choke.
- That's the elevated safety rule.
- The source doesn't say it.
- Don't let your back touch the mat.
- Hand fight, and track them so they never get behind you.
- If they catch a front headlock during your wrestle up, it isn't over until your head is free.
guard
Wall card
Seated Guard, Head Free: Wrestle Up to Top vs Push, Pluck, Snap, or Front Headlock
Developing
TOP PLAYER (STANDING)
Position
Standing in front of your seated partner.
Win condition
Push them down so their back touches the mat and hold it for a second. Or pluck their heels. Or snap their head to the ground and get behind them. Once they've wrestled up: finish a front headlock submission, or end up on top.
Constraints
Front headlock attacks open up once they enter your legs (darce, anaconda, guillotine, anything). Tap and release on any choke. That's the elevated safety rule. The source doesn't say it.
BOTTOM PLAYER (SEATED)
Position
Seated, actively hand fighting.
Win condition
Enter the legs and put them down, and finish on top with your head free.
Constraints
Don't let your back touch the mat. Hand fight, and track them so they never get behind you. If they catch a front headlock during your wrestle up, it isn't over until your head is free.
Elevated safety. Confirm tap-and-release before the first rep. Stop at the tap. Do not run this if the room is not already serious about it.