Feet on Hips Guard Bottom is the guard player’s perspective in this fundamental open guard position, where you place both feet on the opponent’s hip bones while maintaining hip elevation and mobility. This position provides immediate defensive structure through leg frames while preserving maximum offensive options for sweeps, submissions, and guard transitions. The bottom perspective emphasizes active distance management, constant hip movement, and aggressive grip fighting to prevent the opponent from consolidating passing position. Success requires understanding that feet-on-hips is a transitional state rather than a static guard—you must constantly threaten attacks and transitions to prevent the opponent from systematically breaking down your frames. The position teaches essential guard retention skills including frame maintenance, hip mobility, and timing that form the foundation for all advanced open guard variations. Your primary objectives are maintaining distance through active leg frames, creating off-balancing opportunities through coordinated pushing and pulling, and transitioning to more controlling guards or sweep attempts before the opponent can establish dominant grips.
Position Definition
- Both feet placed firmly on opponent’s hip bones (anterior superior iliac spine landmarks) with ball of foot contact creating maximum pushing surface and connection stability, preventing opponent from settling weight or closing distance
- Bottom practitioner’s hips elevated off mat with lower back curved, creating space and mobility for hip movement and angle adjustment while maintaining defensive frame integrity and preventing opponent from flattening guard structure
- Bottom practitioner’s shoulders remain on mat with head neutral or slightly tucked, maintaining base and preventing opponent from driving forward pressure to collapse frames or achieve chest-to-chest contact
- Arms extended toward opponent’s upper body, sleeves, or collar for grip fighting, maintaining connection without being pulled forward or allowing opponent to control wrists while coordinating with leg frames
- Opponent positioned at distance determined by leg extension (12-18 inches between torsos), unable to achieve chest-to-chest contact or settle weight into bottom player’s guard structure due to active pushing frames
Prerequisites
- Guard opening from closed guard or initial guard pull position
- Opponent standing or in combat base with hips elevated above bottom player
- Successful foot placement on opponent’s hip bones before they establish dominant ankle or pant grips
- Active hip elevation to create pushing frame with legs rather than passive barrier
- Grip control on opponent’s sleeves, pants, or upper body to prevent diving attacks or frame breaking
Key Defensive Principles
- Maintain feet on hip bones (not thighs or stomach) with ball of foot providing maximum pushing surface and directional control
- Keep hips mobile and elevated to create constant angle adjustment and prevent opponent from settling weight or achieving static grips
- Use legs as active pushing frames rather than passive barriers, constantly adjusting distance and breaking opponent’s posture attempts
- Grip fight aggressively to prevent opponent from controlling ankles or pant legs, which would compromise the distance management system
- Stay ready to transition to other guards (Spider, De La Riva, X-Guard) when opponent attempts to pass or creates openings
- Create angles by walking hips laterally while maintaining foot pressure on hips, setting up sweeps and off-balancing opportunities
- Combine pushing and pulling forces through coordinated leg extension and grip control to break opponent’s balance and posture
Available Escapes
Scissor Sweep → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 45%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Pendulum Sweep → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Hip Bump Sweep → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Triangle Setup → Triangle Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Omoplata Sweep → Omoplata Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
De La Riva Sweep → De La Riva Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
X-Guard Sweep → X-Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Single Leg X Sweep → Single Leg X-Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Elevator Sweep → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 38%
- Intermediate: 53%
- Advanced: 68%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent stands tall with upright posture and reaches for pant grips while maintaining distance:
- Execute Spider Guard Sweeps → Spider Guard (Probability: 65%)
- Execute De La Riva Sweep → De La Riva Guard (Probability: 60%)
If opponent drops to combat base attempting to control ankles or close distance:
- Execute Butterfly Guard to X-Guard → X-Guard (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Triangle Setup → Triangle Control (Probability: 50%)
