Guard Bottom Transition

The Guard Bottom Transition, commonly known as pulling guard, is a fundamental BJJ technique that allows a practitioner to voluntarily move from standing position to open guard bottom. This transition is essential in modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as it enables grapplers to establish their preferred guard system without engaging in the takedown battle. The technique involves controlled sitting while maintaining grips on the opponent, ensuring proper distance management and immediate guard establishment. Unlike a wrestling-focused approach where both practitioners compete for takedowns, pulling guard represents a strategic choice to fight from the bottom position, leveraging the comprehensive guard attack system that BJJ is renowned for. This transition is particularly valuable in sport BJJ competition where pulling guard incurs no penalty and allows immediate implementation of sweeps, submissions, and control strategies from the bottom position.

Starting Position: Standing Position Ending Position: Open Guard Success Rates: Beginner 70%, Intermediate 80%, Advanced 90%

Key Principles

• Maintain grip control throughout the sitting motion to prevent opponent from establishing dominant position
• Sit with your hips directed toward opponent while creating proper distance with feet and legs
• Establish immediate guard retention framework with active foot placement on hips, knees, or ankles
• Control the pace of engagement by choosing when and where to establish guard position
• Keep opponent’s weight distribution disrupted by creating angles and preventing forward pressure
• Transition smoothly into specific guard type (butterfly, spider, de la riva) based on grip configuration
• Maintain posture awareness to avoid giving opponent immediate passing opportunities

Prerequisites

• Established grip configuration (collar, sleeve, wrist, or two-on-one control)
• Adequate space behind you to sit safely without mat hazards
• Opponent engaged within pulling distance (close enough to maintain grips)
• Mental decision about which guard system to establish post-pull
• Awareness of opponent’s base and balance to time the pull effectively
• Understanding of scoring implications in competition context

Execution Steps

1. Establish grips: From standing position, establish your preferred grip configuration on the opponent. Common options include collar and sleeve (cross or same-side), double sleeve, collar and wrist, or two-on-one arm control. Ensure grips are secure before committing to the pull. (Timing: Take 1-2 seconds to establish solid grips)
2. Close distance: Step closer to opponent while maintaining upright posture. Your feet should be positioned so that when you sit, you’ll be at optimal guard range. Distance should allow your legs to reach opponent’s hips or thighs when extended. (Timing: Smooth step forward, coordinated with grip establishment)
3. Drop hips backward: Initiate the sit by bending your knees and dropping your hips straight down and slightly back. Keep your chest upright initially to maintain control of your grips and prevent opponent from falling forward onto you with their full weight. (Timing: Controlled descent over 0.5-1 second)
4. Make contact with mat: Allow your buttocks to contact the mat in a controlled manner. Your weight should transfer smoothly from feet to sitting position. Keep your core engaged to maintain posture control and prevent flopping backward uncontrollably. (Timing: Smooth weight transfer)
5. Establish foot placement: Immediately place your feet on opponent’s hips, knees, biceps, or in their collar/belt depending on your chosen guard system. Active foot placement is critical to establish distance and prevent opponent from driving forward into a passing position. Extend legs to create proper guard distance. (Timing: Immediate foot placement within 0.5 seconds of sitting)
6. Configure guard structure: Transition into your specific guard system based on grips and foot placement. Options include butterfly guard (hooks inside thighs), spider guard (feet on biceps with sleeve control), de la riva (shin across leg with hook), seated guard (one foot on floor), or closed guard (if close enough to close legs around waist). Adjust grips as needed for chosen guard. (Timing: Complete guard establishment within 1-2 seconds)
7. Initiate guard retention or attack: Begin implementing your guard strategy immediately. Prevent opponent from establishing grips that favor passing while setting up your own sweeps or submission attacks. Keep hips mobile and ready to adjust distance as opponent attempts to pass. (Timing: Continuous active guard play)

