Lapel Guard Bottom

Lapel guard bottom represents one of the most innovative developments in modern gi grappling, transforming the opponent’s uniform into a sophisticated control system. From this position, the bottom practitioner feeds the opponent’s lapel around their body, creating unique frames and barriers that fundamentally alter guard passing dynamics.

The position begins with extracting one of the opponent’s lapels—typically from a seated or open guard position. The bottom player feeds this lapel around the opponent’s leg (worm guard), arm (squid guard), or through more complex configurations. Once established, these lapel wraps create persistent control points that don’t require constant grip maintenance like traditional guards.

Strategically, lapel guard bottom excels at neutralizing pressure passing and creating technical puzzles that athletic passers often struggle to solve. The fabric barriers prevent opponents from achieving the hip contact necessary for effective pressure passing, while simultaneously loading sweeping mechanics that trigger when the opponent attempts to clear the lapel obstruction.

The offensive potential from lapel guard includes powerful sweeps, back takes, and submission entries. Many attacks are constructed as true dilemmas—if the opponent defends the sweep by posting, they expose their back; if they defend the back take by staying heavy, they get swept. This forced-choice dynamic makes lapel guard particularly effective against higher-level opponents who understand they’re in danger.

Energy management favors the bottom player significantly once configurations are established. Maintaining lapel control requires relatively minimal effort compared to the complex problem-solving required from the top position. This allows the bottom player to wait patiently for specific reactions rather than constantly fighting for position.

The learning curve for lapel guard is steep but rewarding. Initial sessions focus on reliably establishing basic configurations under resistance. Intermediate development adds sweeps and transitions between lapel variations. Advanced play involves reading opponent’s weight distribution and creating submission opportunities from the control positions. The technical complexity creates significant competitive advantage against opponents unfamiliar with the system.

Position Definition

• Bottom player has established control of opponent’s lapel with at least one grip point feeding the fabric around opponent’s body, leg, or arm—this lapel configuration creates a mechanical barrier that persists independent of hand grip strength
• Bottom player maintains open guard structure with hips mobile and legs active, using the lapel as a supplementary control point rather than relying solely on it—this allows continued guard retention if lapel grip is lost
• Opponent’s posture is disrupted by the lapel configuration which pulls them off-balance or restricts their movement in specific directions, typically preventing them from achieving the hip contact necessary for effective pressure passing

Prerequisites

• Ability to extract opponent’s lapel while maintaining guard position
• Understanding of basic open guard mechanics and hip movement
• Sufficient gi grip strength to feed lapel around opponent’s body parts
• Knowledge of which lapel configuration to use based on opponent’s posture and passing style
• Ability to maintain guard retention while establishing lapel grips

Key Defensive Principles

• Extract and configure lapel early before opponent establishes dominant passing grips
• Use lapel as persistent control point that doesn’t require constant grip maintenance
• Combine lapel control with leg frames to create redundant defensive systems
• Create sweep/submission dilemmas where defending one attack opens the other
• Maintain hip mobility—lapel control supplements but doesn’t replace active guard movement
• Transition between lapel configurations based on opponent’s reactions and weight distribution
• Use lapel barriers to prevent hip contact and pressure passing approaches

Available Escapes

Worm Guard Entry → Worm Guard

Success Rates:

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

Squid Guard Entry → Squid Guard

Success Rates:

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

Ringworm Guard Entry → Ringworm Guard

Success Rates:

• Beginner: 25%
• Intermediate: 45%
• Advanced: 65%

Lapel Sweep to Back → Back Control

Success Rates:

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

Lapel Omoplata Entry → Omoplata Control

Success Rates:

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

Lapel Triangle Setup → Triangle Control

Success Rates:

• Beginner: 25%
• Intermediate: 45%
• Advanced: 60%

Lapel to Lasso Transition → Lasso Guard

Success Rates:

• Beginner: 50%
• Intermediate: 65%
• Advanced: 80%

Lapel to Spider Transition → Spider Guard

Success Rates:

• Beginner: 55%
• Intermediate: 70%
• Advanced: 85%

Lapel to De La Riva → De La Riva Guard

Success Rates:

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

Lapel Elevator Sweep → Mount

Success Rates:

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

Opponent Counters

• Lapel Grip Break and Distance Creation → Standing Guard (Opponent Success: 45%)
• Pressure Pass Through Lapel → Half Guard Pass (Opponent Success: 35%)
• Toreando Around Lapel Configuration → Side Control (Opponent Success: 40%)
• Backstep to Clear Lapel → Turtle (Opponent Success: 50%)
• Leg Drag Despite Lapel → Leg Drag Control (Opponent Success: 30%)

Counter-Attacks

• Re-configure to Squid When Worm is Cleared → Squid Guard
  • Opponent clears leg from worm guard lapel wrap
• Triangle Lock When Arm Posted → Triangle Control
  • Opponent posts arm to prevent sweep from lapel guard
• Back Take When Forward Pressure Applied → Back Control
  • Opponent drives forward trying to pressure through lapel barrier
• Omoplata When Grip Stripped → Omoplata Control
  • Opponent strips lapel grip but leaves arm extended
• De La Riva Recovery → De La Riva Guard
  • Lapel configuration is partially cleared but leg position remains

Decision Making from This Position

If opponent stands with upright posture and attempts to create distance:

