Guard Replacement

Guard Replacement is a fundamental defensive transition that allows a bottom player to re-establish guard control after their opponent has begun to pass or compromise their guard structure. This technique is essential for maintaining defensive integrity and preventing the opponent from advancing to more dominant positions like side control or mount. The movement combines hip escape mechanics, framing, and timing to create the necessary space and angle to reinsert the guard.

The technique is particularly critical in modern BJJ where guard retention is viewed as a skill set unto itself. Unlike static guard positions, guard replacement is a dynamic recovery process that requires the practitioner to read their opponent’s pressure direction, create space through shrimping movements, and actively replace their legs between themselves and their opponent. The effectiveness of this technique scales significantly with skill level, as advanced practitioners develop better timing, more efficient movement patterns, and superior ability to chain multiple recovery attempts together.

Guard replacement serves as a bridge between losing guard control and being fully passed. It represents the last line of defense before the opponent secures a passing position, making it one of the highest-priority skills for any bottom player to master. The technique can be applied from various compromised positions including when the opponent has achieved an underhook, established crossface control, or begun to step over the legs.

Starting Position: Defensive Position Ending Position: Closed Guard Success Rates: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 70%

Key Principles

• Create space through hip escape before attempting to replace guard
• Frame against opponent’s hips, shoulders, or head to maintain distance
• Keep hips mobile and constantly adjust angle relative to opponent
• Use near-side leg as a shield while far-side leg swings to recover
• Maintain connection with grips to control opponent’s posture and prevent advancement
• Time the replacement for when opponent commits weight forward
• Chain multiple escape attempts if first attempt is countered

Prerequisites

• Recognition that guard is being compromised or passed
• At least one arm free to create frames
• Sufficient space between hips and opponent to initiate hip escape
• Awareness of opponent’s pressure direction and weight distribution
• Active grips on opponent’s gi, wrists, or collar to control posture
• Hip mobility to generate shrimping motion

Execution Steps

1. Establish frames: Create defensive frames using your hands and forearms against the opponent’s shoulders, hips, or head. The frames should be rigid enough to create distance but not so extended that they can be easily collapsed. Position your elbows at approximately 90 degrees, using skeletal structure rather than pure muscle strength to maintain the barrier. Your hands should be active, constantly adjusting to redirect opponent’s pressure away from your centerline. (Timing: Immediately upon recognizing guard is being compromised)
2. Hip escape (shrimp): Execute a powerful hip escape by turning onto your side, posting your inside foot on the mat, and driving your hips away from the opponent at approximately a 45-degree angle. Your outside shoulder should touch or nearly touch the mat as you create this angle. The shrimp should be explosive enough to create 6-12 inches of space between your hip and the opponent. Maintain your frames throughout this movement to prevent the opponent from following your hips. (Timing: Execute when opponent commits weight forward)
3. Create angle: As you shrimp, rotate your body to create an angle perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to your opponent’s torso. This angle is critical because it increases the distance your legs must travel to recover guard while making it more difficult for the opponent to pressure directly into you. Your head should move away from the opponent while your hips create space. Keep your shoulders off the mat and weight on your side to maintain mobility. (Timing: Simultaneous with hip escape)
4. Shield with near leg: Bring your near-side leg (the leg closest to the opponent) up with knee bent at approximately 90 degrees, creating a shield between you and the opponent. This knee should be positioned near your chest with your foot ready to post on the opponent’s hip, thigh, or torso. This leg serves as a barrier that prevents the opponent from immediately closing the distance you’ve created while also setting up for the recovery of full guard. (Timing: Immediately after creating angle)
5. Swing far leg to recover: While maintaining the near-leg shield, swing your far-side leg in a wide arc around the opponent’s body, aiming to position it on the opponent’s far hip or back. This creates a hook that prevents the opponent from maintaining their passing angle. The far leg should move with speed and commitment, as hesitation allows the opponent to counter. As the leg swings, you may need to adjust your angle again with another small shrimp to create the necessary clearance. (Timing: As soon as near-leg shield is established)
6. Establish guard position: Once both legs are on the opponent’s hips or positioned around their body, immediately work to establish a specific guard position such as closed guard, butterfly guard, or an open guard variant. Pull the opponent into your guard using your grips, close your legs if going to closed guard, or establish hooks if using butterfly or other open guard positions. Do not remain in a neutral position—immediately begin working your guard game to prevent another passing attempt. (Timing: Immediately upon recovering leg position)
7. Secure grips and control: With guard re-established, immediately upgrade your grips to more controlling positions. This might include breaking the opponent’s posture with collar grips, controlling sleeves to prevent hand posting, or establishing double underhooks. The goal is to stabilize your guard position and begin offensive actions before the opponent can reorganize their passing attack. Your hips should remain active, constantly adjusting to maintain optimal guard position. (Timing: Final step to consolidate position)