Opponent Counters

• Opponent drives forward immediately as you sit, attempting to establish smash passing position (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Use strong foot frames on hips to create distance, or transition to butterfly hooks to redirect their pressure. Shrimp hips to side to create angle and prevent them from settling their weight.
• Opponent breaks grips during the sitting motion and disengages completely (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: If grips are broken, establish foot-only guards like seated guard or de la riva variants. Use feet to control distance while working to re-establish upper body grips. Prevent them from circling to advantageous passing angle.
• Opponent follows you down aggressively and attempts to jump over guard immediately (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Recognize early jumping motion and pull opponent into closed guard or use their momentum to off-balance them with butterfly hooks. Advanced option is to invert under their jump and attack back position.
• Opponent sprawls backward as you pull, creating excessive distance (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: If distance becomes too great, technical stand up or use seated guard to scoot forward while maintaining some grip control. Alternatively, establish de la riva or other extended guards that work at longer range.

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Sitting too far from opponent, creating excessive distance
  • Consequence: Opponent easily circles around guard or disengages completely, negating your guard establishment. You end up chasing with poor guard retention angles.
  • Correction: Step closer before sitting and ensure grips are tight. Your extended legs should comfortably reach opponent’s hips or upper body when sitting at proper distance.
• Mistake: Flopping backward with no control during the sit
  • Consequence: Opponent drives forward into advantageous smash passing position. You land flat on your back with no defensive structure, giving away dominant position immediately.
  • Correction: Sit with control by keeping core engaged and chest somewhat upright initially. Lower yourself smoothly rather than falling backward. Think of sitting in a chair, not falling off a cliff.
• Mistake: Failing to establish immediate foot frames after sitting
  • Consequence: Opponent’s weight settles on your legs or hips unopposed, establishing strong passing pressure before you can create proper guard structure.
  • Correction: Place feet on opponent’s hips, biceps, or in gi grips immediately as buttocks contact mat. No delay between sitting and establishing foot frames. Practice this timing in drilling.
• Mistake: Pulling with weak or no grips on opponent
  • Consequence: Opponent easily disengages and either circles to advantageous angle or resets to standing where they can score takedown points on subsequent engagement.
  • Correction: Never pull guard without solid grips established first. Collar, sleeve, wrist, or two-on-one control must be secure before committing to sitting. If grips are broken during pull, immediately work to re-establish.
• Mistake: Landing with legs too close to body (knees bent excessively)
  • Consequence: Opponent immediately steps over your guard or drives knees through your legs, achieving passing position. No distance management equals no guard.
  • Correction: Extend legs actively after sitting to create proper distance. Your knees should have some bend for mobility, but legs must be extended enough to keep opponent’s hips away from yours.

Training Progressions

Week 1-2: Fundamental Sitting Mechanics - Controlled sitting motion and landing safely Practice sitting from standing with no partner, focusing on smooth hip descent and controlled landing. Progress to sitting while partner holds extended arms (posts) to maintain distance reference. Emphasis on not flopping backward and maintaining upright torso initially. (Resistance: None)

Week 3-4: Grip Control Integration - Maintaining grips throughout pull and establishing foot frames Partner allows you to establish grips, then you pull to guard while maintaining grip integrity. Partner stands passively as you sit and establish foot frames on their hips. Focus on smooth transition from standing grips to sitting guard position. Drill different grip configurations (collar-sleeve, double sleeve, etc.). (Resistance: Light)

Week 5-8: Guard System Selection - Transitioning into specific guard types after pulling After successful pull to open guard, immediately configure into chosen guard system (butterfly, spider, de la riva, seated, etc.). Partner maintains standing posture but doesn’t actively pass. Practice pulling to different guards based on grip configuration. Develop decision-making for which guard to establish based on grips and opponent’s posture. (Resistance: Light)

