Inverted Lasso Guard Top

Inverted Lasso Guard Top represents one of the most challenging defensive positions in modern sport jiu-jitsu, requiring excellent balance, grip fighting skills, and systematic understanding of counter-mechanics. When opponents invert with a lasso hook, they create geometric advantages that make traditional pressure passing ineffective, forcing top players to employ specialized defensive strategies.

The primary challenge from top position is that standard passing responses become counterproductive. Driving forward pressure, which works against upright guards, actually feeds into the bottom player’s sweep mechanics when they’re inverted. Similarly, backing away to create space opens berimbolo entries. Top players must thread a narrow path between these extremes, maintaining connection while preventing the rotational movement that makes inverted lasso dangerous.

Successful top play begins with recognizing the inversion early and responding immediately. The window to counter effectively is very short - once the bottom player completes the inversion and establishes their angle, defensive options narrow significantly. The best defense is either preventing the inversion entirely through grip control and pressure timing, or countering mid-inversion by following their movement with a cartwheel or counter-rotation.

Three primary defensive strategies exist: arm extraction (removing the lassoed limb to eliminate the position entirely), pressure passing (establishing heavy control to prevent hip mobility), and counter-inversions (following the bottom player’s movement with cartwheels or back steps that neutralize the angle advantage). Each strategy has optimal timing and risk profiles. Top players must develop pattern recognition to identify which approach suits each specific situation.

Advanced top players learn to create dilemmas in reverse - making the inverted position itself uncomfortable enough that bottom players must abandon it or risk exhaustion. This involves strategic pressure application on the inverted shoulders, controlling the hips to prevent rotation, and threatening submissions or passes that force a return to upright guard. The goal is making inverted lasso untenable as a holding position, converting it from an offensive threat to a desperate defensive attempt.

Position Definition

• Top player’s arm remains threaded through opponent’s leg with their sleeve gripped, creating the lasso connection that defines the position - maintaining awareness of this trapped arm’s position is critical as it determines available defensive options and movement patterns
• Bottom player is inverted with shoulders on mat and hips elevated, using their lassoed leg as a fulcrum point - recognizing this inverted posture immediately is essential as it signals the shift from standard passing approaches to specialized inversion counters
• Top player maintains upright or forward-leaning posture while managing balance against rotational forces from inverted opponent - balance and base are constantly challenged by angular momentum, requiring dynamic weight adjustments rather than static positioning

Prerequisites

• Bottom player has established lasso hook with leg threaded through top player’s arm
• Bottom player has initiated inversion, rolling onto shoulders with hips elevated
• Top player’s sleeve is controlled by bottom player’s grip on lassoed side
• Top player is in standing, kneeling, or combat base position above inverted opponent
• Sufficient mat space exists for both players to move through potential sweep or berimbolo sequences

Key Offensive Principles

• Recognize inversion immediately and respond within 1-2 seconds - delayed reactions allow bottom player to establish angle and initiate attacks
• Maintain forward pressure angle while preventing shoulder rotation - pressure must be directional, not purely downward
• Control opponent’s hips with free hand to limit mobility - hip control is the key to preventing berimbolo and overhead sweeps
• Extract lassoed arm systematically, not explosively - violent pulling typically fails and opens counter-attacks
• Use strategic weight shifts to make inversion uncomfortable - forcing bottom player to support your weight exhausts them rapidly
• Threaten counters that force opponent to abandon inversion - submission threats and pass attempts make holding inverted position untenable
• Stay connected rather than creating distance - space allows bottom player to reset and reinvert with better angles

Available Attacks

Lasso Guard Pass → Side Control

Success Rates:

• Beginner: 30%
• Intermediate: 50%
• Advanced: 70%

Stack Pass → Side Control

Success Rates:

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

Arm Extraction → Open Guard

Success Rates:

• Beginner: 35%
• Intermediate: 55%
• Advanced: 75%

Cartwheel Pass → Back Control

Success Rates:

• Beginner: 20%
• Intermediate: 40%
• Advanced: 60%

Pressure Pass → Side Control

Success Rates:

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

Knee Cut Pass → Side Control

Success Rates:

• Beginner: 30%
• Intermediate: 50%
• Advanced: 70%

Smash Pass → Side Control

Success Rates:

• Beginner: 20%
• Intermediate: 40%
• Advanced: 60%

Standing up in Base → Standing Position

Success Rates:

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

Opponent Escapes

• Berimbolo Entry → Back Control (Opponent Success: 55%)
• Hip Bump Sweep V2 → Mount (Opponent Success: 50%)
• Kiss of the Dragon → Back Control (Opponent Success: 45%)
• Triangle Setup → Triangle Control (Opponent Success: 35%)
• Omoplata Sweep → Omoplata Control (Opponent Success: 40%)

Escape Counters

• Cartwheel Pass → Back Control
  • Bottom player initiates berimbolo rotation by threading leg behind back
• Stack Pass → Side Control
  • Bottom player commits to overhead sweep by extending lassoed leg
• Arm Extraction → Open Guard
  • Bottom player’s lasso hook loosens during position adjustment
• Pressure Pass → Side Control
  • Bottom player’s hips lower toward mat, reducing mobility

Decision Making from This Position

If bottom player commits to berimbolo rotation with leg threading behind back:

• Execute Cartwheel Pass → Back Control (Probability: 60%)
• Execute Pressure Pass → Side Control (Probability: 45%)