Opponent Counters

• Opponent drives weight forward immediately as you shrimp (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Switch to a different escape direction or transition to a turtle position to prevent being flattened. You can also use the opponent’s forward pressure to execute a technical standup or underhook escape.
• Opponent collapses your frames by controlling your elbows or wrists (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Immediately switch to different framing points such as the opponent’s face, hips, or use your forearms across their throat. Create new frames faster than they can collapse them, and increase the speed and frequency of your hip escapes.
• Opponent follows your hips as you shrimp, maintaining pressure (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Chain multiple shrimps together in rapid succession, changing angles with each escape. You can also use grips to pull the opponent off-balance in the opposite direction of your shrimp, creating a moment of hesitation that allows your escape to succeed.
• Opponent catches your recovering leg and continues to pass (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Immediately switch to the opposite side guard replacement, use the trapped leg as a post to invert under the opponent, or transition to deep half guard or other leg entanglement positions that work with the leg being controlled.
• Opponent establishes strong crossface control (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Fight the crossface by creating space with inside frames, turning into the opponent to reduce the angle of the crossface, or accepting the crossface temporarily while focusing on hip escape and leg recovery. You may need to transition to a running escape or technical standup.

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Shrimping directly away in a straight line rather than at an angle
  • Consequence: Creates minimal effective space and makes it easy for opponent to follow your hips and continue pressure
  • Correction: Always shrimp at a 45-degree angle or more, creating perpendicular positioning to the opponent’s body. The angle is what creates functional distance, not just linear movement.
• Mistake: Remaining flat on back while attempting to recover guard
  • Consequence: Eliminates hip mobility and allows opponent to establish heavy pressure, making guard recovery nearly impossible
  • Correction: Turn onto your side immediately when guard is compromised. Stay on your side throughout the recovery process, using your shoulder and hip as the primary points of contact with the mat.
• Mistake: Attempting to recover far leg before establishing near-leg shield
  • Consequence: Creates a gap that allows opponent to drive through and complete the pass, often resulting in immediate side control
  • Correction: Always establish the near-leg knee shield first as a defensive barrier. Only attempt to recover the far leg once the near leg is actively preventing the opponent from closing distance.
• Mistake: Using weak, bent-arm frames that collapse under pressure
  • Consequence: Opponent easily drives through frames and achieves chest-to-chest pressure, eliminating all escape options
  • Correction: Create frames with elbows at 90 degrees, using skeletal structure and body positioning rather than pure arm strength. Frame against opponent’s hips or shoulders where leverage is optimal.
• Mistake: Shrimping only once and giving up if it doesn’t immediately work
  • Consequence: Opponent waits out the single escape attempt and then continues passing with minimal resistance
  • Correction: Chain multiple shrimps together, sometimes 3-5 in rapid succession. Each shrimp should build on the previous one, gradually creating more space and better angles. Persistence is key to successful guard recovery.
• Mistake: Failing to maintain grips during the recovery process
  • Consequence: Opponent’s hands are free to post, establish controls, and counter the guard replacement with ease
  • Correction: Maintain at least one controlling grip throughout the entire sequence, whether on sleeve, collar, or wrist. Grips allow you to off-balance the opponent and control their ability to counter your recovery.
• Mistake: Not immediately establishing a specific guard after recovering legs
  • Consequence: Opponent immediately begins another passing sequence, and you’re constantly defending rather than attacking
  • Correction: The moment both legs are recovered, immediately establish a specific guard position and begin working offensive attacks. Guard recovery should seamlessly flow into guard offense.

Training Progressions

Week 1-2: Movement Patterns - Developing proper shrimping mechanics and frame structure Practice solo shrimping drills focusing on creating proper angles (45 degrees or more from starting position). Work on establishing frames against a wall or training dummy. Drill the motion of near-leg shield while shrimping. Partner practices the movement pattern with zero resistance, focusing purely on mechanics and body positioning. (Resistance: None)

Week 3-4: Timing and Recognition - Learning when to initiate guard replacement Partner applies slow, predictable guard passes while you work on recognizing the moment guard is compromised and initiating the replacement sequence. Practice reading opponent’s weight distribution and timing shrimps for when they commit forward. Begin adding light resistance, with partner maintaining steady pressure but not actively countering escape attempts. (Resistance: Light)

