BJJ Graph

Lapel Guard Bottom | BJJ Position Guide | BJJ Graph

Oct 25, 202515 min read

Lapel Guard Bottom

bjjstateguardopen-guardlapel-guardintermediate

State Properties

  • State ID: S224
  • Point Value: 0 (Neutral)
  • Position Type: Offensive
  • Risk Level: Medium
  • Energy Cost: Medium
  • Time Sustainability: Medium

State Description

Lapel Guard Bottom is a gi-specific guard system that utilizes the opponent’s lapel as a primary control mechanism, creating unique angles and attack opportunities not available in traditional guard systems. The position involves extracting and controlling the opponent’s lapel—either wrapping it around legs, behind their back, or through various configurations—to restrict their movement and create off-balancing opportunities for sweeps, submissions, and back takes.

The fundamental principle of lapel guard is using the opponent’s gi against them, creating control points and constraints that don’t require direct physical contact or grip strength. By manipulating the lapel, you can control their posture, limit their base, and create attack angles while conserving your own energy. This makes lapel guards particularly effective for smaller practitioners against larger opponents.

Lapel guard systems have evolved significantly in modern BJJ, with innovations from Keenan Cornelius, Miyao brothers, and others creating entire guard families based on lapel manipulation. While the learning curve is steep compared to traditional guards, proficiency in lapel guard provides significant competitive advantages in gi-based competition, as many practitioners lack experience defending these positions.

Visual Description

You are on your back with one or both of your opponent’s lapels extracted from their gi and controlled in various configurations depending on the specific lapel guard variation. The lapel might be wrapped around your shin or foot creating a lasso-like control, threaded behind their back and controlled with both your hands to break their posture, wrapped around their arm or leg to restrict movement, or held in various grips that pull them off-balance. Your legs actively manage distance and create frames—one leg might maintain a hook (DLR or butterfly), while the other extends to control their hip or posts as a frame. Your hands balance between maintaining the lapel grip/configuration and controlling other strategic points like their sleeve, collar, or pants. Your hips remain mobile, constantly adjusting angles to create off-balancing forces and prevent opponent from establishing stable passing pressure. The position creates an unusual constrained feeling for your opponent as their own gi is used against them in ways they may not have experienced before.

Key Principles

  • Lapel Extraction and Control: Learn to efficiently extract opponent’s lapel and establish initial control without exposing yourself to passes
  • Multi-Point Control System: Combine lapel control with leg positioning and secondary grips to create comprehensive control
  • Posture Breaking Priority: Use lapel to constantly break opponent’s posture, preventing them from establishing strong passing pressure
  • Energy Conservation: Lapel control requires less continuous muscle exertion than traditional grips when maintained correctly
  • Distance Management: Use legs actively to manage optimal distance while lapel controls their upper body
  • Configuration Adaptation: Adjust lapel configuration based on opponent’s reactions and passing attempts
  • Grip Endurance: While less taxing than traditional grips, sustained lapel control still requires grip strength and strategic grip management

Offensive Transitions

From this position, you can execute:

Sweeps

Back Takes

Position Improvements

Guard Retention

Submissions

Defensive Responses

When opponent has this position against you, available counters:

Decision Tree

If opponent maintains upright posture:

Else if opponent drives forward:

Else if opponent attempts to clear lapel:

Else if opponent establishes low passing posture:

Else (balanced opponent):

Expert Insights

John Danaher: “Lapel guards represent a significant evolution in guard technology, exploiting the gi in novel ways that traditional guard systems did not address. The fundamental principle is using the opponent’s equipment to create control points that are difficult to break because they’re integrated into the gi itself. The key advantage is energy conservation—a properly maintained lapel grip requires far less continuous muscle tension than equivalent control through traditional grips. However, lapel guards demand technical precision in setup and maintenance. They are not positions you can force through athleticism alone; they require systematic understanding of leverage and control mechanics.”

