Lapel Guard Top

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%

Opponent Escapes

• Worm Guard Retention → Worm Guard (Opponent Success: 60%)
• Squid Guard Maintenance → Squid Guard (Opponent Success: 55%)
• Back Take Counter → Back Control (Opponent Success: 40%)
• Triangle Lock on Clearing Attempt → Triangle Control (Opponent Success: 35%)
• De La Riva Recovery → De La Riva Guard (Opponent Success: 50%)

Escape Counters

• Immediate Pressure When Lapel Cleared → Half Guard Pass
  • Successfully clearing lapel configuration from leg or arm
• Backstep When Bottom Player Sits Up → Turtle
  • Bottom player elevates torso attempting to pursue back take
• Toreando When Distance Created → Side Control
  • Creating separation that reduces lapel control leverage
• Stack Pass When Bottom Extends Legs → Mount
  • Bottom player extends legs to maintain lapel barrier creating stacking opportunity

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%)

Common Offensive Mistakes

1. Attempting standard pressure passing without addressing lapel configuration

• ❌ Consequence: Lapel fabric creates barrier that prevents hip contact, resulting in failed passing attempt and exposure to sweeps or back takes
• ✅ Correction: First clear or neutralize lapel configuration, then apply passing pressure—don’t try to pass through a mechanical barrier

2. Using excessive force to rip lapel free from opponent’s control

• ❌ Consequence: Rapid grip fatigue, potential gi damage, and often unsuccessful as fabric is wrapped around body parts rather than just gripped
• ✅ Correction: Use technical lapel clearing sequences that address the configuration systematically, unwinding or navigating around rather than forcing

3. Allowing opponent time and space to establish complex lapel configurations

• ❌ Consequence: Fighting against fully-developed ringworm or multi-layer configurations is exponentially more difficult than preventing their establishment
• ✅ Correction: Engage immediately with dominant grips and pressure when opponent begins extracting lapel, preventing configuration before it’s complete

4. Maintaining static base position while opponent adjusts lapel configuration

• ❌ Consequence: Opponent fine-tunes their control while you remain stuck in compromised position with no progress toward passing
• ✅ Correction: Constant movement and angle changes prevent opponent from establishing clean lapel configurations—be difficult to configure

5. Ignoring which specific lapel guard variation opponent is using

• ❌ Consequence: Applying wrong technical solution (worm guard pass to squid guard configuration) results in failed pass and wasted energy
• ✅ Correction: Identify specific variation (worm, squid, ringworm, etc.) and apply corresponding technical solution designed for that configuration

6. Pulling backward to escape lapel control instead of passing forward

• ❌ Consequence: Creates distance but resets exchange without progress, essentially stalling rather than advancing position
• ✅ Correction: Clear lapel configuration while simultaneously advancing passing position—solve problem and make progress in single action

Training Drills for Attacks

Lapel Configuration Recognition

Partner establishes various lapel guard configurations (worm, squid, ringworm) in sequence. You have 5 seconds to identify the specific variation and state which passing approach is most appropriate. Focus on rapid pattern recognition without attempting full passes.

Duration: 3 minutes

Systematic Lapel Clearing

Partner establishes single lapel configuration and maintains it with moderate resistance. Practice technical clearing sequences specific to each variation, focusing on economy of movement rather than speed. Reset after each successful clear.

Duration: 5 minutes

Prevention Sparring

Start in open guard with partner attempting to extract your lapel and establish configurations. Your only goal is preventing lapel control through early grip fighting and pressure. Partner succeeds if they establish any clean configuration; you succeed if you prevent it for 30 seconds.

Duration: 5 minutes

Pass Completion After Clear

Partner establishes lapel configuration of choice. Clear it using appropriate technique, then immediately complete guard pass before partner can re-establish control. Emphasize the connection between clearing and passing as single continuous action.

Duration: 4 minutes

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

Related Positions and Techniques

• Worm Guard - Most common lapel configuration you’ll face—requires specific backstep solutions
• Squid Guard - Arm control variation requiring pressure passing or distance creation
• Ringworm Guard - Complex configuration often requiring full reset rather than direct passing
• Toreando Pass - Effective passing method after clearing lapel configurations
• Long Step Pass - Navigates around lapel barriers by changing passing angle
• Back Step - Primary solution for worm guard configurations
• Standing Guard - Reset position for creating distance from complex lapel configurations
• Pressure Passing Framework - System principles that can be adapted for passing through cleared lapel guards
• Grip Fighting - Preventative strategy for stopping lapel extractions early
• Keenan Cornelius Lapel Guard System - Study this system from bottom perspective to understand vulnerabilities from top