Jumping Guard

Jumping Guard is a dynamic and aggressive guard pull technique that involves literally jumping onto your opponent from standing position, wrapping your legs around their torso to establish closed guard. This technique represents a high-risk, high-reward approach to guard engagement that can catch opponents off-guard and immediately establish offensive control. Unlike traditional guard pulls that emphasize control and connection before committing, jumping guard requires explosive athleticism, precise timing, and confident execution. The technique is particularly effective against opponents who maintain distance or refuse to engage in grip fighting, as it closes distance instantly and forces immediate close-range grappling. While spectacular when successful, jumping guard carries inherent risks including potential for opponent to pass immediately, exposure to slams in certain rulesets, and significant energy expenditure. Modern competition BJJ has seen both the rise and decline of jumping guard variations, with current trends favoring more controlled guard pull entries that prioritize safety and retention.

Starting Position: Standing Position Ending Position: Closed Guard Success Rates: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 65%

Key Principles

• Establish grip control before jumping to ensure secure connection
• Time the jump when opponent’s weight is slightly forward or neutral
• Commit fully to the movement - hesitation leads to failed attempts
• Lock closed guard immediately upon contact to prevent opponent scrambling
• Maintain upper body control throughout the entire jumping motion
• Generate upward momentum before wrapping legs to avoid pulling opponent down
• Be prepared to transition to alternative guards if closed guard fails

Prerequisites

• Standing position with at least one strong grip established (collar or sleeve preferred)
• Opponent standing upright or slightly forward, not heavily postured back
• Sufficient distance to generate jumping momentum (approximately arm’s length)
• Clear understanding of competition ruleset regarding guard jumps and potential slam penalties
• Physical capability to generate explosive upward and forward movement
• Mental commitment to follow through with full technique execution

Execution Steps

1. Establish grip control: Secure a strong collar grip with your dominant hand and control the opponent’s sleeve or wrist with your other hand. The collar grip should be deep enough to prevent easy breaking. This grip foundation is essential for maintaining connection during the jump and preventing opponent from creating distance. (Timing: During initial standing engagement, before opponent establishes defensive grips)
2. Close distance strategically: Step forward with your lead foot to reduce the gap between you and your opponent to approximately one foot. This shortened distance allows for explosive jumping while maintaining grip integrity. Avoid telegraphing your intention by maintaining normal posture and grip fighting rhythm. (Timing: Immediately before commitment, when opponent’s attention is on grip fighting)
3. Generate upward and forward momentum: Explosively push off both feet simultaneously, driving your hips forward and upward toward your opponent’s center mass. The trajectory should be slightly upward first, then forward, to avoid pulling opponent’s weight down on top of you. Use your collar grip to pull yourself closer while jumping. (Timing: Execute when opponent shifts weight forward or is momentarily static)
4. Wrap legs around opponent’s torso: As your hips make contact with opponent’s midsection, immediately wrap both legs around their torso, positioning your thighs high on their hips. Your feet should cross at the ankles behind their back. The leg wrap must be instantaneous to prevent opponent from sprawling or stepping back. (Timing: The moment your hips contact opponent’s body during the jump)
5. Secure closed guard position: Lock your ankles tightly together behind opponent’s back, squeezing your knees inward to compress their torso. Simultaneously pull them close using your collar grip while your free hand establishes additional control (sleeve, opposite collar, or back of head). Your closed guard should be tight enough to prevent easy posturing. (Timing: Immediately upon leg contact, before opponent can react or counter)
6. Break opponent’s posture and stabilize: Pull opponent’s upper body forward and down using your grips, breaking their posture to prevent them from standing upright or generating escape leverage. Adjust your hip position to center yourself beneath them. From this stabilized closed guard, you can begin attacking with sweeps, submissions, or transitions to more advantageous guard positions. (Timing: Continuous action following guard closure, within 2-3 seconds of landing)