Week 5-8: Chaining Multiple Attempts - Developing persistence and adaptability Partner begins following your hips and countering your escape attempts, requiring you to chain 2-3 shrimps together to complete the guard recovery. Practice switching directions mid-sequence if one direction is blocked. Begin incorporating grip fighting and frame fighting while executing the technical movement. Increase resistance to 50-60% effort from partner. (Resistance: Medium)

Week 9-12: Position-Specific Applications - Applying guard replacement from various compromised positions Practice guard replacement specifically from situations like opponent has underhook, opponent has crossface, opponent is in headquarters position, and opponent has begun leg weave. Each position requires slight modifications to the basic technique. Partner applies realistic passing pressure appropriate to each scenario. (Resistance: Medium)

Week 13-16: Full Resistance and Competition Scenarios - Executing under pressure against skilled passers Partner attempts their best guard passes with full resistance while you work solely on guard replacement and retention. Add time pressure (must recover guard within 10 seconds or restart). Begin incorporating guard replacement into live rolling, specifically focusing on defensive rounds where you start in compromised positions. (Resistance: Full)

Ongoing: Integration and Refinement - Seamless integration with complete guard retention system Guard replacement becomes an automatic response integrated with other retention concepts like granby rolls, technical standups, and inversion. Work on flowing between multiple retention techniques in a single sequence. Analyze video of your rolling to identify patterns where guard replacement could be applied. Continue drilling against progressively more skilled training partners. (Resistance: Full)

Variations

Reverse Shrimp Guard Replacement: Instead of shrimping away from the opponent, shrimp in the opposite direction (towards the opponent) while rotating under them. This creates an angle on the other side and can be particularly effective when the opponent is overcommitted to following your hips in one direction. The reversal of direction catches opponents off-guard and creates immediate space for leg recovery. (When to use: When opponent is aggressively following your shrimps in one direction and you need to change the escape angle dramatically)

Inversion Guard Replacement: For more mobile practitioners, combine guard replacement with an inversion by rolling over your shoulder as you shrimp. This creates extreme angles and can allow you to recover guard even when the opponent has achieved significant passing progress. The inversion adds a vertical component to your escape, making it much harder for the opponent to follow. Often transitions into positions like reverse De La Riva or crab ride. (When to use: Against opponents who are exceptionally good at following hip escapes, or when you need to create maximum distance quickly)

Butterfly Hook Guard Replacement: Rather than recovering to closed guard or standard open guard, focus on establishing butterfly hooks during the recovery process. As you shrimp and create angle, insert the near-side leg as a butterfly hook while the far-side leg either becomes the second hook or posts on the opponent’s hip. This creates immediate sweeping opportunities and is particularly effective in no-gi where closed guard is less viable. (When to use: In no-gi situations or when you want to transition immediately into offensive butterfly guard attacks)

Seated Guard Replacement: If hip escapes are not creating enough space, transition to a seated position by posting on your hand and sitting up while simultaneously inserting your legs back into guard. This variation requires strong core and shoulder stability but can be very effective against smash-style passers who maintain heavy top pressure. The seated position allows for technical standup options if guard recovery proves impossible. (When to use: Against heavy pressure passers or when flat escapes are being consistently shut down)

Deep Half Guard Recovery: When the opponent has achieved significant passing progress and standard guard replacement is no longer viable, allow your legs to be passed partway while you dive under the opponent’s hips into deep half guard. This transforms a defensive guard replacement into entry to a specific guard position that offers sweeping opportunities. Works particularly well against opponents who are standing or posting high. (When to use: When standard guard replacement is being denied but you still have space to get under the opponent’s hips)

Test Your Knowledge

Q1: What is the optimal angle to shrimp during guard replacement and why is angle more important than distance? A: The optimal angle is approximately 45 degrees or greater relative to the opponent’s torso. Angle is more important than linear distance because it creates perpendicular positioning that increases the effective distance your opponent must travel to maintain passing pressure. A 45-degree shrimp creates more functional space than a longer straight-back shrimp because it forces the opponent to redirect their pressure rather than simply following in a straight line. The angle also facilitates the swinging motion needed to recover the far leg around the opponent’s body.

Q2: Why should you establish the near-leg shield before attempting to recover the far leg? A: The near-leg shield serves as a critical defensive barrier that prevents the opponent from immediately closing the distance you’ve created with your shrimp. If you attempt to recover the far leg first without the near-leg shield in place, you create a momentary gap where both legs are in the air or transitioning, allowing the opponent to drive their chest directly into yours and complete the pass. The near-leg shield maintains defensive pressure while the far leg swings around. This sequential recovery ensures you never fully expose your center to the opponent’s pressure.

