BJJ Graph

Grasshopper Guard

Dec 09, 20259 min read

Grasshopper Guard represents an unorthodox open guard position where the bottom practitioner inverts their body positioning, placing their shoulders near the mat while elevating their hips and legs toward the opponent. This inverted guard creates unique angles for leg attacks, especially kneebars and ankle locks, while simultaneously offering powerful sweeping mechanics through hip elevation and leg entanglement.

The position is characterized by the bottom player essentially “hopping” or transitioning between different leg configurations while maintaining an inverted posture. Unlike traditional open guards that rely on upright seated positioning, grasshopper guard leverages the practitioner’s back and shoulders as base points, freeing the hips and legs for dynamic offensive actions.

From a systematic perspective, grasshopper guard functions as both a transitional state and a submission hunting position. The inverted nature creates immediate leg entanglement opportunities, as the bottom player’s legs can quickly shoot under and around the opponent’s base. This makes it particularly effective against standing passers who attempt to disengage, as the guard player can follow with rolls and inversions while maintaining leg contact.

The position gained popularity in modern no-gi competition, where the absence of gi grips makes inverted guards more viable. Without collar and sleeve controls to worry about, practitioners can focus entirely on leg positioning and hip movement. The grasshopper configuration particularly shines when opponents attempt to back step or circle away from leg attacks, as the inverted player can chase and adjust angles more freely than from traditional seated guards.

Strategically, grasshopper guard creates what John Danaher describes as “asymmetric engagement” - the bottom player invests heavily in leg control while sacrificing upper body connection. This trade-off works when the practitioner has superior leg entanglement skills and can transition faster than the opponent can establish passing pressure. The guard becomes dangerous when the bottom player can seamlessly flow between inversion angles, preventing the top player from settling into stable passing positions.

The energy dynamics of grasshopper guard differ significantly from traditional guards. Maintaining inverted positioning requires considerable core strength and flexibility, making it unsustainable for extended periods. Successful grasshopper guard players treat it as a transitional hunting ground rather than a resting position, constantly looking to convert the inversion into submission attempts or sweeps before fatigue sets in.

Defensively, grasshopper guard can serve as an emergency response when traditional guard retention fails. If an opponent passes around one side, the guard player can invert underneath and use grasshopper mechanics to recover leg contact and reset the engagement. This makes it a valuable skill for modern guard retention systems, where multiple layers of defense are essential against skilled passers.

Key Principles

  • Inversion is temporary - always transition toward submission or sweep within seconds

  • Hip elevation creates leverage for both sweeps and leg attacks

  • Leg configurations must constantly adjust to opponent’s base and positioning

  • Core strength and flexibility determine sustainability in inverted posture

  • The guard functions best as part of a larger leg entanglement system

  • Timing inversions to opponent’s movement multiplies effectiveness

  • Shoulder positioning on mat provides unexpected stability and mobility

Top vs Bottom

 BottomTop
Position TypeOffensiveOffensive/Controlling
Risk LevelMedium to HighMedium
Energy CostHighLow
TimeShortMedium to Long

Key Difference: Inverted posture for leg attacks and sweeps

Playing as Bottom

→ Full Bottom Guide

Key Principles

  • Inversion is a weapon, not a resting position - constant movement toward submission or sweep

  • Hip elevation creates the leverage necessary for both offensive techniques

  • Leg configurations must flow dynamically based on opponent’s base and reactions

  • Shoulder positioning provides surprising stability despite appearing precarious

  • Core engagement is continuous - any relaxation causes position collapse

  • Timing your inversion to opponent’s forward or backward movement multiplies effectiveness

  • The position works best when integrated into broader leg entanglement system

Primary Techniques

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Remaining static in inverted position without threatening attacks

    • Consequence: Allows opponent time to establish grips, step over legs, or initiate stack pass with overwhelming pressure
    • ✅ Correction: Treat grasshopper as transitional - immediately flow toward leg entanglement, sweep attempt, or guard recovery within 3-5 seconds of inverting

  • ❌ Insufficient hip elevation, allowing hips to sag toward mat

    • Consequence: Eliminates sweeping leverage and makes it easy for opponent to flatten you completely or step over legs to side control
    • ✅ Correction: Actively engage core to keep hips at chest height minimum - think of pushing hips toward ceiling throughout position