If opponent commits weight forward to drive over frames with pressure:
- Execute Scissor Sweep → Mount (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Pendulum Sweep → Mount (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Hip Bump Sweep → Mount (Probability: 55%)
If opponent circles laterally attempting Toreando pass or leg drag:
- Execute De La Riva Sweep → De La Riva Guard (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Guard Recovery → Closed Guard (Probability: 50%)
If opponent grabs both ankles and attempts to stack or control legs:
- Execute Omoplata Sweep → Omoplata Control (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Guard Recovery → Closed Guard (Probability: 45%)
Escape and Survival Paths
Triangle path from feet-on-hips
Feet on Hips Guard → Triangle Setup → Triangle Control → Triangle from Guard
Armbar path via sweep
Feet on Hips Guard → Scissor Sweep → Mount → Armbar from Mount
Omoplata path with sweep option
Feet on Hips Guard → Omoplata Sweep → Omoplata Control → Omoplata from Guard
Guillotine path from failed pass
Feet on Hips Guard → Guard Recovery → Closed Guard → Guillotine Choke
Kimura path via Spider Guard transition
Feet on Hips Guard → Spider Guard Sweeps → Spider Guard → Kimura from Guard
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 50% | 35% | 20% |
| Intermediate | 65% | 50% | 35% |
| Advanced | 80% | 65% | 50% |
Average Time in Position: 30-90 seconds before transition or pass attempt
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
The feet-on-hips position represents a fundamental application of frame theory in guard play, where we use the legs as primary structural frames to control distance and opponent movement. The critical insight here is understanding that your feet must contact the hip bones—the anterior superior iliac spine—rather than the softer tissue of the thighs or abdomen. This bony landmark provides maximum transmission of force with minimal energy expenditure. From a biomechanical perspective, this position creates a closed kinetic chain where hip extension generates pushing force that travels through the femur, tibia, and into the opponent’s pelvis, creating measurable distance that can be maintained or manipulated based on tactical requirements. The sophistication of this position lies not in its complexity but in its versatility as a hub from which multiple guard systems can be accessed. Your feet on the hips should function as mobile contact points rather than rigid posts—constant micro-adjustments in pressure and angle allow you to track opponent movement and prevent the static grips that enable successful passing.
Gordon Ryan
Feet on hips is one of those positions that looks basic but separates competitors at the highest level because of how it’s used tactically. When I play this guard, I’m not just pushing—I’m creating a threat matrix where every adjustment forces my opponent into defensive reactions that open sweep or submission opportunities. The key is understanding that feet on hips is a transitional state, not a destination. I’ll use it for maybe 2-3 seconds maximum before I’m already threatening a scissor sweep, pendulum sweep, or transitioning to Spider or De La Riva. In competition, if you stay static in feet on hips, good passers will eventually find ankle control or circling angles to defeat it. My approach is constant motion—I’m walking my hips, changing angles, threatening attacks, and forcing my opponent to make decisions under pressure. When they commit to defending one threat, that’s when the actual attack comes from a different angle. The feet-on-hips position gives you time and space to set up these combinations, which is why it’s so effective even at black belt when you understand how to weaponize it.
Eddie Bravo
Feet on hips is one of those fundamental positions that people underestimate because it looks too simple, but it’s actually a launch pad for some of the most dynamic guard games in modern jiu-jitsu. In the 10th Planet system, we use this position as a reset mechanism—when things get scrambled or you lose your preferred guard configuration, feet on hips gives you instant distance control and breathing room to reassess. What I love about this position is the hip mobility it provides. You’re not locked into a static structure like closed guard—your hips are free to move in any direction, which opens up creative sweep entries and transition paths that rigid guard systems can’t access. The innovation comes from how you combine the pushing frames with unconventional grips and angle creation. Instead of just holding feet on hips and waiting, we teach students to use this position to create momentum—pump the hips, walk laterally, threaten submissions, and flow into more committed guard positions when opportunities arise. The beauty of feet on hips is that it requires minimal energy to maintain but creates maximum options for offensive action, which aligns perfectly with the efficiency principles we emphasize.