Week 9-12: Partner Pressure Introduction - Maintaining guard structure against forward pressure Partner begins applying light to medium forward pressure as you establish guard. Practice maintaining distance with foot frames and adjusting guard structure as partner pressures. Work guard retention fundamentals immediately after pull. Partner may attempt basic passing but at reduced speed and intensity. (Resistance: Medium)

Month 4-6: Competitive Pulling - Pulling against opponent actively trying to counter or pass Partner may attempt to break grips, create distance, or immediately attack passing position as you pull. Practice timing pulls based on opponent’s movement and weight distribution. Integrate with competition strategy - when to pull versus when to engage in takedown battle. Live training at competition pace. (Resistance: Full)

Ongoing: Strategic Integration - Guard pulling as part of complete game strategy Integrate guard pulling with standing game - use threat of pull to set up takedowns and vice versa. Develop specific guard systems that you prefer to play from pulls. Study opponent tendencies to time pulls optimally. Film review to assess distance management and guard establishment quality. (Resistance: Full)

Variations

Closed Guard Pull: Instead of establishing open guard, close legs immediately around opponent’s waist after sitting. Requires very close distance and strong grip control to prevent opponent from posturing away as you sit. (When to use: When opponent is very close and you have dominant upper body control (two-on-one, strong collar grips). Preferred in gi when you want immediate closed guard control.)

Butterfly Guard Pull with Hooks: As you sit, establish butterfly hooks immediately by placing both feet inside opponent’s thighs. Requires precise distance - close enough for hooks but far enough to prevent smash passing. (When to use: When you have strong overhook or underhook control from standing. Excellent for transitioning immediately to butterfly sweep attacks. Common in no-gi grappling.)

Spider Guard Pull: Establish sleeve grips from standing, then sit while placing feet on opponent’s biceps. Extend legs to create maximum distance and control opponent’s arms simultaneously. (When to use: In gi competition when you have strong sleeve control. Creates immediate attack opportunities with spider guard sweeps and submissions. Requires flexible hamstrings.)

De La Riva Guard Pull: Sit while immediately establishing de la riva hook (shin across opponent’s lead leg) and foot on opposite hip. Requires anticipating which leg opponent will have forward. (When to use: When opponent has one foot forward and you want immediate de la riva control. Excellent against opponents who try to drive forward aggressively after you pull.)

Seated Guard Pull (Technical Standup Position): Sit with one foot flat on mat and one leg extended toward opponent. Creates hybrid position between standing and full guard, allowing mobility and standing back up if needed. (When to use: When you want flexibility to either engage guard or stand back up. Useful against opponents who disengage when you pull. Common in IBJJF rules where standing back up from seated guard is strategic.)

Rolling Guard Pull: Instead of sitting straight down, perform a forward roll while maintaining grips, ending up on your back with opponent between your legs. Creates momentum that can off-balance opponent. (When to use: Advanced technique for creating immediate sweeping momentum. When opponent expects standard pull and you want to create different angles. Requires excellent rolling mechanics and mat awareness.)

Test Your Knowledge

Q1: What is the most critical action to perform immediately after your buttocks contact the mat during a guard pull? A: Establish active foot frames on opponent’s hips, biceps, or in their gi to create and maintain proper guard distance. This prevents opponent from driving forward into a dominant passing position and allows you to control the engagement distance from the bottom position.

Q2: Why is grip control essential before initiating a guard pull? A: Grips prevent the opponent from disengaging completely or circling to advantageous passing angles as you sit. Without grips, the opponent can simply step back or move around your guard, negating the position entirely. Grips also allow you to control opponent’s posture and begin setting up sweeps or submissions immediately upon guard establishment.

Q3: What is the primary difference between pulling to closed guard versus open guard, and when would you choose each? A: Closed guard requires sitting very close to opponent with immediate leg closure around waist, providing maximum control but requiring precise distance. Open guard involves sitting with extended legs and foot frames, allowing more distance variation and easier establishment but requiring more active guard retention. Choose closed guard when you have dominant grips and opponent is very close; choose open guard when distance is greater or you want to play dynamic guard systems like spider, de la riva, or butterfly.