Opponent Counters

• Opponent sprawls backward and drives hips away while you’re mid-jump (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: If opponent begins sprawling, immediately adjust by opening your guard and transitioning to butterfly hooks or De La Riva hooks as you descend. Alternatively, maintain upper body grips and use momentum to establish seated guard rather than forcing closed guard.
• Opponent catches you mid-jump and attempts to slam (in rulesets where legal) (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Immediately release closed guard and post hands on mat to protect yourself. In competition contexts with slam penalties, maintain closed guard and accept the referee intervention. In no-penalty contexts, opening guard and transitioning to a safer position is essential for safety.
• Opponent uses your jumping momentum to initiate immediate guard pass by driving forward (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: As opponent drives forward, use your leg position to redirect their momentum by opening your guard and establishing butterfly hooks or overhooks. The key is not fighting their forward pressure but redirecting it laterally while maintaining upper body control.
• Opponent keeps distance and refuses engagement, making jumping guard timing impossible (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Use feint movements and grip fighting to create reaction openings. Alternatively, employ traditional guard pull variations that don’t require explosive jumping. If opponent consistently avoids engagement, address through grip fighting advancement rather than forced jumping guard attempts.
• Opponent stands extremely upright and locks out arms to prevent you from getting close enough to jump (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: Attack the extended arms with arm drags, collar drags, or snap downs to break their defensive posture. Once their arm structure is compromised, the jumping guard entry becomes more accessible. Patient grip breaking and arm manipulation will create jumping opportunities.

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Jumping without establishing proper grip control first
  • Consequence: Opponent easily creates distance during your jump, causing you to fall to the mat without securing guard, leaving you in vulnerable bottom position with no control
  • Correction: Always establish at least one strong grip (preferably collar) before committing to the jump. Practice grip fighting sequences that flow into jumping guard rather than treating it as an isolated technique.
• Mistake: Telegraphing the jump with obvious body language or preparation movements
  • Consequence: Opponent anticipates your intention and sprawls backward or creates distance before you can execute, resulting in failed attempt and wasted energy
  • Correction: Maintain normal grip fighting posture and rhythm until the moment of execution. The jump should appear sudden and unexpected. Practice disguising the setup within normal standing exchanges.
• Mistake: Jumping with trajectory too forward and not enough upward momentum
  • Consequence: Your weight pulls opponent down on top of you, giving them immediate top pressure advantage and often resulting in opponent passing your guard during the scramble
  • Correction: Focus on jumping UP first, then forward. The initial trajectory should be approximately 45 degrees upward. This prevents pulling opponent’s weight onto you and allows proper guard establishment.
• Mistake: Failing to lock closed guard immediately upon contact
  • Consequence: Opponent sprawls or steps back during the delay, escaping your leg entanglement and leaving you in bottom position without guard control
  • Correction: Train the leg wrap as a reflexive action simultaneous with hip contact. Practice the jumping motion repeatedly with focus on instant ankle locking. The guard closure should be one fluid motion with the jump.
• Mistake: Attempting jumping guard when already off-balance or moving backward
  • Consequence: Lack of proper momentum generation results in weak jump that doesn’t fully close distance, creating easy passing opportunities for opponent or causing you to fall poorly
  • Correction: Execute jumping guard only from balanced, stable stance with feet under your hips. If you’re moving backward or laterally, reset your position before attempting the technique. Proper athletic stance is prerequisite.
• Mistake: Using jumping guard indiscriminately without considering opponent’s size, strength, or experience
  • Consequence: Against significantly larger or more skilled opponents, jumping guard often results in immediate passing, heavy top pressure, or potential injury from slams or awkward landings
  • Correction: Assess opponent characteristics before selecting jumping guard. Against larger opponents, favor more controlled guard pulls. Reserve jumping guard for situations where your athleticism and timing advantages are clear, or when opponent’s defensive posture creates specific opening.

Training Progressions

Phase 1: Static Entry (Weeks 1-2) - Grip control and leg wrapping mechanics without jumping Partner stands stationary while you practice establishing grips, stepping close, and wrapping legs around their torso from very short distance (6 inches). Focus entirely on proper leg positioning, ankle locking, and closed guard securing. No actual jumping yet - simply step in and wrap. (Resistance: None)

Phase 2: Small Hop Entry (Weeks 3-4) - Introducing minimal jumping momentum while maintaining control From approximately one foot distance, practice small hopping entry where both feet leave the ground briefly. Partner remains stationary and cooperative. Emphasis on proper upward-then-forward trajectory and immediate guard closure. Gradually increase distance and hop height over multiple training sessions. (Resistance: Light)

