BJJ Graph

Grasshopper Guard Bottom

Dec 09, 202515 min read

Playing grasshopper guard from bottom requires exceptional body awareness, core strength, and timing. The bottom practitioner inverts their torso while elevating their hips, creating a mobile platform for leg-based attacks and sweeps. This inverted configuration allows the guard player to access leg entanglements that would be impossible from traditional seated guards, while simultaneously making it difficult for the top player to establish stable passing grips.

The fundamental mechanic involves using your shoulders and upper back as base points while your hips remain elevated and mobile. Your legs constantly adjust between different configurations - sometimes both legs engage the opponent, sometimes you use one leg to hook while the other seeks entanglement. The key is maintaining enough inversion to threaten leg attacks while being ready to explode upward into sweeps or come up on top.

Successful grasshopper guard requires treating the position as perpetually transitional. You cannot rest here - every second in the inverted posture should progress toward either securing a leg entanglement, executing a sweep, or transitioning to a more sustainable guard position. The longer you remain static in grasshopper, the more opportunity the top player has to step over, back step, or otherwise escape your leg controls.

From bottom, your primary threats are kneebars, ankle locks, and elevation sweeps. The inverted angle gives you superior access to your opponent’s legs compared to their access to passing lanes. When they attempt to disengage or back away, you can follow with rolls and inversions, constantly reestablishing leg contact. When they pressure forward, you can use their momentum against them with sweeping mechanics.

The position requires significant flexibility and conditioning. Your ability to hold inverted posture while generating explosive movement determines how effectively you can threaten submissions and sweeps. Most practitioners can only maintain high-level grasshopper guard for 10-20 seconds before needing to transition or rest, making timing and decisiveness critical.

Position Definition

  • Bottom player’s shoulders and upper back remain in contact with the mat, creating a stable inverted base despite the unorthodox positioning. The shoulder blades provide the primary support structure, allowing the hips to elevate freely above torso level.
  • Hips maintain significant elevation above the mat throughout the position, typically positioned at chest height or higher relative to the opponent. This elevation is actively sustained through core engagement rather than passive positioning, enabling rapid adjustment and explosive movement.
  • At least one leg maintains active engagement with opponent’s lower body - either hooking behind the knee, controlling the ankle, or threading between the legs. This leg contact serves as both control mechanism and attacking pathway, preventing disengagement while threatening entanglements.
  • Bottom player’s head positioning allows visual tracking of opponent’s movement and balance shifts. Despite being inverted, the guard player must maintain awareness of spatial relationships and be ready to roll or adjust inversion angle based on opponent’s circling or pressure.

Prerequisites

  • Comfortable with inverted positioning and able to maintain shoulder-based balance
  • Sufficient core strength to elevate and hold hips above torso level for multiple seconds
  • Flexibility to fold body into inverted configuration without restriction
  • Understanding of basic leg entanglement principles and ankle/knee attack systems
  • Ability to track opponent’s movement and positioning while inverted
  • Conditioning to explode from inverted posture into sweeps or submission attempts

Key Defensive 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

Available Escapes

Kneebar from Grasshopper → Kneebar Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 25%
  • Intermediate: 40%
  • Advanced: 60%

Straight Ankle Lock Entry → Straight Ankle Lock Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 30%
  • Intermediate: 45%
  • Advanced: 65%

Single Leg X Transition → Single Leg X-Guard

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 40%
  • Intermediate: 60%
  • Advanced: 75%

X-Guard Elevation Sweep → Mount

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 35%
  • Intermediate: 50%
  • Advanced: 70%

Inside Ashi Entry → Inside Ashi-Garami

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 30%
  • Intermediate: 50%
  • Advanced: 70%

Rolling Kneebar → Kneebar Control

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 20%
  • Intermediate: 35%
  • Advanced: 55%

Grasshopper Sweep → Half Guard

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 35%
  • Intermediate: 55%
  • Advanced: 70%

Technical Standup from Inversion → Standing Guard

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 45%
  • Intermediate: 65%
  • Advanced: 80%

50-50 Entry → 50-50 Guard

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 25%
  • Intermediate: 40%
  • Advanced: 60%

Reverse De La Riva Recovery → Reverse De La Riva Guard

Success Rates:

  • Beginner: 30%
  • Intermediate: 50%
  • Advanced: 65%

Opponent Counters

Counter-Attacks

Decision Making from This Position

Opponent stands tall with wide base, attempting to disengage:

Opponent pressures forward aggressively with narrow base:

Opponent commits one leg between yours, attempting knee cut:

Opponent attempts back step to avoid entanglement:

Common Defensive Mistakes

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

Training Drills for Defense

Inverted Hip Elevation Hold

Partner stands in front while you establish grasshopper position. Hold inverted posture with hips elevated for 20-second intervals, maintaining shoulder base and leg engagement. Partner provides light pressure to test stability. Focus on core endurance and proper positioning.