Gordon Ryan: “I don’t use lapel guards in no-gi obviously, but I’ve trained extensively in gi and I understand their effectiveness. What makes lapel guards powerful in competition is that they create unfamiliar situations for most opponents. Even high-level black belts can struggle with well-executed lapel guards if they haven’t trained the specific counters. If I were competing gi at the highest level, I would invest significant time in lapel guard systems because the return on investment for competition is substantial. The ability to control larger, stronger opponents using their gi against them is a significant equalizer.”

Eddie Bravo: “Lapel guards are fascinating innovations that show BJJ’s continuous evolution. Keenan Cornelius and the Miyao brothers have created entirely new guard families that didn’t exist a decade ago. While 10th Planet focuses on no-gi, I respect the creativity and problem-solving that went into developing these systems. The principle of using your opponent’s equipment against them is universal—in no-gi, we create similar effects through different means with positions like lockdown and rubber guard. The mindset of constantly questioning ‘what else can I do?’ and ‘how can I create new problems for my opponent?’ is what drives innovation in our art.”

Common Errors

Error: Losing lapel control during setup

  • Consequence: Without maintaining lapel control throughout extraction and establishment, opponent can reclaim their gi and establish passing pressure, neutralizing your guard before it’s established.
  • Correction: Practice smooth, controlled lapel extraction that maintains connection. Use body positioning to protect extracted lapel. Have backup plan if extraction fails.
  • Recognition: If opponent frequently reclaims lapel during setup, your extraction technique needs refinement. Should feel controlled throughout process.

Error: Poor lapel configuration creating weak control

  • Consequence: Improper lapel wrapping or holding creates false sense of control that collapses under pressure, leading to easy passes or guard loss.
  • Correction: Study proper lapel configurations for each variation. Seek coaching on exact mechanics. Verify setup before adding resistance. Test control with gentle pressure before committing.
  • Recognition: If lapel control is easily broken or doesn’t restrict opponent’s movement, configuration is wrong. Proper setup should create noticeable constraint.

Error: Neglecting secondary controls (legs, grips)

  • Consequence: Lapel alone is insufficient; without complementary leg positioning and grips, opponent can pass despite lapel control. Over-reliance on lapel creates vulnerability.
  • Correction: Always combine lapel control with active leg positioning (hooks, frames, distance management) and secondary grips (sleeve, collar, pants). Treat lapel as one element of control system, not entire system.
  • Recognition: If opponent passes despite lapel control, you lack proper complementary controls. Should feel multi-layered control throughout.

Error: Static lapel maintenance without movement

  • Consequence: Holding lapel statically without hip movement allows opponent to stabilize and work counters methodically. Reduces effectiveness and makes passing easier.
  • Correction: Constantly adjust hip angles and distances even with lapel control. Use movement to create off-balancing forces and prevent opponent from setting their base.
  • Recognition: If opponent feels comfortable despite your lapel control, you’re too static. Should feel constant dynamic pressure.

Error: Overcommitting to lapel when it’s being cleared

  • Consequence: Stubbornly maintaining compromised lapel leads to guard pass as you focus on failed control while opponent advances position. Missing transition window.
  • Correction: Develop sensitivity to recognize when lapel is being effectively cleared. Transition early to alternative guard system rather than after lapel is lost. Have pre-planned exits.
  • Recognition: If lapel frequently gets cleared leading to guard loss, you’re recognizing too late. Should transition at first sign of effective counter.

Error: Attempting advanced lapel variations without fundamentals

  • Consequence: Jumping to worm guard or complex variations without mastering basic lapel control leads to ineffective positions and easy passes. Building on weak foundation.
  • Correction: Master fundamental lapel extractions, basic sweeps, and simple configurations before attempting worm, squid, or advanced variations. Build systematic progression.
  • Recognition: If advanced variations consistently fail, your fundamentals are insufficient. Should have solid basic lapel guard first.

Error: Poor grip management leading to early fatigue

  • Consequence: Gripping lapel too tightly or inefficiently causes hand and forearm fatigue, reducing effectiveness in later exchanges and making grip breaks easier.
  • Correction: Use proper grip technique with minimal necessary tension. Alternate grips strategically. Develop grip endurance through specific training. Rest grips when position is secure.
  • Recognition: If hands are burning and fatiguing quickly, your grip technique or intensity is wrong. Should feel sustainable throughout extended exchanges.