  • ❌ Losing leg contact with opponent while inverted

    • Consequence: Opponent freely disengages, circles to advantageous angle, or initiates passing sequence without obstruction
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain at least one leg hooking, threading, or controlling opponent’s lower body at all times - if you lose contact, immediately roll to reestablish

  • ❌ Poor shoulder positioning, rolling onto one shoulder blade

    • Consequence: Creates instability that makes it difficult to generate power for sweeps or adjust angles for leg attacks
    • ✅ Correction: Distribute weight evenly across both shoulder blades for stable platform - adjust by micro-rolling your upper back rather than committing to one side

  • ❌ Attempting to hold grasshopper too long, allowing fatigue to accumulate

    • Consequence: Core exhaustion leads to position collapse, making you vulnerable to heavy stack passes or mount attacks
    • ✅ Correction: Use grasshopper in 10-15 second bursts maximum - commit fully to one attack path, then transition to more sustainable position regardless of outcome

  • ❌ Neglecting head position and losing visual tracking of opponent

    • Consequence: Cannot anticipate opponent’s movement or pressure changes, leading to late reactions and failed attacks
    • ✅ Correction: Keep chin tucked but eyes tracking opponent’s hips and upper body - your peripheral vision should monitor both their base and your leg positioning

Playing as Top

→ Full Top Guide

Key Principles

  • Time is your ally - bottom player cannot sustain inverted position indefinitely

  • Distance management is critical - too close invites entanglements, too far allows following

  • Base width determines sweep vulnerability - adjust dynamically based on bottom player’s leg configuration

  • Pressure timing beats constant pressure - wait for inversion transitions to drive forward

  • Free leg awareness prevents submission entries - always know which leg is exposed

  • Circling and angle changes force bottom player to work harder to maintain connection

  • Strategic disengagement is valid passing strategy when executed with positional awareness

Primary Techniques

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Driving forward with constant heavy pressure against inverted guard

    • Consequence: Feeds directly into bottom player’s sweeping mechanics and makes you vulnerable to elevation attacks and X-guard transitions
    • ✅ Correction: Use pressure selectively during transition windows when bottom player’s hips drop or inversion weakens - otherwise maintain base and wait for opportunities

  • ❌ Allowing both legs to remain in bottom player’s engagement zone simultaneously

    • Consequence: Creates easy leg entanglement opportunities and limits your mobility to escape or pass effectively
    • ✅ Correction: Always keep one leg back and free as safety valve - only commit one leg forward into their range while other remains ready to step back or circle

  • ❌ Staying static in standing position without movement or angle changes

    • Consequence: Allows bottom player to set up optimal inversion angle and timing for their attacks without having to adjust
    • ✅ Correction: Constantly make small circling steps and base adjustments to force bottom player to work harder to maintain connection and track your movement

  • ❌ Bending at waist or reaching down toward bottom player’s legs

    • Consequence: Compromises posture and makes you highly vulnerable to rolling kneebar attacks and sweep elevations
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain upright posture with straight back - if you need to engage lower, drop your level by bending knees rather than waist

  • ❌ Panicking and jumping or pulling leg away when entanglement starts

    • Consequence: Explosive reactions often complete the entanglement for opponent and can result in injury if they already have partial control
    • ✅ Correction: Stay calm and methodically back step or clear the entanglement systematically - slow, controlled leg extraction is safer and more effective than explosive reactions

  • ❌ Attempting to pass before fully controlling or clearing bottom player’s legs

    • Consequence: Results in failed pass attempts where you end up in worse positions or with legs trapped in defensive guard structures
    • ✅ Correction: Establish leg control or clearance first through back step, leg drag, or sprawl, then advance to passing - sequence these actions deliberately

  • Inverted Guard - Parent category - grasshopper is specific inverted guard application

  • Ashi Garami - Common destination when securing single leg entanglement

  • X-Guard - Transition point when coming up from inversion for sweep

  • Single Leg X-Guard - Natural progression when establishing leg control from grasshopper

  • 50-50 Guard - Can emerge when both players engage leg entanglements

  • De La Riva Guard - Alternative leg control system with upright positioning

  • K-Guard - Shares leg configuration concepts with different base structure

  • Reverse De La Riva Guard - Connected system when opponent circles to back side