Duration: 4 sets of 20 seconds

Grasshopper to Submission Flow

Start in grasshopper against standing partner. Flow continuously between kneebar attempts, ankle lock entries, and leg entanglements without stopping. Partner resists moderately, stepping and circling to create realistic reactions. Emphasize speed of transition rather than completion.

Duration: 3 minutes

Sweep Chain from Inversion

Establish grasshopper position and execute sequence: X-Guard elevation sweep, then Single Leg X sweep, then grasshopper sweep, resetting to grasshopper between each. Partner starts with 50% resistance, increasing to 75% as your timing improves. Build muscle memory for explosive hip movement.

Duration: 5 minutes

Inversion Recovery Drill

Partner initiates various pass attempts from standing. Your job is to recognize failing guard position and invert into grasshopper as emergency recovery, then immediately threaten leg or sweep. Emphasizes using grasshopper as defensive transition tool rather than primary position.

Duration: 4 minutes

Escape and Survival Paths

Kneebar from Grasshopper Inversion

Grasshopper Guard Bottom → Inside Ashi-Garami → Kneebar Control → Kneebar

Rolling Ankle Lock Entry

Grasshopper Guard Bottom → Rolling Inversion → Straight Ankle Lock Control → Straight Footlock

Single Leg X to Outside Heel Hook

Grasshopper Guard Bottom → Single Leg X-Guard → Outside Ashi-Garami → Outside Heel Hook

50-50 Entry to Inside Heel Hook

Grasshopper Guard Bottom → 50-50 Guard → Inside Ashi-Garami → Inside Heel Hook

Success Rates and Statistics

Skill LevelRetention RateAdvancement ProbabilitySubmission Probability
Beginner25%35%20%
Intermediate45%55%35%
Advanced65%75%55%

Average Time in Position: 8-15 seconds before transition

Expert Analysis

John Danaher

Grasshopper guard represents an interesting study in asymmetric engagement and leverage mechanics. By inverting the torso while elevating the hips, the bottom player creates what I call ‘angular superiority’ - their legs can access the opponent’s lower body from angles that conventional guards cannot reach. The key is understanding that this position violates normal principles of base and stability, which means it can only be maintained briefly. Think of it as a kinetic position rather than a static one - you are essentially in mid-motion even when holding the configuration. The biomechanical advantage comes from your ability to generate sweeping force through hip elevation while simultaneously threatening leg entanglements. The opponent faces a genuine dilemma: if they stand tall to avoid leg attacks, you can elevate them for sweeps; if they lower their base to prevent sweeps, they enter your leg attack range. This is classical dilemma-based jiujitsu, where both defensive options lead to offensive opportunities for the guard player.

Gordon Ryan

Grasshopper guard is something I use situationally, particularly when my primary guard retention is failing and I need to reset the engagement. It’s not a position where I want to spend time, but it’s incredibly effective for accessing leg attacks when opponents try to disengage or back away from other guards. The competition application is pretty specific - I’m using it to chase leg entanglements against guys who are trying to avoid my leg game entirely. When they back step or circle away, I can invert and follow, constantly reestablishing leg contact until I secure a proper entanglement. The key in competition is having the conditioning to explode from grasshopper into actual attacking positions quickly. You can’t hold it and think - you have to see the angle and commit immediately to either the leg attack or the sweep. Against high-level competition, I’m usually only in grasshopper for 5-10 seconds maximum before converting to ashi, X-guard, or giving up the position entirely and recovering to a different guard system.

Eddie Bravo

Grasshopper represents the evolution of inverted guard concepts that we’ve been developing in the 10th Planet system for years. The beauty of it is how it connects to so many positions we already use - you can hit it from dead orchard, from when your rubber guard gets smashed, from failed lockdown attempts. It’s that constant movement and inversion that makes traditional position-based passing so difficult. What I love is how grasshopper completely changes the game for wrestlers and pressure passers who are used to driving forward. They expect you to be sitting up or lying on your back, but when you invert and elevate, suddenly all their passing angles disappear. We use grasshopper a lot in our no-gi competition system because it links perfectly into leg locks and creates scrambles that favor the guard player. The flexibility requirement is real though - you need to be comfortable upside down and able to move fluidly while inverted. We drill tons of inversion work to build that comfort level, because once you’re smooth with it, grasshopper becomes a weapon for recovering guard and attacking legs simultaneously.