• Execute Worm Guard Entry → Worm Guard (Probability: 70%)
• Execute Lapel to De La Riva → De La Riva Guard (Probability: 60%)

If opponent attempts pressure pass with low posture driving forward:

• Execute Squid Guard Entry → Squid Guard (Probability: 65%)
• Execute Lapel Triangle Setup → Triangle Control (Probability: 50%)

If opponent posts hand to base while attempting to clear lapel:

• Execute Lapel Omoplata Entry → Omoplata Control (Probability: 55%)
• Execute Lapel Sweep to Back → Back Control (Probability: 60%)

If opponent successfully strips primary lapel grip:

• Execute Lapel to Spider Transition → Spider Guard (Probability: 65%)
• Execute Lapel to Lasso Transition → Lasso Guard (Probability: 60%)

Common Defensive Mistakes

1. Relying exclusively on lapel grip without maintaining leg frames or hip mobility

• ❌ Consequence: Opponent can pass around the lapel control using toreando or pressure passing, rendering the lapel configuration irrelevant
• ✅ Correction: Use lapel as supplementary control point while maintaining active leg frames and mobile hips—the lapel enhances but doesn’t replace fundamental guard retention

2. Attempting complex lapel configurations while opponent has dominant grips established

• ❌ Consequence: Opponent initiates pass before lapel configuration is complete, catching the bottom player in vulnerable transition
• ✅ Correction: Establish lapel control early in the exchange before opponent secures passing grips, or break opponent’s grips before beginning lapel configuration

3. Holding lapel fabric with overly tight grip using excessive forearm strength

• ❌ Consequence: Rapid forearm fatigue compromises grip endurance, causing lapel control to fail in extended exchanges
• ✅ Correction: Use structural grip relying on skeletal alignment rather than muscular squeeze—hook fingers through lapel and use body positioning to maintain tension

4. Failing to adjust lapel configuration when opponent changes their passing angle or posture

• ❌ Consequence: Static lapel configuration becomes ineffective as opponent navigates around it, leading to guard pass
• ✅ Correction: Flow between worm, squid, and other lapel configurations based on opponent’s movement—treat lapel guard as dynamic system rather than static position

5. Pursuing lapel attacks without creating genuine dilemmas that force opponent to choose

• ❌ Consequence: Opponent can defend all attacks simultaneously by maintaining good posture and base, neutralizing offensive threats
• ✅ Correction: Structure attacks so defending sweep opens submission and defending submission opens sweep—force opponent into lose-lose decisions

6. Using lapel guard in no-gi training or scenarios without gi grips available

• ❌ Consequence: Developing over-reliance on gi-specific strategies that don’t translate to no-gi or self-defense contexts
• ✅ Correction: Balance lapel guard development with no-gi alternatives like butterfly, X-guard, or leg entanglements for complete guard game

Training Drills for Defense

Lapel Extraction Repetitions

Partner maintains various open guard positions while you practice extracting lapels and feeding them into basic configurations. Focus on maintaining guard retention throughout the extraction process. Reset every 30 seconds regardless of success.

Duration: 5 minutes

Configuration Flow Drill

Start in basic lapel guard with one configuration (worm, squid, or ringworm). Partner slowly changes their passing angle or posture every 10 seconds. Practice flowing between different lapel configurations without losing control. Emphasize smooth transitions rather than static holds.

Duration: 5 minutes

Lapel Guard Sweep Timing

Establish lapel configuration of choice. Partner attempts to clear the lapel using specific techniques (grip breaking, pressure, or circling). Execute sweeps based on their clearing attempts, focusing on using their momentum against them. Reset after each sweep attempt.

Duration: 3 minutes

Lapel to Submission Chains

From established lapel guard, partner defends first submission attempt (triangle or omoplata). Flow immediately to second submission option using their defensive reaction. Practice creating genuine dilemmas where defense opens another attack.

Duration: 4 minutes

Escape and Survival Paths

Worm Guard to Triangle

Lapel Guard → Worm Guard → Triangle Setup → Triangle Control → Triangle Choke

Squid Guard to Omoplata

Lapel Guard → Squid Guard → Omoplata → Omoplata Control → Omoplata

Ringworm to Back Attack

Lapel Guard → Ringworm Guard → Back Take Generic → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke

Lapel to Kimura Trap

Lapel Guard → Squid Guard → Kimura Defense → Kimura Control → Kimura

Success Rates and Statistics

Skill Level	Retention Rate	Advancement Probability	Submission Probability
Beginner	50%	35%	20%
Intermediate	70%	55%	40%
Advanced	85%	75%	60%

Average Time in Position: 2-4 minutes in competition exchanges with experienced practitioners

Related Positions and Techniques

• Worm Guard - Primary variation with lapel wrapped around opponent’s leg
• Squid Guard - Arm control variation complementing worm guard
• Ringworm Guard - Advanced configuration combining multiple lapel wraps
• Spider Guard - Traditional guard that combines well with lapel grips
• Lasso Guard - Shares control principles and can be combined with lapel control
• De La Riva Guard - Common entry position for establishing lapel configurations
• Collar Sleeve Guard - Traditional guard that transitions naturally to lapel variations
• Triangle Control - Common submission finish from lapel guard setups
• Omoplata Control - Shoulder lock option from squid guard configurations
• Keenan Cornelius Lapel Guard System - Comprehensive system for lapel guard techniques and variations