Phase 3: Full Jump with Cooperative Partner (Weeks 5-6) - Complete jumping motion with proper distance, timing, and landing Execute full jumping guard from standing engagement distance (2-3 feet) with cooperative partner who maintains stable stance. Partner provides stable base but no active resistance. Train 15-20 repetitions per session focusing on commitment, trajectory, and clean guard establishment. Video analysis recommended to identify technical flaws. (Resistance: Light)

Phase 4: Defending Against Basic Counters (Weeks 7-8) - Responding to common defensive reactions Partner begins introducing light defensive responses including slight backward movement, arm extension, and posture maintenance. Practice adjusting your jumping timing, trajectory, and backup plans (transitioning to butterfly guard or seated guard if closed guard fails). Build adaptability to opponent reactions. (Resistance: Medium)

Phase 5: Dynamic Drilling with Movement (Weeks 9-10) - Executing from realistic grip fighting and movement patterns Engage in active grip fighting exchanges where both partners move naturally. Practice identifying timing windows for jumping guard based on opponent’s weight shifts, grip commitments, and positional adjustments. Partner provides realistic defensive movement but still allows successful attempts approximately 50-60% of the time. Failure analysis critical at this stage. (Resistance: Medium)

Phase 6: Competition Simulation (Week 11+) - Full resistance application in sparring contexts Attempt jumping guard during regular positional sparring and rolling sessions where partner provides full resistance and genuine counter attempts. Success rate will drop significantly (30-40% typical for advanced practitioners). Focus on timing selection, reading opponent telegraphs, and having backup guard pull options. Track success/failure patterns to identify optimal setup scenarios. (Resistance: Full)

Variations

Double Sleeve Jumping Guard: Instead of collar and sleeve grips, establish control of both opponent’s sleeves before jumping. This grip configuration provides excellent upper body control and prevents opponent from pushing your hips away during entry. Upon landing in closed guard, you have immediate access to sleeve-based attacks including overhead sweeps and omoplata entries. (When to use: Against opponents with strong collar grip defenses or when you want to prioritize immediate offensive attacks from closed guard. Particularly effective in gi competition when opponent wears thick gi material providing strong sleeve grips.)

Butterfly Guard Jump Entry: Instead of committing fully to closed guard, jump with the intention of establishing butterfly hooks as you make contact. Your feet position on opponent’s inner thighs rather than crossing behind their back. This variation is lower commitment and provides easier transitions to sweeps or alternative guards if the initial entry is defended. (When to use: Against opponents who sprawl effectively against closed guard jumps, or when you want faster access to sweeping opportunities. This variation is generally safer as it doesn’t fully commit your leg position, allowing quicker adjustments.)

Collar Drag to Jumping Back Take: Combine jumping guard mechanics with back take attempt by using strong collar grip to drag opponent’s upper body down and sideways while jumping. As you jump, rotate your body to land on opponent’s side or back rather than their front, immediately establishing hooks and back control rather than closed guard. (When to use: Against opponents who stand very upright or who successfully defend traditional jumping guard by maintaining distance. The lateral jumping motion is less expected and can bypass common jumping guard defenses. Requires excellent timing and body awareness.)

Flying Triangle Entry: Advanced variation where instead of closing full guard upon landing, immediately position one leg across opponent’s neck and the other behind their head to establish flying triangle position. This requires precise leg placement during the jump and immediate upper body control to prevent opponent from posturing and escaping. (When to use: When you have significant experience with both jumping guard and triangle submissions, and opponent’s posture during standing engagement presents neck exposure. This is high-risk, high-reward technique reserved for advanced practitioners with excellent body awareness and submission finishing ability.)

Test Your Knowledge

Q1: Why is it critical to establish grip control before attempting jumping guard, and what specific grips provide the best foundation for this technique? A: Grip control before jumping guard is critical because without it, your opponent can easily create distance or sprawl backward during your jump, causing the technique to fail completely and leaving you vulnerable. The grips serve multiple purposes: they close distance, provide pulling leverage to assist your jumping momentum, and maintain connection if your leg wrap is delayed or incomplete. The best grips are deep collar grip (preferably with four fingers inside) and sleeve or wrist control. The collar grip prevents opponent from creating upper body distance and provides strong pulling leverage, while the sleeve grip prevents them from posting or pushing your hips away. These two grips together create a structural control system that persists throughout the jumping motion, significantly increasing success probability.