Q3: How do you maintain effective frames when the opponent is attempting to collapse them during guard replacement? A: Maintain effective frames by using skeletal structure rather than muscular strength, positioning elbows at approximately 90 degrees, and framing against the opponent’s hips or shoulders where you have maximum leverage. When frames are being collapsed, immediately replace them with new frames at different points—if the opponent collapses your shoulder frame, quickly create a new frame against their hip or face. The key is to make your frames dynamic and faster than the opponent’s ability to collapse them, while also using the opponent’s effort to collapse frames as an opportunity to execute a more aggressive shrimp or change escape direction.

Q4: What should you do immediately after successfully recovering your guard position? A: Immediately establish a specific guard position (closed guard, butterfly guard, De La Riva, etc.) and begin offensive actions. Do not remain in a neutral position, as this invites another immediate passing attempt. Upgrade your grips to more controlling positions, break the opponent’s posture if possible, and initiate your guard-specific attacks or sweeps. The transition from defensive guard recovery to offensive guard work should be seamless, preventing the opponent from resetting their passing game. This proactive approach is what separates successful guard retention from merely delaying the pass.

Q5: Why is it necessary to chain multiple shrimping attempts together rather than relying on a single escape? A: Chaining multiple shrimps is necessary because skilled opponents will follow your first hip escape, maintaining pressure and shutting down single-attempt recoveries. Each successive shrimp builds on the previous one, gradually creating more space, better angles, and increasing the difficulty for the opponent to maintain their passing position. Multiple shrimps also allow you to change directions, creating uncertainty for the opponent about which way you’ll escape next. In practice, guard replacement against skilled opposition often requires 3-5 rapid shrimps in combination with grip fighting and frame maintenance. A single shrimp typically only works against inexperienced opponents or when you have perfect timing against a specific commitment by your opponent.

Q6: What is the relationship between grip control and successful guard replacement? A: Grip control is essential for guard replacement because grips allow you to control the opponent’s posture, balance, and ability to base out during your escape attempts. Maintaining at least one controlling grip (on sleeve, collar, or wrist) prevents the opponent’s hands from being free to post, establish heavy crossface pressure, or counter your movements. Grips also allow you to pull the opponent off-balance in the opposite direction of your shrimp, creating hesitation or weight shifts that make your hip escapes more effective. Without grips, the opponent has complete freedom to pursue you, base out, and shut down your recovery attempts. Strong grip maintenance throughout the guard replacement sequence is what distinguishes successful escapes from failed attempts.

Q7: How does staying on your side rather than flat on your back affect guard replacement effectiveness? A: Staying on your side is critical because it preserves hip mobility and prevents the opponent from establishing the heavy, chest-to-chest pressure that eliminates escape options. When flat on your back, your hips are pinned and cannot generate the shrimping motion needed for guard replacement. Being on your side allows your hips to rotate and move freely, creates more difficult angles for the opponent to pressure, and maintains the space needed for leg recovery. The side position also makes your frames more effective by engaging your shoulder and lat muscles rather than just arm strength. Additionally, being on your side keeps your weight distributed in a way that facilitates explosive movement, whereas being flat distributes weight across a larger surface area, creating inertia that must be overcome.

Safety Considerations

Guard replacement is generally a safe technique with minimal injury risk when performed correctly. However, practitioners should be aware of several safety considerations. Controlled application of shrimping movements is important to prevent hip or knee injuries from jerky or overextended motions—the shrimp should be explosive but smooth, without hyperextension of the joints. Mat awareness is crucial during guard replacement as the movement can cover significant lateral distance; ensure adequate space to prevent rolling off the mat or into obstacles. When drilling with partners, allow them to feel the technique working without explosive force that could cause injury, gradually building intensity as both partners become familiar with the movement patterns. Particular attention should be paid to neck safety when incorporating inversion variations—never force the neck to bear weight it cannot support, and build neck strength progressively before attempting inverted guard replacements under resistance. Partners should communicate clearly about resistance levels during training to prevent situations where one partner is using full resistance while the other expects cooperative drilling.

