Guard / Retention

Feet on a line. Face the passer. Elbow connections. Hip mobility.

Adapted from InGrappling, Guard / Retention. System Games did not invent this curriculum.

Guard system hub — seated, butterfly, X-guard, DLR, RDLR, Z-guard, octopus, clamp, half guard, closed guard, and high guard.

Canon pages

Closed GuardInside control and posture. The home of Inside Positional Game.Knee Shield / Half Guard RetentionFrame + shield vs body lock and knee cut — first two retention rungs.Open GuardFeet on a line (G01), face the passer (G02), don’t let both hands post without a threat.BerimboloBerimbolo — inverted rolling from De la Riva, RDLR, 50/50, seated guard. Exits to back control, crab ride, leg entanglements.Buggy ChokeThe buggy choke in no-gi: from bottom side control, thread your own arm behind your own knee to trap the opponent's head and arm, then cruncButterfly GuardButterfly guard uses both hooks inside the opponent's thighs to elevate and destabilise a kneeling passer.Clamp PositionClamp — deep overhook and body lock isolating one arm from guard. Platform for triangle, armbar, omoplata, kimura, leg locks.De la Riva GuardDe la Riva guard in no-gi: the DLR hook and shin grip as an entry platform to leg entanglements, tripod sweeps, and back takes.Deep Half GuardDeep half guard — bottom player scoops under, head near the far hip. Sweeps from underneath as the top player tries to flatten.DogfightThe dogfight is the neutral kneeling scramble that arises from half guard when both players are fighting for the underhook.GogoplataThe Gogoplata is a choke applied by pressing the shin or instep into the opponent's throat from the high guard position.Half Butterfly GuardHalf butterfly guard in no-gi: one leg trapped in the half guard configuration while the free leg inserts a butterfly hookHalf Guard — BottomHalf guard — trapping one of the top player's legs. One side of the foot line conceded; underhook battle determines the outcome.High Guard / MeathookHigh guard — closed guard variant with elevated hips and legs riding high. Primary platform for triangle and armbar entries.Inverted GuardInverted guard — the guard player's hips are elevated above the head, back toward the mat, feet pointing at the opponent's head.LockdownLockdown — half guard with the top leg in a figure-four. Controls mobility; foundation of dogfight and electric chair.Octopus GuardOctopus guard: the deep overhook from a seated position as a back take platform, sweep system, and front headlock entry.Guard RetentionGuard retention in no-gi: the universal principles for keeping guard when the passer is threatening.Reverse De la RivaReverse De la Riva in no-gi: the inside hook as a transition hub between DLR, K-guard, and leg entanglements.Rubber GuardRubber guard — leg-behind-neck guard pinning posture and freeing both hands. Platform for omoplata, gogoplata, and triangle.Scorpion / Lower Leg ShiftScorpion — half guard variant with trapping foot outside the top player's knee. Opens waiter sweep and back take.Seated GuardSeated guard is the foundational open guard — feet active between the passer's knees, head up, hands ready to frame or attack.Shoulder CrunchThe shoulder crunch in no-gi: a bottom guard control — win inside position, then pinch the head and shoulder together to kill the post and oSupine GuardSupine guard — lying on the back with feet active, used as a transitional state to reach seated guard or leg entanglement entries.Top Butterfly GuardTop butterfly — low base requirement to manage hook exposure; passing frameworks from butterfly top.Top Half GuardTop half guard — underhook battle and flattening mechanics; passing options: back step, knee cut, and toreando.Underhook Half Guard (Bottom)Underhook half guard — offensive half guard with the underhook on the shoulder. Base for dogfight, lockdown, and sweeps.Ushiro X — Reverse X GuardUshiro X is an inverted X-guard position in which the bottom player faces the same direction as the opponent.Waiter PositionWaiter position — deep half guard variant; far leg underhook creates sweep leverage and back take entries.Williams GuardWilliams guard uses an overhook around the opponent's head (meathook grip) from half guard or butterfly base, controlling posture and openinX-GuardX-guard controls one of the standing opponent's legs with both of the bottom player's legs in an X configuration.Z-Guard / Knee ShieldZ-guard (knee shield) — an elevated knee frame against the hip that buys distance. Win the underhook battle and exit to scorpion, butterfly,Armbar System — Full ExpressionFrom the catalogArmbar vs Triangle — The Guard DilemmaFrom the catalogBall of YarnFrom the catalogBreak the BaseFrom the catalogCatch the Knee CrossFrom the catalogCausing PostsFrom the catalogClimbing the BackFrom the catalogClosed Guard Kimura PressureFrom the catalogClosed Guard OffenseFrom the catalogConfined-Area Guard RetentionFrom the catalogConnect to the ShouldersFrom the catalogCreateFrom the catalogCreate and Break ConnectionsFrom the catalogCreate and Break ConnectionsFrom the catalogDeny the Knee WedgeFrom the catalogDeny the Thigh PinFrom the catalogGuard Armbar vs the Stack — Reading the DefenceFrom the catalogGuard Armbar — Achieve the Finish PositionFrom the catalogGuard RetentionFrom the catalogGuard Without ArmsFrom the catalogHalf Guard BattleFrom the catalogHip AccessFrom the catalogHold the ShellFrom the catalogKeep the Top KneeFrom the catalogLockdown Extraction Under the ClockFrom the catalogMaintainFrom the catalogMaintaining The Knee ShieldFrom the catalogMount EscapeFrom the catalogNorth-South DenialFrom the catalogOpen Guard SweepingFrom the catalogOpen the FeetFrom the catalogPassing the Ankle LineFrom the catalogPassing the Knee LineFrom the catalogPassing vs Knee ShieldFrom the catalogPunishing PostsFrom the catalogPush to PullFrom the catalogRebuild the ShellFrom the catalogRebuilding Behind a FrameFrom the catalogRecovering From FlatFrom the catalogSide EscapeFrom the catalogSingle Underhook ControlFrom the catalogStaggered AnklesFrom the catalogStand UpFrom the catalogStructure and ConnectionsFrom the catalogToreando RecoveryFrom the catalogTrack with the HipsFrom the catalogTriangle and Armbar — Two-Way Combination GameFrom the catalogTriangle System — Full ExpressionFrom the catalogTriangle — Entry From Closed GuardFrom the catalogTriangle — Finish Game vs. Posture StackFrom the catalogTriangle — Hip Angle and Arm Isolation GameFrom the catalogTurtle to GuardFrom the catalogUnderhook ControlFrom the catalogUseFrom the catalogWrestling UpFrom the catalog