Q2: What is the optimal jumping trajectory for successful jumping guard execution, and why does jumping straight forward often lead to failure? A: The optimal jumping trajectory is approximately 45 degrees upward initially, then transitioning to forward momentum as you reach the apex of your jump. This upward-then-forward path is critical because it prevents you from pulling opponent’s weight down on top of you. If you jump straight forward or with downward trajectory, your body weight pulls opponent down, giving them immediate top pressure advantage and often resulting in them landing in dominant passing position. The upward component allows you to position your hips at or above opponent’s hip level before wrapping your legs, ensuring that when you establish closed guard, you’re pulling them into your guard rather than being pulled under their weight. This trajectory also gives you more time mid-air to adjust if opponent begins defending, and creates more challenging timing for their counter-sprawl attempts.

Q3: How should you respond if your opponent begins sprawling backward during your jumping guard attempt, and what immediate adjustments can save the position? A: If opponent sprawls backward during your jumping guard attempt, you must immediately abandon the closed guard objective and transition to alternative guard establishment. The correct response is to open your legs as you descend rather than forcing the closed guard wrap that will fail. As you open your legs, establish butterfly hooks on their inner thighs or transition to De La Riva positioning by placing one foot on their hip and the other hooking behind their knee. Maintain upper body grips throughout this adjustment. The key is recognizing the sprawl early (during your jump, not after landing) and adapting your leg positioning mid-air or during descent. If you commit to closing guard against a sprawl, you’ll end up on your back with poor position and no control. The successful jumping guard practitioner has multiple guard-establishment backup plans programmed as reflexive responses to common defensive reactions.

Q4: In competition contexts where guard jumps are allowed, what are the primary safety risks, and how do different rulesets affect jumping guard strategy? A: The primary safety risks of jumping guard include potential for slams (where legal), awkward landing mechanics causing knee or back injuries, and head/neck injury if the technique fails and you land poorly. Different rulesets dramatically affect jumping guard viability. IBJJF rules penalize slams, making jumping guard relatively safer as opponent cannot legally lift and slam you. However, in submission-only or MMA contexts where slams may be legal or not penalized, jumping guard carries significant injury risk. Additionally, some rulesets (particularly lower belt divisions) prohibit jumping to closed guard entirely. Strategic considerations include: in slam-penalty rulesets, jumping guard is viable but still requires proper execution to prevent injury from failed attempts; in no-penalty contexts, jumping guard should be reserved only for situations where you have significant timing or surprise advantage; and in all contexts, proper falling technique and the ability to immediately transition if the technique fails are essential safety components. Understanding your competition ruleset before deploying jumping guard is not optional - it’s a safety requirement.

Q5: Why is jumping guard generally considered a lower-percentage technique compared to traditional guard pulls, and what specific scenarios make it strategically advantageous despite the risks? A: Jumping guard is lower-percentage than traditional guard pulls because it requires multiple simultaneous elements to succeed: explosive athleticism, precise timing, strong grip control, proper trajectory, immediate leg wrapping, and quick guard closure. If any single element fails, the entire technique typically fails, often with negative consequences (ending up under opponent’s passing pressure). Traditional guard pulls are more forgiving because they involve controlled descent with grip and hook establishment before committing full body weight. However, jumping guard becomes strategically advantageous in specific scenarios: against opponents who maintain excessive distance and refuse grip engagement (jumping guard forces instant close-range contact); when you have significant speed and athleticism advantages over opponent (exploiting their slower reaction time); in situations where surprise and aggression can create psychological impact (tournament finals, rivalry matches); and when opponent’s stance or grip positioning creates specific timing windows that traditional guard pulls cannot exploit. Elite competitors use jumping guard not as primary guard-pulling method but as strategic tool deployed in optimal contexts where its risk-reward profile favors the aggressive approach.