Q4: How should you respond if your opponent drives forward aggressively immediately as you pull guard? A: Use strong foot frames on their hips to arrest their forward momentum while simultaneously shrimping your hips to the side to create an angle. Alternatively, transition to butterfly hooks to redirect their pressure, or use their forward momentum to close guard or sweep. The key is having active feet ready to manage distance and not allowing their weight to settle on your legs in a static position.

Q5: What are the main strategic considerations when deciding whether to pull guard versus engage in the takedown battle in competition? A: Consider your skill set strengths (guard game versus takedown game), opponent’s tendencies (strong wrestler versus guard passer), competition ruleset (IBJJF allows guard pulling without penalty, some tournaments penalize it), score differential (behind on points may require more aggressive approach), time remaining, and energy management. Pulling guard allows you to immediately implement your guard system without expending energy on takedown exchanges, but cedes potential takedown points. Advanced competitors use the threat of guard pulling to set up takedowns and vice versa, keeping opponents uncertain.

Q6: Explain the biomechanical principle that makes proper distance management critical when establishing guard after pulling? A: Proper distance creates a lever arm advantage where your legs (longer limbs) can control opponent’s hips and upper body (shorter torso), preventing them from bringing their hips close to yours. If distance is too close, opponent can settle their weight and eliminate your mobility; if too far, opponent can circle around your guard or disengage. The optimal distance allows your extended legs to maintain frames on opponent’s body while keeping your hips mobile for sweeps, submissions, and guard retention. This distance must be actively maintained through constant foot placement and hip mobility as opponent attempts to close or create distance.

Safety Considerations

When pulling guard, controlled application is essential to prevent injury. Sit with control rather than flopping backward to avoid jarring your tailbone, spine, or head against the mat. Ensure adequate space behind you before pulling to prevent collision with walls, other grapplers, or mat edges. Maintain grips on your partner to prevent them from falling awkwardly or landing with their full weight in a dangerous manner. Practice the sitting motion slowly and progressively before adding speed or resistance. In training, communicate with your partner about guard pulling to prevent surprise reactions that could lead to collision injuries. Be especially careful on hard or thin mats where impact forces are greater. If you have existing back, tailbone, or hip injuries, consult with medical professionals before practicing guard pulling extensively.

Position Integration

The Guard Bottom Transition serves as the fundamental entry point into the entire open guard system in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Rather than engaging in takedown exchanges, pulling guard allows immediate implementation of sweeps, submissions, and control strategies from bottom position. This transition connects the standing phase to positions like Butterfly Guard, Spider Guard, De La Riva Guard, Seated Guard, X-Guard, Single Leg X-Guard, and Closed Guard depending on grip configuration and opponent’s posture. In modern sport BJJ, guard pulling is a core strategic tool that enables grapplers to play to their strengths rather than being forced into wrestling exchanges. The transition integrates with the broader positional hierarchy by allowing practitioners to voluntarily move to guard bottom (a neutral to slightly disadvantageous position in pure positional terms) but one that offers extensive attacking opportunities in BJJ’s technical framework. Guard pulling also connects to the guard retention system, as proper execution of the pull sets up strong initial guard structure that makes retention easier against passing attempts.

Related Techniques

• Closed Guard - Direct destination - one possible guard system to establish after pulling
• Open Guard - Primary destination - most common guard type established from pull
• Butterfly Guard - Specific variant - establishing butterfly hooks immediately after sitting
• Spider Guard - Specific variant - common guard system established with sleeve grips and feet on biceps
• De La Riva Guard - Specific variant - establishing DLR hook and controls after pull
• Seated Guard - Alternative variant - semi-standing guard position after pull
• Guard Retention - Follow-up concept - maintaining guard structure after successful pull
• Hip Movement - Fundamental concept - essential for controlling distance and creating angles in guard
• Grip Fighting - Setup requirement - establishing and maintaining grips before and during pull
• Guard Replacement - Related transition - recovering guard structure if initial pull is compromised
• X-Guard - Advanced variant - one leg X-hook and foot control after pull
• Single Leg X-Guard - Advanced variant - single leg control system from guard pull
• Lasso Guard - Gi-specific variant - lasso grip configuration after pull
• Collar Sleeve Guard - Gi-specific variant - collar and sleeve grip guard after pull

