Standing Guard Top is a fundamental passing position where the top player maintains an upright posture while the bottom player has some form of open guard established. This position represents a critical decision point in BJJ where the standing player must choose between pressure-based passing, speed-based passing, or dynamic movement to circumvent the guard. The standing player’s primary objective is to control distance, break grips, and create passing opportunities while avoiding sweeps and submissions.
From Standing Guard Top, the practitioner has numerous passing options including the Toreando Pass, Leg Drag Pass, and various knee-slice entries. The position allows for both explosive speed-based attacks and methodical pressure-based approaches depending on the opponent’s guard style and the player’s physical attributes. Success in this position requires excellent balance, grip fighting skills, and the ability to read the opponent’s defensive posture to select the appropriate passing strategy.
The position is particularly valuable in competition settings where maintaining an upright posture can prevent guard pulls, facilitate scoring through passing, and create opportunities for both guard passes and takedowns. Modern BJJ has seen an evolution in standing guard passing with increased emphasis on leg-based attacks, dynamic footwork, and combination passing sequences that chain multiple techniques together to overcome sophisticated guard retention systems.
Position Definition
- Top player maintains upright standing posture with feet on the mat, hips elevated above opponent’s guard with weight distributed through legs and feet for mobility and base stability
- Bottom player on their back with at least one point of connection to top player through grips, hooks, or frames attempting to control distance and prevent passing sequences
- Top player’s hands engaged in grip fighting or controlling opponent’s legs and hips to create passing opportunities while maintaining balance and defensive base against sweeps
- Distance management zone between players allowing top player to move dynamically while bottom player attempts to maintain guard connection through hooks, grips, or frames
Prerequisites
- Opponent has established open guard from bottom position
- Top player has achieved standing posture with both feet on mat
- Bottom player’s closed guard has been opened or was never established
- Top player maintains balance and base while standing in opponent’s guard range
Key Offensive Principles
- Maintain upright posture with chin up and shoulders back to prevent being pulled down into closed guard or submissions
- Control opponent’s legs and hips through grips to limit their ability to establish hooks and frames
- Use dynamic footwork and angles to create passing opportunities while avoiding sweeps
- Break opponent’s grips systematically before initiating passing sequences to reduce defensive options
- Apply downward pressure on opponent’s legs when appropriate to flatten guard and create passing lanes
- Maintain base width and weight distribution to prevent off-balancing and sweep attempts
- Time explosive movements with opponent’s defensive adjustments to exploit openings in guard retention
Available Attacks
Toreando Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Leg Drag Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Knee Slice Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Double Under Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
X Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Long Step Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Stack Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 50%
Back Step → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 15%
- Intermediate: 30%
- Advanced: 45%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent establishes strong collar and sleeve grips with active foot placement:
- Execute Grip Break → Standing Guard (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Toreando Pass → Side Control (Probability: 50%)
If opponent extends legs for distance with limited grip control:
- Execute Leg Drag Pass → Side Control (Probability: 60%)
- Execute X Pass → Side Control (Probability: 55%)
If opponent creates frames and uses butterfly hooks for elevation:
- Execute Knee Slice Pass → Side Control (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Double Under Pass → Side Control (Probability: 50%)
If opponent establishes De La Riva hook on lead leg:
- Execute Back Step → Back Control (Probability: 45%)
- Execute RDLR Pass → Side Control (Probability: 40%)
If opponent inverts or attempts rolling attacks:
- Execute Stack Pass → Side Control (Probability: 50%)
- Execute Front Headlock Series → Front Headlock (Probability: 45%)
Optimal Submission Paths
Fastest passing path to submission
Standing Guard Top → Toreando Pass → Side Control → Transition to Mount → Mount → Armbar from Mount
High-percentage pressure passing path
Standing Guard Top → Knee Slice Pass → Side Control → Transition to North-South → North-South Choke
Back attack path
Standing Guard Top → Back Step → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke
Leg drag to back path
Standing Guard Top → Leg Drag Pass → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke
Stack passing to submission
Standing Guard Top → Stack Pass → Side Control → Kimura from Side Control
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 60% | 30% | 5% |
| Intermediate | 70% | 50% | 10% |
| Advanced | 80% | 65% | 15% |
Average Time in Position: 30-90 seconds before passing attempt or guard pull