Q6: What physical attributes and athletic capabilities are prerequisites for safely and effectively executing jumping guard, and how should beginners assess their readiness for this technique? A: Physical prerequisites for jumping guard include: explosive leg power to generate sufficient upward and forward momentum; hip flexibility to wrap legs high on opponent’s torso; core strength to maintain body control during flight and landing; grip strength to maintain connection throughout the jumping motion; spatial awareness to adjust trajectory mid-air; and sufficient cardiovascular conditioning as failed attempts are energetically costly. Beginners should assess readiness through specific tests: can you perform box jumps at knee height consistently? Can you do 10 pull-ups demonstrating adequate grip strength? Can you perform butterfly sit-ups showing core control? Do you have previous athletic experience with jumping movements (basketball, gymnastics, martial arts)? Most importantly, have you developed solid fundamental guard pulling technique and closed guard maintenance in controlled situations? Jumping guard should never be attempted by true beginners (first 6-12 months of training) as the injury risk during failed attempts is high. Even intermediate practitioners should master the progressive training phases outlined in this technique guide before attempting jumping guard against resisting opponents. Self-assessment of athletic readiness is essential - attempting jumping guard without prerequisite physical capabilities leads to injury, not success.

Safety Considerations

Jumping guard carries inherent injury risks that practitioners must understand before attempting. Primary safety concerns include knee ligament damage if legs are caught awkwardly during opponent’s defensive sprawl, lower back injury from poor landing mechanics, head and neck injury if you fall backward without proper breakfall technique, and catastrophic injury from slams in rulesets where they’re legal or not adequately penalized. To train safely: always progress through the six-phase training progression outlined above rather than attempting full technique prematurely; ensure training partners understand their role as defensive participant and agree on resistance levels; train on appropriate surfaces (mats with sufficient padding, never hard floors); understand your competition ruleset regarding guard jumps and slams; develop excellent breakfall skills before attempting jumping guard; never attempt jumping guard when fatigued as this increases error probability; and maintain awareness of size and strength differentials with training partners. If you’re significantly smaller than opponent, jumping guard requires even more precise technique as failed attempts result in being under heavy top pressure. If you experience any knee, back, or neck pain during jumping guard training, stop immediately and consult with qualified instructor and medical professional before continuing. Competitive use of jumping guard should only occur after hundreds of successful repetitions in training with progressive resistance.

Position Integration

Jumping Guard serves as a dynamic entry point to the closed guard system within the broader BJJ positional framework. Unlike traditional guard pulls that emphasize control and retention from first contact, jumping guard represents the aggressive, commitment-based approach to guard engagement. Within your standing-to-guard game, jumping guard should be one option among several guard pull variations, deployed strategically based on opponent characteristics and match situation rather than as your default guard entry. Once closed guard is established via jumping entry, you transition into standard closed guard offensive system including hip bump sweeps, kimura attacks, triangle and armbar setups, and sweep chains. The technique integrates with your overall competition strategy as a tool for creating tempo changes, disrupting opponent rhythm, and forcing engagement when opponent maintains excessive distance. Many high-level practitioners reserve jumping guard for specific opponents whose defensive posture or movement patterns create optimal timing windows. The technique also connects to the broader system of guard retention, as training jumping guard improves your ability to establish guards during scrambles when proper positioning is lost. From technical progression standpoint, jumping guard represents an advanced application of fundamental concepts: distance management, grip fighting, explosive movement, and guard establishment under adversity. Mastery of jumping guard requires solid foundation in traditional guard work, as the position you establish after jumping (closed guard) must be strong enough to hold against opponent who will be immediately motivated to escape and pass after defending your dynamic entry.

Related Techniques

• Guard Pull - Alternative - Traditional controlled guard entry method, lower risk
• Closed Guard - Destination - Primary position established by successful jumping guard
• Standing Position - Origin - Starting position before jumping guard execution
• Butterfly Guard - Alternative destination - Backup position if closed guard fails during jump
• De La Riva Guard - Alternative destination - Transition option if opponent sprawls during jump
• Hip Bump Sweep - Follow-up - Primary offensive technique from closed guard after jumping entry
• Collar Drag - Setup - Grip manipulation that can create jumping guard opportunity
• Flying Armbar - Advanced variation - Related dynamic entry technique with submission commitment
• Triangle from Closed Guard - Follow-up - Immediate submission attack option from closed guard established via jump
• Arm Drag - Setup - Alternative grip manipulation leading to jumping guard timing
• Standing Guard - Alternative - Different strategic approach to standing guard engagement
• Seated Guard - Alternative destination - Safer guard establishment if jumping commitment seems risky