Games

Armbar System — Full Expressionarmbar · full-system · closed-guard · CLA · nogi-friendlyArmbar vs Triangle — The Guard Dilemmaclosed-guard · armbar · triangle · dilemma · CLA · nogi-friendlyBall of Yarnhalf guard · Modern Defensive GuardBreak the BaseGuard · RetentionCatch the Knee CrossEscapes · RetentionCausing Postsguard · seated open guard · Greg SoudersCausing Postshalf guard · knee shield · untestedClimbing the Backslime mold originals · closed guard · supine guard · guard · untestedClosed Guard Kimura Pressureclosed-guard · kimura · sweep · posture · CLA · nogi-friendlyClosed Guard OffenseGuard · Guard offenseConfined-Area Guard Retentionguard · retention · spatial · frames · hips · CLA · nogi-friendlyConnect to the Shouldersguard · seated open guard · Greg SoudersCreateslime mold original · leg entanglementsCreate and Break Connectionsslime mold originals · closed guard · supine guard · guardCreate and Break Connectionsslime mold originals · closed guard · supine guard · untestedCreate and Break Connectionsguard · open guard · Greg SoudersDeny the Knee WedgeGuard · RetentionDeny the Thigh PinGuard · RetentionGuard Armbar vs the Stack — Reading the Defenceclosed-guard · armbar · stack · triangle · CLA · nogi-friendlyGuard Armbar — Achieve the Finish Positionclosed-guard · armbar · finish-position · posture · CLA · nogi-friendlyGuard RetentionGuard · RetentionGuard Without Armsopen guard · passing · retention · no-hands · CLA · nogi-friendlyHalf Guard BattleGuard · PassingHip Accesshalf guard · Greg SoudersHold the ShellGuard · RetentionKeep the Top KneeGuard · RetentionLockdown Extraction Under the Clockhalf-guard · lockdown · passing · crossface · flatten · timed · CLA · nogi-friendlyMaintainslime mold original · leg entanglementsMaintain Connectionguard · open guard · slime mold original · untestedMaintaining The Knee Shieldhalf guard · knee shield · untestedMount EscapeEscapes · RetentionNorth-South DenialEscapes · Guard retentionOpen Guard Sweepingguard · open guard · Greg SoudersOpen the Feetslime mold originals · closed guard · supine guard · guardPassing the Ankle Linepassing · ankle-line · open-guard · pin · ladder · CLA · nogi-friendlyPassing the Knee Linepassing · knee-line · open-guard · pin · ladder · CLA · nogi-friendlyPassing vs Knee ShieldPassingPunishing Postsguard · seated open guard · slime mold originalPunishing Postshalf guard · knee shield · untestedPush to PullGuard · Guard retentionRebuild the ShellGuard · Guard retentionRebuilding Behind a Frameguard-retention · frame · elbow-knee · entanglement · ladder · CLA · nogi-friendlyRecovering From Flatguard-retention · flat · re-face · entanglement · ladder · CLA · nogi-friendlySide EscapeEscapes · Guard retentionSingle Underhook Controlhalf guard · Greg SoudersStaggered AnklesGuard · Guard retentionStand Upslime mold originals · closed guard · supine guard · guardStructure and Connectionsguard · seated open guard · Greg SoudersToreando RecoveryGuard · Guard retentionTrack with the HipsGuard · Guard retentionTriangle and Armbar — Two-Way Combination Gametriangle · armbar · closed-guard · combination · CLA · nogi-friendlyTriangle System — Full Expressiontriangle · full-system · closed-guard · armbar · CLA · nogi-friendlyTriangle — Entry From Closed Guardclosed-guard · triangle · entry · posture · CLA · nogi-friendlyTriangle — Finish Game vs. Posture Stacktriangle · finish · stack · closed-guard · CLA · nogi-friendlyTriangle — Hip Angle and Arm Isolation Gameclosed-guard · triangle · hip-angle · arm-isolation · CLA · nogi-friendlyTurtle to GuardTransitions · Guard retentionUnderhook Controlhalf guard · Greg SoudersUseslime mold original · leg entanglementsWrestling UpGuard · Guard retention