Worm Guard Bottom is an innovative lapel-based guard system developed by Keenan Cornelius that uses the opponent’s gi lapel woven through their own legs to create unique control and attack opportunities. The position combines lapel control with precise leg placement to create a control system that is extremely difficult to pass when executed correctly, while offering powerful sweeps and back take opportunities. The guard is established by extracting the opponent’s lapel (typically the same-side lapel), feeding it under their leg, and wrapping it around your own shin or foot to create a tight connection. This lapel weave creates a mechanical control that restricts the opponent’s movement and posture in ways that traditional guard systems cannot replicate. The position is heavily dependent on gi grips and cannot be applied in no-gi contexts. Worm guard excels against opponents who are unfamiliar with the system, as the control mechanisms and attack patterns are highly unusual compared to traditional guards. The position requires significant technical knowledge and practice to execute effectively, but rewards dedicated study with a guard system that can shut down even expert passers.
Position Definition
- Opponent’s lapel extracted and woven under their own leg (typically near-side leg), creating the foundational control mechanism with lapel passing from outside to inside under their thigh
- Lapel wrapped tightly around your shin or foot with constant tension maintained through pulling grip, creating locked connection that restricts opponent’s leg movement and prevents backward escape
- Your leg threading through or hooking opponent’s leg with lapel wrapped around it, pinning their leg in place and preventing extraction which would collapse entire guard structure
- Opposite side sleeve or pant grip established to break opponent’s symmetry and posture, making it impossible for them to establish stable base for passing pressure
- Your hips positioned at optimal angle relative to opponent (typically perpendicular or slightly angled) to maximize off-balancing leverage despite lapel connection limiting some mobility
- Free leg actively managing distance and creating frames to prevent opponent from closing distance for smash passing while maintaining proper ranges for sweeps and attacks
Prerequisites
- Opponent wearing gi with accessible lapel that can be extracted and controlled
- Open guard position established with sufficient space to access and manipulate opponent’s lapel
- Ability to break opponent’s grips to free hands for lapel extraction and feeding sequence
- Understanding of lapel feeding mechanics and proper weave depth under opponent’s leg
- Opponent positioned close enough to establish lapel control but not yet in dominant passing position
- Familiarity with basic lapel guard concepts and grip fighting strategies in gi
Key Defensive Principles
- Lapel Weave Integrity: Maintain constant tension on the lapel wrapped through opponent’s leg and around your shin to preserve primary control mechanism
- Leg Pin Control: Use lapel-wrapped leg to pin opponent’s leg in place, preventing backward escape or leg extraction which would break the guard
- Opposite Side Disruption: Control opponent’s opposite sleeve to break symmetry and posture, making it impossible for them to establish stable passing pressure
- Distance Management with Free Leg: Actively use free leg to manage optimal distance, preventing close-range smash while maintaining attack ranges
- Hip Angle Adjustment: Constantly adjust hip angles despite lapel connection to create off-balancing forces that set up sweeps
- Predictive Counter Strategy: Understand that worm guard forces opponent into limited passing options which you can anticipate and counter systematically
- Grip Endurance Focus: Worm guard requires sustained grip strength on lapel and sleeve; develop grip endurance for extended exchanges
Available Escapes
Omoplata Sweep → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 65%
Triangle Setup → Triangle Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 60%
Omoplata to Back → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 70%
Lasso Guard Sweeps → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 65%
X-Guard Sweep → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 70%
De La Riva Sweep → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 65%
Bolo Sweep → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 15%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 55%
Triangle from Guard → Triangle Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 60%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent establishes strong posture and attempts to break lapel grip by standing or pulling backward:
- Execute X-Guard Sweep → Mount (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Triangle Setup → Triangle Control (Probability: 50%)
If opponent circles away from the lapel-wrapped leg trying to escape control mechanism:
- Execute Omoplata Sweep → Mount (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Omoplata to Back → Back Control (Probability: 70%)
If opponent drives forward with pressure attempting to smash through guard structure:
- Execute De La Riva Sweep → Side Control (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Lasso Guard Sweeps → Side Control (Probability: 60%)
If opponent attempts to clear lapel wrap by extracting their trapped leg:
- Execute Triangle from Guard → Triangle Control (Probability: 45%)
- Execute Bolo Sweep → Back Control (Probability: 50%)
Escape and Survival Paths
Shortest path to triangle submission
Worm Guard Bottom → Triangle Setup → Triangle Control → Triangle from Guard
High-percentage path to omoplata
Worm Guard Bottom → Omoplata Sweep → Omoplata Control → Omoplata from Guard
Back attack path
Worm Guard Bottom → Omoplata to Back → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke
Sweep to armbar chain
Worm Guard Bottom → X-Guard Sweep → Mount → Armbar from Mount
Alternative triangle finish path
Worm Guard Bottom → Lasso Guard Sweeps → Mount → Triangle from Mount
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 30% | 30% | 20% |
| Intermediate | 50% | 50% | 35% |
| Advanced | 70% | 70% | 50% |
Average Time in Position: 1-3 minutes
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
Worm guard represents a fascinating evolution in guard technology—it’s a position that uses the opponent’s own equipment to create mechanical constraints that didn’t exist in traditional guards. The genius of the system lies in how the lapel weave creates a connection that restricts the opponent’s movement in a very specific way: they cannot extract their leg backward without first clearing the lapel, and they cannot clear the lapel without committing their upper body in ways that open sweep opportunities. This creates what I call a ‘mechanical trap’—the structure itself forces the opponent into predictable responses. The position requires significant technical investment to master, but once you understand the core mechanics of lapel tension maintenance and angle creation, it becomes a remarkably effective control system. The key is understanding that worm guard is not just about the lapel grip—it’s about creating a system where every defensive option your opponent has leads to a specific offensive opportunity for you.
Gordon Ryan
I don’t personally use worm guard because I compete no-gi primarily, but I’ve trained extensively with Keenan and I respect the system deeply. When executed correctly by someone who truly understands it, it’s incredibly frustrating to pass even when you know exactly what’s coming. The guard works because it forces the passer into very specific responses, which you can anticipate and counter systematically. If I were competing gi more, I would absolutely invest serious time in worm guard because it gives such a huge advantage against opponents who haven’t specifically trained the counters. It’s a high-investment, high-return guard system—you need to put in significant mat time to make it work, but once you have it, you can shut down passers who are technically better than you in other areas. The psychological aspect is huge too—when you lock in worm guard on someone unfamiliar with it, you can see the frustration building as nothing they try works the way it should.
Eddie Bravo
Worm guard is absolutely fascinating because it’s such a recent innovation that shows BJJ is still evolving rapidly at the highest levels. Keenan took the lapel concept and created an entirely new guard system that literally didn’t exist before—that’s the spirit of innovation I love and try to cultivate in 10th Planet. While I focus more on no-gi systems where lapels aren’t available, the underlying principles of worm guard—using your opponent’s equipment against them, creating unusual control mechanics that feel foreign and uncomfortable—these concepts are universal. In 10th Planet, we think about similar ideas with lockdown and rubber guard, where we’re creating control systems that feel completely alien to opponents who haven’t trained them. The worm guard philosophy of making the opponent uncomfortable and forcing them into limited options where you can predict and counter their movements—that’s exactly what we try to do with our systems. It’s proof that there are still new positions and control systems waiting to be discovered if you’re willing to experiment and think outside traditional frameworks.