Feet on Hips Guard Top

Feet on Hips Guard Top is the passing perspective when facing an opponent who has established feet on your hips as defensive frames. This common open guard scenario requires systematic breakdown of the bottom player’s leg frames through grip control, pressure application, and strategic positioning. Success demands understanding how to neutralize the pushing power of the legs while maintaining forward pressure and creating passing opportunities. The position requires patience and technical precision—rushing into passes often results in the bottom player re-establishing guard or executing sweeps. Effective top players focus on controlling the knees, breaking the frames methodically, and transitioning to more advantageous passing positions. Your primary objectives are establishing dominant grips (particularly pants grips at the knees), applying constant forward pressure to prevent guard recovery, and timing your passing attacks to coincide with the bottom player’s frame adjustments. The position demands balance between aggression and control—too passive allows the bottom player to threaten attacks, too aggressive creates sweep opportunities.

Position Definition

• Bottom player’s feet are placed on top player’s hips, creating a pushing frame that maintains distance between the two practitioners and prevents chest-to-chest contact
• Top player maintains upright posture with strong base, typically in combat base or standing position, preventing forward collapse or off-balancing from leg frames
• Top player controls one or both of bottom player’s pants at the knees or ankles, working to break the foot-on-hip frames and establish dominant passing grips
• Bottom player maintains hip mobility and ability to adjust feet placement, using legs as active defensive tools rather than static barriers while threatening guard transitions

Prerequisites

• Bottom player has established open guard with feet on hips creating distance
• Top player has disengaged from closed guard or is approaching from standing position
• Sufficient space exists between both players for the frame to function
• Top player maintains balance and base to prevent sweeps while applying pressure

Key Offensive Principles

• Control the knees before attempting to pass - grip fighting at the pants is essential foundation
• Maintain constant forward pressure to prevent bottom player from recovering better guards or establishing sleeve control
• Break one frame at a time rather than attempting to clear both feet simultaneously
• Keep hips low and weight distributed to prevent being pushed backward or off-balanced
• Use angle changes and lateral movement to create passing opportunities when frames adjust
• Timing is critical - pass when bottom player adjusts their frames or attempts guard transitions
• Protect against De La Riva hooks and lasso guards during frame breaking process

Available Attacks

Toreando Pass → Side Control

Success Rates:

• Beginner: 45%
• Intermediate: 60%
• Advanced: 75%

Knee Cut Pass → Side Control

Success Rates:

• Beginner: 40%
• Intermediate: 55%
• Advanced: 70%

Leg Drag Pass → Leg Drag Control

Success Rates:

• Beginner: 35%
• Intermediate: 50%
• Advanced: 65%

Double Under Pass → Side Control

Success Rates:

• Beginner: 30%
• Intermediate: 45%
• Advanced: 60%

Long Step Pass → Side Control

Success Rates:

• Beginner: 35%
• Intermediate: 50%
• Advanced: 65%

X Pass → Side Control

Success Rates:

• Beginner: 25%
• Intermediate: 40%
• Advanced: 55%

Stack Pass → Side Control

Success Rates:

• Beginner: 30%
• Intermediate: 45%
• Advanced: 60%

Opponent Escapes

• Spider Guard Sweeps → Spider Guard (Opponent Success: 35%)
• Lasso Guard Sweeps → Lasso Guard (Opponent Success: 30%)
• Triangle Setup → Triangle Control (Opponent Success: 25%)
• Omoplata Sweep → Omoplata Control (Opponent Success: 20%)
• De La Riva Sweep → De La Riva Guard (Opponent Success: 30%)

Escape Counters

• Stack Pass → Side Control
  • Bottom player attempts to invert or shoot triangle with hips elevated
• Smash Pass → Side Control
  • Bottom player tries to establish De La Riva or reverse De La Riva hooks
• Headquarters Pass → Headquarters Position
  • Bottom player creates too much space with frames and retracts legs
• Knee Slice → Side Control
  • Bottom player attempts to establish shin shield or half guard recovery

Decision Making from This Position

If bottom player has both feet on hips with strong frames and no sleeve grips established:

• Execute Grip pants at knees → Combat Base (Probability: 60%)
• Execute Stand up to create pressure → Standing Position (Probability: 70%)

If bottom player tries to establish sleeve grips for spider guard or collar control:

• Execute Toreando Pass → Side Control (Probability: 65%)
• Execute Spider Guard Pass → Side Control (Probability: 55%)

If bottom player begins to shoot triangle or omoplata with hips inverting:

• Execute Stack Pass → Side Control (Probability: 60%)
• Execute Posture up and circle away → Combat Base (Probability: 70%)

If bottom player creates excessive distance with frames or retracts legs:

• Execute Long Step Pass → Side Control (Probability: 50%)
• Execute Step around to leg drag → Leg Drag Control (Probability: 55%)

