BJJ Graph

Inverted Guard

Dec 09, 20259 min read

Inverted Guard is a modern guard position where the practitioner turns upside-down, with their back facing the ground and legs positioned upward toward the opponent. This position creates unique angles for controlling the opponent’s movement and setting up sweeps, leg entanglements, and back takes. While physically demanding and technically complex, Inverted Guard offers exceptional defensive capabilities through its mobility and creates offensive opportunities that are difficult to counter using traditional passing approaches. This position has become increasingly prominent in modern BJJ competition, particularly in the context of berimbolo sequences and leg entanglement entries. The inverted position is typically transitional rather than static, serving as a critical link between guard retention sequences and more dominant attacking positions. The position’s strategic value lies in creating unconventional angles that disrupt traditional passing mechanics while simultaneously establishing pathways to back control and leg attacks. Inverted guard requires significant hip and spine flexibility combined with spatial awareness while upside-down. The position emerged prominently in the early 2000s through competition innovations by the Mendes brothers and has since evolved into a comprehensive system with multiple entry methods and transition pathways. Modern practitioners integrate inversion throughout their guard retention systems, using it defensively against pressure passing while maintaining offensive threats. The position’s effectiveness stems from forcing opponents to navigate unfamiliar angles and grips while the inverted practitioner maintains superior mobility and transition options.

Key Principles

  • Maintain shoulder and upper back contact with the mat, never allowing weight to rest on the neck or cervical spine

  • Create space and defensive frames through proper leg positioning and active hip rotation

  • Control opponent’s weight distribution and pressure through strategic angles and grip management

  • Utilize momentum and rotational movement to create sweep opportunities and prevent static passing

  • Establish grip controls (sleeve, collar, pants) that facilitate inversions and protect against smash passes

  • Anticipate and counter passing attempts through dynamic movement rather than static holding

  • Develop clear pathways to more dominant positions like back control, X-guard, or leg entanglements rather than remaining inverted

Top vs Bottom

 BottomTop
Position TypeDefensive with offensive optionsOffensive
Risk LevelMediumMedium
Energy CostMediumMedium
TimeShort to MediumMedium

Key Difference: Upside-down mobility for dynamic angles

Playing as Bottom

→ Full Bottom Guide

Key Principles

  • Maintain shoulder and upper back contact with the mat, never allowing weight to rest on the neck or cervical spine

  • Create space and defensive frames through proper leg positioning and active hip rotation to prevent flattening

  • Control opponent’s weight distribution and pressure through strategic angles and grip management

  • Utilize momentum and rotational movement to create sweep opportunities and prevent static passing

  • Establish grip controls (sleeve, collar, pants) that facilitate inversions and protect against smash passes

  • Anticipate and counter passing attempts through dynamic movement rather than static holding

  • Develop clear pathways to more dominant positions like back control, X-guard, or leg entanglements rather than remaining inverted

Primary Techniques

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Insufficient shoulder pressure with weight on neck instead of shoulder blades

    • Consequence: Risk of neck injury and inability to maintain position or create rotation for transitions
    • ✅ Correction: Distribute weight across shoulder blades, keep head tucked, and actively press shoulders into mat while lifting hips to maintain proper inversion mechanics

  • ❌ Poor weight distribution allowing opponent to flatten guard and eliminate mobility

    • Consequence: Loss of defensive capability, making smash passes and stack passes highly effective with no escape options
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain active hip elevation and rotation, never allowing hips to settle flat to mat, constantly adjusting position to track opponent movement

  • ❌ Overextension of legs without maintaining connection to opponent’s body

    • Consequence: Loss of control over opponent’s movement and inability to prevent passing or apply offensive techniques effectively
    • ✅ Correction: Keep legs engaged with hooks or foot placement on opponent’s hips, belt, or legs while maintaining grip controls on sleeves, collar, or pants

  • ❌ Extended time in inverted position without transitional intent or clear pathway

    • Consequence: Excessive energy expenditure and increased vulnerability to stack passes, pressure passes, and referee penalties for stalling
    • ✅ Correction: Use inversion as transitional position, immediately moving to berimbolo, back take, or guard recovery rather than static holding without purpose

  • ❌ Lack of clear transitional intent or pathway to dominant position

    • Consequence: Stalling in position without offensive or defensive purpose, leading to referee penalties or successful passes by opponent
    • ✅ Correction: Always have clear objective when inverting: either entering leg entanglement, setting up back take, or recovering guard position with specific technique in mind