Position Integration

Guard Replacement serves as a critical connective technique within the broader BJJ defensive system, representing the primary method for recovering guard after it has been compromised. This technique integrates seamlessly with the guard retention hierarchy—it is typically the second line of defense after initial guard retention concepts like distance management and grip fighting. When guard replacement fails or is unavailable, practitioners transition to tertiary escapes like technical standups, inversions, or deep half entries. The technique connects forward to all open guard positions (butterfly, De La Riva, X-guard, etc.) as well as closed guard, making it a universal recovery tool regardless of specific guard style. It also integrates with position transitions by serving as the mechanism through which bottom players move from compromised positions back to their offensive guard game. Understanding guard replacement as part of a defensive system rather than an isolated technique is essential—it should be practiced in sequence with guard retention, re-guard strategies, and worst-case scenario escapes from side control or mount. Advanced practitioners develop the ability to flow between guard replacement and other retention techniques like granby rolls or technical standups, creating a comprehensive guard retention system that is difficult for opponents to overcome.

Related Techniques

• Re-Guard - Primary related technique - another method of guard recovery
• Shrimp Escape - Fundamental movement pattern used within guard replacement
• Hip Escape - Core mechanical component of the technique
• Frame and Shrimp - Combined concept that describes the core mechanics
• Elbow Escape - Related escape using similar shrimping mechanics
• Guard Recovery - Principle concept underlying this technique
• Technical Standup - Alternative guard recovery method when shrimping is denied
• Granby Roll - Advanced guard retention technique that can follow failed replacement
• Butterfly Guard - Specific guard position that can be target of replacement
• Deep Half Guard - Alternative recovery position when standard replacement unavailable
• Knee Shield Half Guard - Common position where guard replacement is initiated
• Open Guard - Common starting and ending position for this technique

Expert Insights

• Danaher System: Guard replacement is fundamentally about managing angular relationships and maintaining critical distance through systematic application of hip escape mechanics. The technique succeeds when the practitioner understands that space creation is not about moving away from the opponent in absolute terms, but rather about creating perpendicular angles that maximize the functional distance the opponent must traverse to maintain passing pressure. The frames serve not merely as barriers but as tools for redirecting opponent force vectors away from your centerline, allowing your hip escapes to be maximally effective. What separates elite guard retention from intermediate-level defense is the ability to chain multiple replacement attempts together with minimal rest between movements, creating a defensive rhythm that opponents cannot match. The key technical detail most practitioners miss is the importance of staying on the side throughout the sequence—being flat on your back eliminates the rotational mobility of your hips and makes every aspect of guard replacement exponentially more difficult. When teaching this technique, I emphasize that it is not a singular technique but rather a systematic approach to maintaining guard integrity that must be practiced as part of a complete defensive hierarchy.
• Gordon Ryan: In competition, guard replacement is something you’re going to use constantly—it’s probably the most important defensive skill you can develop because even the best guard players get their guards pressured and compromised regularly. What I’ve found at the highest levels is that you need to be comfortable replacing your guard 5, 6, sometimes 10 times in a single passing exchange before you get an opportunity to attack. The guys who can only attempt it once or twice before they tire or get frustrated are the ones who get their guards passed consistently. My approach to guard replacement emphasizes explosive, committed hip escapes rather than tentative half-movements. You need to fully commit to each shrimp with maximum power and speed, and the moment you feel the opponent adjusting to follow you, you’re already initiating the next escape in a different direction. The grip fighting component cannot be overstated—maintaining sleeve or collar control while you’re escaping is what prevents elite passers from just following your hips and shutting everything down. Against the best passers in the world, your guard replacement has to be proactive rather than reactive; you start replacing guard the moment you sense pressure increasing, not after your guard is already half-passed.
• Eddie Bravo: Guard replacement is where a lot of traditional BJJ players get stuck in outdated thinking—they’re trying to recover to positions that made sense 20 years ago but aren’t optimal for modern no-gi grappling. What we emphasize in the 10th Planet system is that guard replacement should be viewed as an opportunity to enter dynamic guard positions like lockdown, rubber guard, or deep half, not just recovering to basic closed guard. The shrimping mechanics are the same, but your target positions should be guards that immediately create offensive threats and dilemmas for your opponent. I also think most people don’t understand the value of the reverse shrimp—when everyone’s expecting you to shrimp away from pressure, shrimping into it and rotating under your opponent creates angles that most passers aren’t prepared for. This is where creativity comes in; guard replacement doesn’t have to be this defensive, desperate movement. It can be an entry to your most dangerous positions if you approach it with the right mindset. The other piece that’s crucial is not being married to staying on the ground—if your guard replacement isn’t working after 2-3 attempts, being willing to transition to technical standups or even full standing can completely change the dynamic and prevent you from getting stuck in that grinding, exhausting guard retention battle that goes nowhere.