Training Drills

Drill 1: Lapel Extraction and Configuration Practice

Start from standard open guard, practice extracting opponent’s lapel smoothly and establishing basic control configurations with partner at 25% resistance. Focus on maintaining position security during extraction, efficient grip transfers, and proper lapel wrapping/holding. Partner provides feedback on control quality. Progress to 50%, then 75% resistance as technique improves. 5 minutes per configuration type (lapel behind back, wrapped around leg, lasso-style), 3-4 rounds, with coaching on mechanics. Goal is automatic, safe lapel establishment.

Drill 2: Lapel Guard Sweep Mechanics

With basic lapel control established (start from established position), practice specific sweep mechanics against progressive resistance (start 25%). Partner maintains defensive base while you work off-balancing using lapel control combined with leg positioning. Focus on coordinated use of lapel pull, hip movement, and leg action. Partner increases to 50%, 75%, 90% as sweeps become effective. 3 minutes per resistance level, 4-5 rounds, with feedback on sweep finish. Build power and technical precision.

Drill 3: Lapel to Back Take Sequences

Practice flowing from lapel guard directly to back control through various paths (inverted back take, technical stand-up back take, direct back exposure). Start with compliant partner (0% resistance) to learn movement patterns, progress to 50%, then 75% resistance. Focus on maintaining lapel connection through transition and reading opponent’s defensive reactions. 2 minute rounds, 6-8 rounds covering different back take variations. Video review to identify improvement areas.

Drill 4: Lapel Guard Defense and Transitions

Partner attempts specific lapel guard counters (lapel clear, distance creation, pressure pass) while you practice recognizing counter early and transitioning to different configuration or guard type (50% resistance). Goal is fluid adaptation when control is being compromised. Partner increases to 75% intensity. Focus on reading cues, making early decisions, and maintaining offensive position through changes. 3 minute rounds, 4-5 rounds, with partner mixing counter types. Develop sensitivity and adaptability.

Drill 5: Lapel Guard Position Sparring

Start every round with basic lapel control established, then free spar with goal of sweeping, submitting, or taking back (you) or passing (partner). Partner begins at 50% resistance, progressing to 100% over multiple sessions. Reset to lapel guard after each successful action. Focus on all principles: lapel maintenance, secondary controls, hip movement, sweep/back take execution, transition decisions. 5 minute rounds, 5-6 rounds per session, with coaching between rounds. Build live application.

Optimal Submission Paths

Fastest path to back (lapel specialty): Lapel Guard Bottom → Lapel to Back Take → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke → Won by Submission Reasoning: Lapel control facilitates back take opportunities. Direct path to RNC is high-percentage. Back control provides best submission options.

High-percentage sweep path: Lapel Guard Bottom → Lapel Drag Sweep → Mount → Mounted Submissions → Won by Submission Reasoning: Lapel sweep to mount provides dominant position for submission. Systematic and reliable approach.

Direct submission path (choke): Lapel Guard Bottom → Lapel Choke Variations → Won by Submission Reasoning: Lapel already controlled, add second grip for direct choke. Fast but requires specific setup and opponent’s forward commitment.

Advanced progression path: Lapel Guard Bottom → Worm Guard Entry → Worm Guard Sweep → Mount → Submission Chain → Won by Submission Reasoning: Progress from basic to advanced lapel position, then sweep to dominance. Shows systematic position advancement.

Triangle combination path: Lapel Guard Bottom → Triangle with Lapel → Triangle Control → Triangle Finish or Armbar → Won by Submission Reasoning: Use lapel to facilitate triangle entry, then finish or transition to armbar. Versatile attack chain.

Position Metrics

  • Position Retention Rate: Beginner 52%, Intermediate 68%, Advanced 82%
  • Advancement Probability: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 48%, Advanced 65%
  • Submission Probability: Beginner 20%, Intermediate 32%, Advanced 48%
  • Position Loss Probability: Beginner 42%, Intermediate 28%, Advanced 15%
  • Average Time in Position: 1-2.5 minutes

Graph View

Backlinks