Wrestling Up
guard
Grapplers Collective, Wrestling Up. 3-5 min rounds.
Problem
Standing up from bottom positions under live top pressure.
Tell the room
Bottom stands up to neutral against a top player pushing them back down. Top pins, or takes the bottom down once they commit to standing. Standing and immediately turning away does not count.
Setup
Start seated and engaged. Bottom seated facing a standing top player whose hands press down on the shoulders or collar ties. Bottom has wrist control or a collar tie.
Score
Get to your feet, facing in.
- Bottom player — stands to neutral, both feet under them, still facing the top player
- Top player — passes to side control, mount, or knee on belly
- Top player — finishes a takedown once the bottom commits to standing
Rules
- No guard pulls. The bottom may not sit back into guard instead of standing.
- No submissions. Both players work for position only.
- The top cannot back away. Once the bottom stands up, the top keeps pressuring or re-takes them down.
Adjust
Easier
Top applies 50-60% pressure, and the bottom starts in combat base with one knee up rather than fully seated.
Harder
Start the bottom supine, allow submissions, and let the top back away so the bottom must close distance after standing.
If it stalls
If the bottom never attempts a stand, add a 30-second clock — still seated at the count loses the exchange.
TOP PLAYER
POSITION
Bottom seated facing a standing top player whose hands press down on the shoulders or collar ties. Bottom has wrist control or a collar tie.
OBJECTIVE
Bottom stands up to neutral against a top player pushing them back down. Top pins, or takes the bottom down once they commit to standing. Standing and immediately turning away does not count.
CONSTRAINTS
No guard pulls. The bottom may not sit back into guard instead of standing. No submissions. Both players work for position only. The top cannot back away. Once the bottom stands up, the top keeps pressuring or re-takes them down.
WIN CONDITION
passes to side control, mount, or knee on belly; finishes a takedown once the bottom commits to standing
BOTTOM PLAYER
POSITION
Bottom seated facing a standing top player whose hands press down on the shoulders or collar ties. Bottom has wrist control or a collar tie.
OBJECTIVE
Bottom stands up to neutral against a top player pushing them back down. Top pins, or takes the bottom down once they commit to standing. Standing and immediately turning away does not count.
CONSTRAINTS
No guard pulls. The bottom may not sit back into guard instead of standing. No submissions. Both players work for position only. The top cannot back away. Once the bottom stands up, the top keeps pressuring or re-takes them down.
WIN CONDITION
stands to neutral, both feet under them, still facing the top player