If bottom player attempts to establish De La Riva or lasso hooks during frame breaking:

• Execute Smash Pass → Side Control (Probability: 55%)
• Execute Clear hooks and knee cut → Side Control (Probability: 60%)

Common Offensive Mistakes

1. Attempting to pass without controlling the knees first

• ❌ Consequence: Bottom player easily re-establishes guard or executes sweeps using full leg extension
• ✅ Correction: Establish strong pants grips at the knees before initiating any passing movement to neutralize leg frames

2. Standing too upright with poor base and elevated center of gravity

• ❌ Consequence: Vulnerable to push sweeps and loss of balance from leg extension pressure
• ✅ Correction: Maintain low, athletic stance with weight distributed evenly and hips engaged for stability

3. Allowing bottom player to establish sleeve grips without fighting

• ❌ Consequence: Bottom player transitions to spider guard or lasso guard with increased control and sweep opportunities
• ✅ Correction: Fight grips aggressively and keep elbows tight to prevent sleeve control while establishing pants grips

4. Rushing the pass without breaking frames methodically

• ❌ Consequence: Bottom player pushes you away or off-balances you with coordinated leg and grip pressure
• ✅ Correction: Methodically break one frame at a time before committing to pass, ensuring control throughout

5. Keeping weight too far back away from the engagement

• ❌ Consequence: Bottom player maintains distance and can attack with submissions or establish better guards
• ✅ Correction: Apply constant forward pressure while maintaining balance to prevent guard recovery

6. Ignoring De La Riva hook threats during frame breaking

• ❌ Consequence: Bottom player establishes De La Riva and sweeps or takes the back during passing attempt
• ✅ Correction: Keep knee line awareness and clear hooks immediately when they appear before continuing pass

7. Using upper body strength to force through frames without technique

• ❌ Consequence: Energy depletion and exposure to submissions when frames eventually collapse you forward
• ✅ Correction: Use grip control and angle changes to systematically dismantle frames rather than forcing through

Training Drills for Attacks

Frame Breaking Drill

Bottom player establishes feet on hips frames. Top player practices controlling knees and systematically breaking frames one at a time. Focus on grip fighting and maintaining pressure. Switch roles every 3 minutes. Emphasize technical precision over speed.

Duration: 3 minutes per round

Toreando Timing Drill

From feet on hips position, top player waits for bottom player to adjust their frames, then executes toreando pass. Bottom player varies their frame adjustments to create realistic timing windows. Emphasize reading and reacting to movement rather than forcing passes.

Duration: 5 minutes continuous

Passing Flow Drill

Top player cycles through different passing options (toreando, knee cut, leg drag, long step) from feet on hips position. Bottom player provides moderate resistance. Focus on smooth transitions between passing attempts when initial pass is defended. Build fluidity in passing chains.

Duration: 4 minutes per person

Grip Fighting Specific

Isolated drill focusing only on grip fighting from feet on hips position. Top player tries to secure pants grips, bottom player tries to establish sleeve or collar grips. Reset every 30 seconds and alternate who achieves grips first. Builds grip fighting awareness and hand speed.

Duration: 6 minutes total

Positional Sparring from Feet on Hips

Start with bottom player in feet on hips position with grips already established. Top player attempts to pass, bottom player attempts to sweep or submit. Reset to starting position after 2 minutes or after successful pass/sweep. Track success rates to measure improvement.

Duration: 10 rounds of 2 minutes

Optimal Submission Paths

Shortest path to submission via side control

Feet on Hips Guard Top → Knee Cut Pass → Side Control → Americana

High-percentage pressure path to mount submissions

Feet on Hips Guard Top → Toreando Pass → Side Control → Mount → Armbar from Mount

Back attack path via leg drag

Feet on Hips Guard Top → Leg Drag Pass → Leg Drag Control → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke

Submission path via north-south transition

Feet on Hips Guard Top → Stack Pass → North-South → North-South Choke

Success Rates and Statistics

Skill Level	Retention Rate	Advancement Probability	Submission Probability
Beginner	40%	35%	15%
Intermediate	55%	50%	25%
Advanced	70%	65%	40%

Average Time in Position: 45-90 seconds before successful pass or guard recovery

Related Positions and Techniques

• Feet on Hips Guard - Opposing perspective of same position
• Spider Guard - Common progression when sleeve grips are established by bottom player
• Combat Base - Fundamental posture for this position
• Toreando Pass - Primary passing technique from this position
• Knee Cut Pass - High-percentage passing option when frames are broken
• Leg Drag Pass - Alternative passing strategy using lateral movement
• Guard Passing Principles - Conceptual framework for all passing applications
• Pressure Passing - Strategic approach applicable to this position
• Standing Position - Alternative posture for addressing feet-on-hips frames
• Grip Fighting - Essential skill for establishing dominant grips and breaking frames