Quarter Guard Bottom is a dynamic half guard variation where the bottom player has secured an underhook while the top player has passed one leg, leaving only a quarter of the guard remaining. This transitional position bridges full half guard and complete guard passing, creating opportunities for sweeps, back takes, and re-guards while simultaneously defending against the pass. The position is characterized by asymmetric control where proper underhook management and hip positioning determine success.
The quarter guard requires active defensive awareness combined with offensive intent. Unlike traditional half guard where both legs are engaged, the bottom player must compensate for reduced leg control through superior upper body connection and hip mobility. This position frequently occurs during scrambles, failed guard retention attempts, or as part of systematic half guard sequences when opponents begin passing.
Success in quarter guard bottom depends on maintaining the underhook, creating angles with hip movement, and recognizing when to commit to sweeps versus recovering full guard. The position rewards technical precision over strength, making it accessible to practitioners of all sizes while offering multiple pathways to dominant positions. The bottom player must embrace the urgency of the situation—quarter guard bottom deteriorates within seconds under competent pressure, making immediate offensive action essential rather than optional.
Position Definition
- Bottom player’s lower body has one leg maintaining minimal engagement with opponent’s leg—typically a weakened knee shield touching opponent’s hip, a partial butterfly hook without full insertion, or quarter lockdown with reduced squeeze pressure, while the other leg is free or being controlled by opponent’s crossface-side pressure
- Bottom player maintains underhook on one side with forearm deeply connected to opponent’s lat or armpit, elbow pointing toward ceiling, creating offensive leverage for sweeps and preventing opponent’s shoulder pressure from flattening the position completely
- Top player has advanced hip position past bottom player’s hip centerline by at least six inches, with weight distributed seventy percent toward the passed side, actively attempting to consolidate side control or mount while eliminating remaining defensive structures
- Bottom player’s head and shoulders remain elevated off the mat at a thirty to forty-five degree angle, using the underhook and remaining leg frames to prevent full flattening, maintaining space for hip mobility and sweep initiation despite compromised position
Prerequisites
- Opponent has begun passing half guard, advancing their hips and one leg past your centerline
- You have established underhook control on at least one side before position fully deteriorates
- You maintain some leg engagement through lockdown, butterfly hook, or knee shield contact
- Top player is attempting to consolidate position or advance to side control rather than already secured pass
Key Defensive Principles
- Maintain underhook at all costs—this is your primary offensive tool and defensive anchor preventing opponent’s crushing shoulder pressure
- Keep hips mobile and angled away from the passing direction to create space and prevent flattening that eliminates all offensive options
- Use the free leg to create frames, hooks, or barriers against further advancement while buying time for sweep execution
- Combine upper body pulling through underhook with lower body pushing through frames to create opposing forces that off-balance opponent
- Recognize timing windows for sweeps when opponent commits weight forward or attempts to consolidate—hesitation equals getting passed
- Stay proactive with immediate attacks—quarter guard deteriorates within five to ten seconds under competent pressure making passivity fatal
Available Escapes
Old School Sweep → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Half Guard to Back Take → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Underhook Sweep from Half → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 45%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Deep Half Entry → Deep Half Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 50%
- Intermediate: 65%
- Advanced: 80%
Rolling Back Take → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Electric Chair Submission → Electric Chair
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 50%
Knee Shield Retention → Knee Shield Half Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 55%
- Intermediate: 70%
- Advanced: 85%
Lockdown Sweeps → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent drives weight forward and extends trapped leg attempting aggressive pass:
- Execute Old School Sweep → Side Control (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Electric Chair Submission → Electric Chair (Probability: 40%)
If opponent attempts crossface or shoulder pressure to flatten you completely:
- Execute Knee Shield Retention → Knee Shield Half Guard (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Deep Half Entry → Deep Half Guard (Probability: 60%)
If opponent posts near side hand on mat for base during pass attempt:
- Execute Half Guard to Back Take → Back Control (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Underhook Sweep from Half → Side Control (Probability: 60%)
If opponent establishes tight chest-to-chest connection without posting:
- Execute Rolling Back Take → Back Control (Probability: 45%)
- Execute Deep Half Entry → Deep Half Guard (Probability: 50%)
Escape and Survival Paths
Leg Attack Pathway
Quarter Guard Bottom → Electric Chair → Banana Split
Back Control to Submission
Quarter Guard Bottom → Half Guard to Back Take → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke
Sweep to Submission Chain
Quarter Guard Bottom → Old School Sweep → Side Control → Kimura from Side Control
Deep Half Submission Sequence
Quarter Guard Bottom → Deep Half Entry → Deep Half Guard → Waiter Sweep → Side Control → Kimura from Side Control
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 35% | 40% | 15% |
| Intermediate | 55% | 60% | 25% |
| Advanced | 70% | 75% | 35% |
Average Time in Position: 5-15 seconds before transition to different position
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
Quarter guard bottom represents a critical inflection point in the guard passing sequence where the defender must make immediate tactical decisions based on biomechanical reality. The underhook becomes mathematically essential here—it provides the only significant lever arm to counteract the passer’s forward pressure and weight advantage which typically exceeds your control by a three-to-one ratio. What makes quarter guard technically fascinating is the asymmetric control paradigm: you have reduced your base of support by fifty percent while simultaneously increasing your offensive requirements. The solution lies in understanding that quarter guard is not a static position but rather a dynamic transitional state requiring constant angular adjustment and proactive sweep initiation within a narrow time window of five to ten seconds maximum. The leg entanglement has deteriorated to the point where it cannot generate sufficient leverage for defensive purposes alone, making the underhook and hip mobility your primary survival mechanisms. Students who treat quarter guard as a sustainable position invariably get passed, while those who embrace its transitional nature and attack immediately find considerable success with sweeps and back takes.
Gordon Ryan
In competition, quarter guard bottom is where matches get decided—you either sweep immediately or you get passed, there’s absolutely no middle ground at high levels of grappling. I focus exclusively on the underhook sweep variations and back take sequences because they’re percentage plays that work consistently against elite opponents who are actively trying to smash through your guard. The key tactical insight is recognizing that quarter guard happens during scrambles and failed retention attempts, so you need to already know your offensive sequences before you end up there rather than trying to figure things out in the moment. When I feel my guard getting passed to quarter guard position, I’m immediately attacking the back take or hitting the old school sweep before my opponent can settle their weight and establish proper crossface control. Hesitation in quarter guard equals getting passed every single time against competent competition—the position deteriorates within five seconds under elite pressure. I train this position specifically by having partners pass my half guard to quarter guard repeatedly, forcing myself to attack within three seconds or accept that I failed the position. That urgency mindset is what separates successful quarter guard players from those who just get passed consistently.
Eddie Bravo
Quarter guard bottom is actually a sick position for 10th Planet practitioners because we train the lockdown variation religiously—when you’ve got that electric chair threat fully developed, suddenly the passer has to worry about getting submitted instead of just completing their pass. Most traditional jiu jitsu players think quarter guard is purely defensive and desperate, but that’s old school thinking that doesn’t account for modern leg attack innovations. We use quarter guard as an offensive weapon system, especially the transition sequences to truck position and back takes that catch opponents completely off guard. The whip-up technique and swim move to the back are absolute money from quarter guard, and if opponents are defending those back take attempts, you can hit them with the electric chair or banana split leg attacks. The whole tactical game changes when you make them afraid of your bottom position instead of just trying to survive their passing pressure. What I teach is treating quarter guard as a submission hunting position rather than an escape position—that mindset shift completely changes how you approach the technique and dramatically improves your success rate.