Spider Guard Top is the position where the top player is standing or on their knees facing an opponent who has established Spider Guard Bottom, with at least one sleeve grip and foot placement on the bicep or hip. This is a challenging guard-passing scenario that requires systematic grip breaking, posture control, and strategic movement to overcome the bottom player’s distance management and sweeping threats. The top player must balance between staying safe from sweeps while creating passing opportunities through grip breaks, angle changes, and pressure application. Success in this position requires understanding the mechanics of Spider Guard control points and having a systematic approach to neutralizing the bottom player’s offensive capabilities. The position is commonly encountered in both gi and competition settings, making it an essential skill for any serious BJJ practitioner.
Position Definition
- Top player standing or on knees facing bottom player who has established Spider Guard with at least one sleeve grip and corresponding foot placement on bicep or hip
- Bottom player on their back or seated with hips elevated off mat using foot pressure on top player’s arms or torso to create distance and control posture
- Top player maintaining upright posture while managing sleeve grips and foot pressure from bottom player, seeking to break grips and establish passing grips
- Both players engaged in grip fighting battle with top player attempting to control pants or legs while bottom player maintains sleeve and collar grips with feet creating frames
Prerequisites
- Bottom player has established at least one Spider Guard hook with corresponding sleeve grip
- Top player is in standing or combat base position facing the guard
- Bottom player has sufficient space and distance control to maintain foot pressure
- Both players are engaged in active grip fighting
- Top player has not yet achieved dominant passing grips or position
Key Offensive Principles
- Maintain strong upright posture to prevent being broken down or swept forward
- Systematically break grips before attempting to pass, never force passes with grips intact
- Control distance by stepping back or circling to reduce effectiveness of Spider Guard hooks
- Use grip breaks in combination with angle changes to create passing opportunities
- Keep weight centered and base wide to defend against technical sweeps like lasso sweeps and scissor variations
- Target weak points in the guard structure such as single-side Spider Guard or transitions between grips
- Pressure the legs down and forward once grips are broken to flatten the guard and enable passing sequences
Available Attacks
Toreando Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Leg Drag Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Knee Slice Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 28%
- Intermediate: 42%
- Advanced: 58%
X Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 22%
- Intermediate: 38%
- Advanced: 52%
Stack Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 50%
Long Step Pass → Headquarters Position
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Double Under Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 18%
- Intermediate: 32%
- Advanced: 48%
Decision Making from This Position
If bottom player has double sleeve grips with both feet on biceps in classic Spider Guard:
- Execute Grip Break → Combat Base (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Leg Weave Pass → Side Control (Probability: 40%)
Else if bottom player transitions to Lasso Guard on one side while maintaining Spider Guard on other:
- Execute Toreando Pass → Side Control (Probability: 50%)
- Execute Back Step → Leg Drag Control (Probability: 35%)
- Execute X Pass → Side Control (Probability: 30%)
Else if bottom player has single-side Spider Guard with free hand controlling collar or lapel:
- Execute Knee Slice Pass → Side Control (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Long Step Pass → Headquarters Position (Probability: 45%)
Else if bottom player commits to triangle or omoplata entry, releasing foot pressure:
- Execute Stack Pass → Side Control (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Leg Drag Pass → Side Control (Probability: 50%)
Else if grips are broken and bottom player has not yet re-established guard structure:
- Execute Double Under Pass → Side Control (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Toreando Pass → Side Control (Probability: 60%)
Optimal Submission Paths
Shortest path to dominant position
Spider Guard Top → Toreando Pass → Side Control → Mount → Armbar from Mount
High-percentage grip break to back attack
Spider Guard Top → Grip Break → Leg Drag Pass → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke
Technical passing to submission control
Spider Guard Top → Knee Slice Pass → Side Control → North-South → Kimura from North-South
Counter-sweep to dominant finish
Spider Guard Top → Stack Pass → Side Control → Mount → Ezekiel Choke
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 55% | 30% | 5% |
| Intermediate | 65% | 45% | 8% |
| Advanced | 75% | 60% | 12% |
Average Time in Position: 1-3 minutes
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
Spider Guard represents one of the most systematically sound distance management systems in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, utilizing biomechanical principles of leverage through extended limbs controlling the opponent’s arms while the feet create frames against the torso. For the top player, the fundamental understanding must be that Spider Guard is a grip-dependent position - once the grips are broken, the position collapses entirely. The methodology for passing must therefore be systematic grip breaking followed by immediate leg control before the bottom player can re-establish their guard structure. The most common error I observe is practitioners attempting to pass with grips intact, which is biomechanically inefficient and tactically unsound. Instead, utilize proper grip-breaking mechanics that attack the thumb or use two-hands-on-one leverage, then immediately transition to passing grips on the pants or legs while maintaining distance to prevent re-gripping. The passing sequences from Spider Guard should exploit the fundamental weakness of the position: when the bottom player’s feet are on your biceps or torso, their legs are extended and vulnerable to being pressured down and controlled.
Gordon Ryan
In competition, Spider Guard is one of the most annoying guards to deal with because it’s designed purely to stall and create distance - it’s a negative position that prevents you from passing but doesn’t really threaten you if you stay disciplined. My approach is aggressive and systematic: I immediately attack the grips with violent grip breaks, step back to create distance if they’re threatening sweeps, then as soon as I break the grips I’m pressuring forward hard with toreando or leg drag passes before they can reset. The key is never giving them time to re-establish - you break grips and immediately pass in one continuous motion. I’ve found that most Spider Guard players rely heavily on their grips and don’t have good answers when you break them efficiently and attack immediately. Also, I specifically target the single-side Spider Guard moment when they’re transitioning between grips or moving to lasso - that’s when they’re most vulnerable. In ADCC and no-gi, this position barely exists because sleeve grips aren’t available, which tells you everything about how grip-dependent it really is. Stay patient, break grips systematically, then explode through with your passing sequence.
Eddie Bravo
Spider Guard from the top is all about understanding that the bottom guy is using his feet like hands to control distance and create frames - it’s an intelligent design but it has weaknesses you can exploit. In the 10th Planet system, we approach this differently than traditional gi passers because we’re thinking about the no-gi equivalent and translating those concepts. The key innovation is recognizing that when someone has their feet on your biceps, they’re essentially giving you their legs - you just need to trap them and pass around. I like the cartwheel pass and other dynamic movements that completely change the angle and make their foot pressure irrelevant. Also, we use a lot of pressure on the legs themselves, like pushing their knees together or stepping over one leg while controlling the other. The traditional approach is too respectful of the guard - instead, I advocate for aggressive leg attacks and constant angle changes that force them to choose between maintaining their grips or defending their legs. Remember, Spider Guard is a stalling position in many ways, so if you’re dynamic and constantly changing angles, you’re forcing them to react rather than control. Get creative, use your wrestling, and don’t be afraid to abandon traditional passing sequences for more unorthodox attacks.