Squid Guard Bottom is an advanced asymmetrical open guard position characterized by one leg threading through the opponent’s legs while maintaining upper body control through lapel manipulation. This unique guard creates unusual angles and off-balancing opportunities that confuse traditional passing responses. The position gets its name from the tentacle-like leg and lapel configuration that wraps and controls the opponent.
The Squid Guard excels at creating dilemmas for the top player through its unconventional structure. Unlike traditional open guards that rely on bilateral symmetry, the Squid Guard’s asymmetrical nature forces opponents into unfamiliar defensive patterns. This position is particularly effective against pressure passers who rely on standard passing sequences, as the leg configuration and lapel control disrupts their base and creates opportunities for sweeps and back takes.
While technically demanding and requiring significant flexibility, coordination, and lapel manipulation skills, the Squid Guard offers a high ceiling for advanced practitioners. The position integrates well into modern guard retention systems and provides unique pathways to dominant positions that bypass traditional guard passing exchanges. Success in this position depends on maintaining active leg tension, controlling lapel grips, and recognizing the timing windows for attacks.
Position Definition
- Bottom player on their back or side with one leg threaded between opponent’s legs from inside position, creating asymmetrical control with the threading leg’s foot hooking behind opponent’s far knee or thigh
- Bottom player controls opponent’s lapel, typically wrapping it around opponent’s leg or body, creating restrictive control that limits mobility and posture while preventing forward pressure
- Non-threading leg positioned outside opponent’s body, typically controlling opponent’s near hip or creating distance with foot on hip or bicep, maintaining spatial control and preventing opponent from settling into passing position
- Upper body grips established on opponent’s sleeve, collar, or lapel with at least one strong grip point, providing steering control and preventing opponent from achieving dominant grips or posture
- Opponent standing, kneeling, or in combat base position attempting to pass, with their base disrupted by the threading leg’s tension and lapel restriction
Prerequisites
- Opponent in standing or kneeling passing position
- Space created to thread leg between opponent’s legs
- Access to opponent’s gi lapel for gripping and manipulation
- At least one upper body grip established on sleeve, collar, or lapel
- Hip mobility and flexibility to maintain asymmetrical leg configuration
- Understanding of guard retention principles and angle creation
Key Defensive Principles
- Maintain constant tension with threading leg to disrupt opponent’s base and prevent them from settling into stable passing position
- Use non-threading leg actively to control distance and create angles, never allowing it to become passive
- Coordinate upper body lapel grips with leg movements to create compound control that limits opponent’s options
- Keep hips mobile and ready to transition, using hip movement to generate sweeping power and adjust angles
- Recognize opponent’s weight distribution and attack when they commit weight forward or backward
- Combine off-balancing with lapel and grip control to create sweep opportunities
- Use asymmetry as advantage by creating unfamiliar angles that bypass opponent’s trained passing responses
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent maintains upright posture with weight distributed evenly:
- Execute De La Riva Sweep → Side Control (Probability: 60%)
- Execute X-Guard Sweep → X-Guard (Probability: 55%)
If opponent drives forward with pressure attempting to stack:
- Execute Kiss of the Dragon → Back Control (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Berimbolo Entry → Back Control (Probability: 55%)
If opponent turns away from threading leg to escape tension:
- Execute Back Take → Back Control (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Omoplata to Back → Back Control (Probability: 55%)
If opponent attempts to disengage and create distance:
- Execute Guard Recovery from Squid Guard → Open Guard (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Shin to Shin Pull → Spider Guard (Probability: 60%)
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What are the essential grips required to maintain effective Squid Guard control? A: The primary grip is on the opponent’s lapel, wrapped around their leg or body to create constant tension and restrict their mobility. Secondary grips include sleeve control on their far arm to prevent grip stripping, and collar grip to break their posture. The lapel grip is non-negotiable - without it, Squid Guard degenerates into standard De La Riva and loses its unique advantages. At minimum, maintain the lapel wrap plus one upper body grip.
Q2: How should you distribute your weight and position your hips to maximize guard retention? A: Keep your hips angled at approximately 45 degrees to your opponent rather than flat on your back. This angle creates better leverage for sweeps and makes it harder for them to stack or pressure pass. Your weight should be slightly on the hip of your non-threading leg, which allows rapid hip adjustment and creates rotational power. Avoid being flat - it eliminates your mobility and sweep potential.
Q3: Your opponent starts standing upright with good posture - what immediate threat should you create? A: When they stand tall with neutral weight distribution, attack with sweeping movements that exploit their height and narrow base. Pull the lapel to break their posture while simultaneously extending your threading leg to elevate their far leg. This combination of pulling and lifting creates immediate off-balancing that threatens sweeps. The taller they stand, the more vulnerable they are to elevation-based attacks.
Q4: Your opponent begins driving forward with heavy pressure attempting to stack you - how do you respond? A: Use their forward momentum against them by initiating back take sequences. When they drive forward, they’re essentially loading your guard and creating the energy you need for inversions. Time your berimbolo or Kiss of the Dragon entry to their forward pressure, using their momentum to accelerate your rotation underneath them. The key is recognizing their commitment early and initiating your inversion before they flatten you.
Q5: What is the primary danger to your threading leg and how do you protect it? A: The threading leg is exposed to leg lock attacks, particularly heel hooks and kneebars, when opponents recognize the vulnerability. Protect it by maintaining constant movement and tension - a stationary threading leg is an easy target. If you sense them reaching for your heel or shifting to attack the leg, immediately withdraw the thread and transition to Spider Guard or Lasso Guard. Never allow them to isolate the threading leg with both hands.
Q6: How do you recover when your opponent strips your lapel grip? A: The moment your lapel grip breaks, you must immediately transition to another guard or re-establish control. Don’t try to maintain Squid Guard without the lapel - it’s the defining element. Options include: re-feeding the lapel if possible, transitioning to standard De La Riva by maintaining your hook, shifting to Spider Guard using your sleeve grip, or threatening a triangle to force them to give you the space to re-establish. Prioritize maintaining some control over forcing the lapel back.
Q7: Your opponent turns away from your threading leg pressure - what attack sequence should you follow? A: When they turn away, they’re exposing their back to escape your leg pressure. Immediately pursue with back take sequences - use your threading leg to follow their hip rotation while pulling on your lapel and upper body grips to accelerate their turn. Your non-threading leg should hook their hip to prevent them from completing a full escape. The goal is to convert their defensive turn into your offensive back take before they can stabilize in a new position.
Q8: How do you manage energy expenditure while maintaining active Squid Guard? A: Squid Guard is energy-intensive due to the constant tension required. Manage energy by using frame-based distance control with your non-threading leg rather than pure muscular effort. Let the lapel wrap do most of the work - properly wrapped, it creates mechanical restriction that doesn’t require constant pulling. Recognize when to transition out of Squid Guard if opponent is successfully defending without advancing, rather than depleting yourself trying to force attacks from a stalemated position.
Success Rates and Statistics
| Metric | Rate |
|---|---|
| Retention Rate | 60% |
| Advancement Probability | 62% |
| Submission Probability | 40% |
Average Time in Position: 30-90 seconds