If bottom player extends lassoed leg for overhead sweep:

• Execute Stack Pass → Side Control (Probability: 65%)
• Execute Pressure Pass → Side Control (Probability: 55%)

If lasso hook shows any looseness or bottom player adjusts grip:

• Execute Arm Extraction → Open Guard (Probability: 70%)
• Execute Knee Cut Pass → Side Control (Probability: 60%)

If bottom player remains inverted without initiating specific technique:

• Execute Pressure Pass → Side Control (Probability: 55%)
• Execute Smash Pass → Side Control (Probability: 50%)

Common Offensive Mistakes

1. Driving forward pressure directly into inverted opponent’s hips

• ❌ Consequence: Feeds directly into overhead sweep mechanics, adding momentum to bottom player’s technique and making sweep nearly impossible to stop
• ✅ Correction: Angle pressure toward shoulders and chest rather than hips, keeping hips back and base wide to prevent forward momentum that assists sweeps

2. Creating distance by stepping back away from inverted guard

• ❌ Consequence: Opens massive space for berimbolo entries, allows bottom player to thread legs and rotate behind back easily
• ✅ Correction: Stay connected with strategic pressure points while controlling hips, preventing rotation without giving space

3. Attempting to forcefully rip lassoed arm free with explosive pulling

• ❌ Consequence: Typically fails against tight lasso, exhausts grip strength, and creates momentum that bottom player can use for sweeps
• ✅ Correction: Extract arm systematically by first addressing the ankle grip, creating slack in the lasso, then removing arm in controlled manner

4. Remaining static with square hips while opponent inverts

• ❌ Consequence: Eliminates mobility needed to counter rotations, makes body easy target for sweeps from multiple angles
• ✅ Correction: Maintain active base with constant micro-adjustments, keeping hips mobile and ready to follow opponent’s movement or counter-rotate

5. Ignoring free leg that isn’t involved in lasso

• ❌ Consequence: Allows bottom player to post on hip, control distance, and initiate berimbolo or other techniques unopposed
• ✅ Correction: Control free leg with hand or by pinning with hip, preventing it from posting or creating angles

6. Dropping weight onto inverted opponent’s chest with full commitment

• ❌ Consequence: Transfers all weight to opponent’s strongest structural position (shoulder bridge), enables easy sweep with hip extension
• ✅ Correction: Distribute weight strategically, keeping majority on own base with controlled pressure on opponent’s less mobile points

7. Failing to recognize inversion initiation, responding only after position established

• ❌ Consequence: Misses optimal defensive window, allows bottom player to secure ideal angle making counters exponentially more difficult
• ✅ Correction: Develop pattern recognition for inversion cues (shoulder drop, hip rotation), respond immediately during transition rather than after completion

Training Drills for Attacks

Inversion Recognition Drill

Partner plays inverted lasso while top player practices recognizing the transition from upright to inverted. As soon as shoulders touch mat, top player calls out position and implements chosen counter (arm extraction, stack, or cartwheel). Focus on reducing reaction time to under 1 second. 20 repetitions with varied speeds.

Duration: 5 minutes

Berimbolo Counter Flow

Bottom player initiates berimbolo from inverted lasso at 50% speed. Top player follows with cartwheel counter, attempting to establish back control. Reset and repeat, gradually increasing speed as timing improves. Work both directions. 15 repetitions per side focusing on matching rotational momentum.

Duration: 8 minutes

Stack Pass Timing Drill

From inverted lasso, bottom player extends for overhead sweep. Top player recognizes extension and immediately stacks shoulder and hip pressure, preventing sweep completion. Partner provides progressive resistance, eventually defending at full intensity. 20 repetitions developing timing and pressure application.

Duration: 6 minutes

Arm Extraction Positional Sparring

Start in established inverted lasso guard. Top player has 2 minutes to systematically extract arm and pass guard. Bottom player defends at 70% intensity. Focus on the technical sequence: control free leg, address ankle grip, create slack, extract arm. Switch roles after each round. 5 rounds per partner.

Duration: 10 minutes

Optimal Submission Paths

Cartwheel Counter to Rear Naked Choke

Inverted Lasso Guard Top → Cartwheel Pass → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke → Won by Submission

Stack to Arm Triangle

Inverted Lasso Guard Top → Stack Pass → Side Control → Arm Triangle → Won by Submission

Extract to Knee Bar

Inverted Lasso Guard Top → Arm Extraction → Open Guard → Kneebar from Top → Won by Submission

Success Rates and Statistics

Skill Level	Retention Rate	Advancement Probability	Submission Probability
Beginner	40%	30%	5%
Intermediate	60%	50%	15%
Advanced	75%	70%	30%

Average Time in Position: 10-30 seconds (until pass or sweep)

Related Positions and Techniques

• Lasso Guard - Parent position - understanding traditional lasso defense helps counter inverted variation
• Spider Guard - Related guard - similar passing principles apply to both positions
• Berimbolo Entry - Primary threat - must understand berimbolo mechanics to defend effectively
• Stack Pass - Key counter technique - stack passing neutralizes inversion advantages
• Cartwheel Pass - Advanced counter - following rotation can lead to back control
• Pressure Pass - Alternative approach - strategic pressure makes inversion untenable
• Open Guard - Transition target - successful arm extraction leads to open guard passing
• De La Riva Guard - Related position - defensive concepts overlap between these inverted guards