Lapel guard top position presents unique technical challenges that distinguish it from traditional guard passing scenarios. The opponent has transformed their gi into a control system by feeding the lapel around your body, legs, or arms, creating mechanical barriers that prevent standard passing approaches.
The fundamental problem from top is that lapel configurations create persistent obstacles that don’t disappear when you break traditional grips. Unlike a collar grip or sleeve grip that’s gone when you strip it, a lapel wrapped around your leg continues to control your movement even after you’ve broken your opponent’s hand grip on it. This requires addressing the fabric configuration itself, not just the grips maintaining it.
Successful passing from lapel guard top requires understanding the specific configuration being used—worm, squid, ringworm, or hybrid variations each present different mechanical problems. Attempting to pass without clearing the lapel obstruction typically results in compromised position or exposure to sweeps and back takes.
The strategic approach involves either clearing the lapel configuration entirely before initiating passing sequences, or using specific passing mechanics that navigate around the lapel barriers without directly engaging them. Both approaches are valid; the choice depends on the specific configuration, your body type, and your passing style preferences.
Energy management is challenging from top because solving the lapel puzzle requires active problem-solving while the bottom player maintains control with relatively low effort. This creates pressure to act quickly before fatigue sets in, but rushing without proper technique typically results in defensive errors that lead to sweeps or back exposure.
Developing lapel guard top competency requires specific drilling and study. Generic pressure passing or athletic passing often fails against competent lapel players, necessitating technical solutions that directly address the unique control mechanisms. Understanding the position from both sides—playing lapel guard yourself—significantly accelerates learning how to pass it effectively.
Position Definition
- Top player faces opponent in guard position where their own lapel has been extracted and configured around their body, leg, or arm creating a mechanical barrier that restricts passing options—this fabric configuration persists independent of hand grips
- Top player must maintain balance and base despite the lapel configuration pulling them off-balance or restricting movement in specific directions, requiring constant postural adjustment
- Bottom player uses the lapel configuration to create frames and barriers that prevent hip contact and pressure passing approaches, fundamentally altering the passing geometry
Prerequisites
- Understanding of how different lapel configurations (worm, squid, ringworm) affect passing mechanics
- Ability to maintain posture and base despite being pulled or restricted by lapel fabric
- Knowledge of proper grip sequences for clearing lapel configurations
- Basic guard passing competency in traditional open guards
- Recognition of when opponent is attempting to establish lapel control for early prevention
Key Offensive Principles
- Address lapel configuration immediately—don’t attempt to pass through it without clearing
- Prevent lapel extraction in first place through early grip fighting and pressure
- Create distance to reduce leverage opponent gains from lapel configuration
- Use backstep or circling passes that navigate around rather than through lapel barriers
- Clear one layer of control at a time—systematically dismantle complex configurations
- Maintain constant forward pressure to prevent opponent from re-establishing cleared configurations
- Recognize specific lapel guard variations and apply appropriate technical solutions
Available Attacks
Lapel Clear to Toreando Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 70%
Backstep Around Worm Guard → Turtle
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 75%
Pressure Pass Through Squid → Half Guard Pass
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 65%
Knee Slice Despite Lapel → Knee on Belly
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 70%
Long Step Around Ringworm → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 65%
Stack Pass Over Lapel Barrier → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 60%
Distance Creation to Reset → Standing Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 50%
- Intermediate: 70%
- Advanced: 85%
Leg Drag While Clearing Lapel → Leg Drag Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 65%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent has worm guard with lapel around your leg:
- Execute Backstep Around Worm Guard → Turtle (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Distance Creation to Reset → Standing Guard (Probability: 55%)
If opponent has squid guard with lapel controlling your arm:
- Execute Pressure Pass Through Squid → Half Guard Pass (Probability: 50%)
- Execute Lapel Clear to Toreando Pass → Side Control (Probability: 55%)
If opponent has complex ringworm configuration with multiple wraps:
- Execute Distance Creation to Reset → Standing Guard (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Long Step Around Ringworm → Side Control (Probability: 45%)
If you’ve successfully cleared lapel configuration:
- Execute Immediate Pressure When Lapel Cleared → Half Guard Pass (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Knee Slice Despite Lapel → Knee on Belly (Probability: 65%)
Optimal Submission Paths
Clear to Knee Slice to Mount Submission
Lapel Guard Top → Toreando Pass → Side Control → Transition to Mount → Mount → Armbar from Mount
Backstep to Turtle Attack
Lapel Guard Top → Backstep Around Worm Guard → Turtle → Turtle to Back Control → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke
Pressure to Half Guard Submission
Lapel Guard Top → Pressure Pass Through Squid → Half Guard Pass → Side Control → North-South to Kimura → Kimura
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 35% | 30% | 15% |
| Intermediate | 55% | 50% | 30% |
| Advanced | 75% | 70% | 50% |
Average Time in Position: 3-5 minutes to successfully pass established lapel guard in competition
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
Passing lapel guard requires understanding that you’re not fighting against a person’s limbs—you’re fighting against a mechanical system that extends their control range through fabric leverage. The solution must be systematic: first identify which specific configuration is being used, as each has distinct mechanical vulnerabilities. Worm guard is typically addressed through backstep mechanics that rotate around the lapel-controlled leg. Squid guard often requires creating distance or using pressure passing that drives through the arm control. Complex configurations like ringworm may necessitate complete disengagement and reset rather than direct passing. The common thread is that explosive athleticism rarely succeeds—the fabric barriers are geometrically solid regardless of how much force you apply. Technical precision in clearing the configuration before advancing your passing position is the only reliable approach. Study the position from the bottom perspective to understand the control mechanics, then develop specific technical solutions for each variation.
Gordon Ryan
From a competition standpoint, lapel guard is one of the most frustrating positions to pass because your usual athletic advantages don’t help as much. I can’t just pressure through a lapel wrapped around my leg the same way I can pressure through a collar grip. What works for me is prevention first—if I see someone starting to extract my lapel, I immediately engage with dominant grips and pressure to shut it down before it develops. Once it’s established, I focus on which specific configuration they have and apply the right technical solution. Against worm guard, I’m backstepping and rotating around the controlled leg. Against squid, I’m usually creating distance or using pressure depending on their specific setup. The key is not panicking and trying to muscle through it. These positions look weird and feel restrictive, but they have technical solutions. You have to stay patient, apply the right technique, and trust the process rather than trying to explode out of it. Also, learning to play these positions yourself dramatically improves your ability to pass them—you understand the vulnerabilities from firsthand experience.
Eddie Bravo
Lapel guard is gi players getting creative with their uniform, and you’ve got to respect the innovation even while you’re trying to pass it. The mistake I see is people treating it like a standard guard pass when it’s fundamentally different—there’s a physical barrier created by the fabric that doesn’t exist in other positions. From a strategic perspective, the best defense is preventing it in the first place through aggressive engagement. Once it’s set up, you need position-specific knowledge because generic passing doesn’t work. What’s interesting is how this demonstrates the importance of understanding positions you don’t personally play—even if you’re a no-gi specialist, understanding lapel guard mechanics helps you appreciate control extension concepts that apply everywhere. For gi players dealing with lapel guard, invest time learning it from both sides. Roll with high-level lapel guard players and let them work on you so you feel what actually threatens you versus what just looks complicated. That experiential knowledge is invaluable for developing efficient passing solutions.