  • ❌ Failing to protect against stack passes by not recognizing early warning signs

    • Consequence: Opponent drives weight onto shoulders and neck, creating severe pressure and passing opportunities with submission risk
    • ✅ Correction: Recognize stacking attempts early and immediately granby roll or rotate to alleviate pressure and re-establish guard before position becomes critical

  • ❌ Poor grip selection that doesn’t facilitate inversion or protect against smash passing

    • Consequence: Opponent establishes dominant grips and applies crushing pressure that prevents transitional movement
    • ✅ Correction: Establish strategic grips on sleeves, collar, or pants that enable rotational movement and prevent opponent from consolidating passing position

Playing as Top

→ Full Top Guide

Key Principles

  • Recognize inversion attempts early and immediately attack with appropriate passing pressure to prevent optimal positioning

  • Control opponent’s rotation and hip movement through strategic grips and weight distribution

  • Maintain proper base and distance to prevent being pulled into berimbolo or back take sequences

  • Apply crushing pressure through smash passes and stack passes when opponent commits to inverted position

  • Protect against leg entanglement entries by controlling distance and maintaining proper leg positioning

  • Force opponent to abandon inverted position through sustained pressure rather than allowing them to maintain mobility

  • Capitalize on transitional moments when opponent moves from inverted guard to other positions

Primary Techniques

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Overcommitting weight forward into berimbolo sequence without proper base

    • Consequence: Opponent easily completes berimbolo entry and achieves back control with minimal resistance
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain proper base with legs wide and weight distributed, controlling distance rather than driving forward without strategic purpose

  • ❌ Allowing opponent to establish optimal inversion angles without immediate pressure

    • Consequence: Opponent gains full mobility and offensive options from inverted guard, making passing significantly more difficult
    • ✅ Correction: Recognize inversion attempts early and immediately apply passing pressure to prevent optimal positioning and force defensive reactions

  • ❌ Poor grip control allowing opponent to establish sleeve, collar, or pants grips that facilitate inversion

    • Consequence: Opponent controls distance and creates angles necessary for successful berimbolo and back take sequences
    • ✅ Correction: Establish dominant grips first and break opponent’s grip controls before they can achieve optimal inverted positioning

  • ❌ Hesitating during stack pass application allowing opponent to escape or counter

    • Consequence: Opponent uses granby roll or rotation to escape stack pressure and recover guard position
    • ✅ Correction: Commit fully to stack pass once initiated, maintaining continuous pressure and controlling opponent’s rotation throughout the pass

  • ❌ Failing to protect legs from entanglement entries while focusing on passing

    • Consequence: Opponent secures single leg X-guard, X-guard, or ashi garami positions leading to leg attacks
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain awareness of leg positioning throughout passing sequences, keeping feet away from opponent’s hip line and hook controls

  • ❌ Using excessive energy to pass without strategic approach or timing

    • Consequence: Energy depletion while opponent maintains position with minimal effort through mobility and rotation
    • ✅ Correction: Apply strategic pressure at optimal moments when opponent commits to transitions, using timing and technique rather than pure strength

  • ❌ Allowing opponent to maintain inverted position indefinitely without forcing action

    • Consequence: Stalemate situation where opponent conserves energy while you expend effort attempting to pass
    • ✅ Correction: Force opponent to abandon inverted position through sustained pressure, grip controls, and strategic positioning that eliminates their transitional options

  • De La Riva Guard - Primary entry position for inverted guard transitions and berimbolo sequences

  • Reverse De La Riva Guard - Frequently connects to inverted guard entries and back take opportunities

  • Single Leg X-Guard - Common transition target from inverted position with sweep and leg entanglement options

  • X-Guard - Related guard position with similar sweep mechanics and base disruption

  • Back Control - Primary offensive goal from inverted guard via berimbolo and rolling back takes

  • Turtle - Alternative defensive posture with different risk-reward trade-offs

  • Rubber Guard - Alternative dynamic guard system with flexibility requirements

  • Spider Guard - Entry position that can transition to inverted guard for defensive retention

  • Lasso Guard - Connected guard position with inversion pathways

  • Butterfly Guard - Alternative mobile guard system with sweep emphasis