Expert Insights

• Danaher System: The guard pull is fundamentally a strategic decision to engage in bottom position combat rather than standing position combat. From a systematic perspective, pulling guard is not a concession of position but rather a deliberate choice to implement your guard system where you have prepared extensive attacking sequences. The critical element that most practitioners misunderstand is that the pull itself is not a single technique but rather the entry mechanism into an entire subsystem of positions. The biomechanical principle underlying effective guard pulling centers on the concept of distance management through lever arm advantage. Your legs, being longer than your torso, create natural frames that can control opponent’s hips and upper body if proper distance is maintained. The sitting motion must be executed with control and precision, as flopping backward surrenders this distance advantage and allows opponent to collapse the space between their hips and yours. When properly executed with strong grips and immediate foot frame establishment, the guard pull positions you to begin implementing your attacking system within one to two seconds of sitting. This rapid transition from standing to attacking bottom position is what makes guard pulling strategically viable in modern competition, where the rules do not penalize voluntary guard establishment and the technical development of guard systems has reached sophisticated levels.
• Gordon Ryan: In competition, pulling guard is one of the highest percentage ways to get the match to the position where you want to fight. If you’ve spent years developing your guard game and your opponent wants to wrestle, why would you engage in their game? Pull guard, establish your system, and start attacking immediately. The key to making guard pulling work at the highest levels is understanding that it’s not passive - you’re pulling into an active attacking position. When I pull guard, I’m already thinking about my first sweep or submission attempt before my butt hits the mat. The grips I establish standing are directly connected to the guard system I’m entering. If I have collar and sleeve, I’m likely pulling to spider or lasso. If I have sleeve and pants, maybe de la riva or single leg x. The worst thing you can do is pull guard and then figure out what to do next - that delay lets your opponent establish their passing grips and pressure. Against high-level opponents who are ready for the pull, you need to pull at a moment when they’re off-balance or their weight is shifting. If they’re squared up and expecting it, they can drive forward hard and make your life difficult. But if you pull as they step or adjust, you can use their momentum against them. Also, don’t be predictable - sometimes threaten the pull to set up takedowns, sometimes actually pull. Keep them guessing so they can’t prepare the perfect counter.
• Eddie Bravo: Guard pulling gets a bad rap from traditional martial artists who think it’s not ‘real fighting’, but in the context of sport jiu-jitsu and submission grappling, it’s one of the smartest tactical decisions you can make. Why bang heads with a wrestler when you can pull them into your web and attack from bottom? At 10th Planet, we’ve built entire systems around pulling to specific guards - pulling to lockdown half guard, pulling to rubber guard from closed, pulling to mission control. The pull itself needs to be aggressive and committed. A lot of people pull guard hesitantly and end up in a weak position getting smashed. When you pull, you’re not retreating - you’re establishing your attacking platform. Grab what you need, sit your ass down with authority, and immediately start working your system. One thing we emphasize is pulling to positions that create dilemmas for the opponent. Don’t just pull to a basic open guard where they have clear passing pathways. Pull to rubber guard where they have to deal with mission control and gogoplata threats. Pull to lockdown where you control their leg and they can’t just walk around. Make them solve problems from the moment you hit the mat. And practice your pulls in live training regularly - don’t just drill them. You need to develop the timing and feel for when to pull based on opponent’s weight distribution and reactions. The pull is an art form when done right, setting up your entire bottom game.