Expert Insights

• Danaher System: The jumping guard represents a fascinating intersection of biomechanical commitment and tactical risk-assessment in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. From systematic analysis perspective, this technique violates several fundamental principles we typically emphasize: it sacrifices positional control for dynamic entry, it commits your full body weight before establishing secure connection points, and it provides opponent with immediate opportunity to establish top pressure if execution fails. However, the technique persists in high-level competition because it solves a specific tactical problem: opponent who refuses engagement through distance maintenance. The biomechanics of successful jumping guard require understanding vector management - your jumping trajectory must be precisely upward before forward to prevent pulling opponent’s mass onto you. The grip control established pre-jump serves as your insurance policy, maintaining connection if your leg wrapping is incomplete. When teaching jumping guard, I emphasize that it must be understood as a tool within broader strategic framework, not as primary guard entry method. The practitioner who develops excellent jumping guard typically possesses superior athletic attributes and understands when their physical advantages create scenarios where aggressive commitment is statistically favorable. The key intellectual component is learning to recognize the narrow timing windows where opponent’s stance, weight distribution, and grip positioning create optimal jumping opportunities. This requires thousands of repetitions developing what appears to be instinct but is actually highly refined pattern recognition. The jumping guard specialist has unconsciously catalogued dozens of opponent behavioral patterns that telegraph momentary vulnerability to explosive guard jumping.
• Gordon Ryan: I’ve used jumping guard strategically throughout my competition career, and the reality is that it’s a high-level tool that most people use incorrectly. The fundamental mistake recreational grapplers make with jumping guard is treating it like a desperation move when they can’t establish their guard normally. That’s backwards. Jumping guard should be deployed from position of strength, when you’ve identified a specific timing window in opponent’s defensive structure. In my matches, I’ve used jumping guard primarily against opponents who maintain excessive distance and have heavy hands-forward posture that makes traditional guard pulls difficult. The key to competitive jumping guard is the grip setup - I’m looking for deep collar control and wrist control where opponent can’t easily extract their arms. Once those grips are locked, the actual jump becomes relatively safe because I’ve already won the grip fighting battle. The other critical element that separates successful jumping guard at high levels is having immediate follow-up attacks programmed. If I jump to closed guard, I’m not just establishing position - I’m immediately breaking posture and attacking either hip bump sweep into mount or setting up triangle/armbar threats. The opponent should feel continuous offensive pressure from the moment I land. Regarding training methodology, I recommend athletes spend significant time on the failed attempt scenarios. Practice what happens when opponent sprawls, when they create distance, when your grip breaks mid-jump. The practitioner who can seamlessly transition from failed jumping guard into butterfly hooks or De La Riva positioning hasn’t really failed - they’ve just taken a different path to their guard establishment. At competition level, jumping guard is ultimately about controlling engagement tempo and forcing opponent into your preferred range and pace.
• Eddie Bravo: Jumping guard is one of those techniques that embodies the aggressive, commitment-based approach we emphasize in 10th Planet methodology. From no-gi perspective, jumping guard becomes even more high-risk because you don’t have gi grips to maintain connection, so your entire technique relies on body mechanics, timing, and having the balls to fully commit. I’ve always taught my students that jumping guard works best when you approach it with specific strategic intent - you’re not just jumping to establish guard, you’re jumping to immediately attack. In our system, we often combine jumping guard with rubber guard entries, where the moment you land in closed guard, you’re already breaking posture and establishing mission control or New York positions. The athletic, explosive nature of jumping guard fits perfectly with the overall 10th Planet philosophy of creating dilemmas and forcing opponent into reactive mode. One variation we’ve developed that works particularly well in no-gi competition is what I call the momentum jump - instead of jumping to static closed guard, you use the jumping momentum to immediately off-balance opponent and transition into sweep or back take opportunities. The opponent expects to defend your guard establishment, but you’re already attacking the sweep before they stabilize. This kind of innovation is what separates jumping guard as just a technique versus jumping guard as part of comprehensive offensive system. The other aspect that’s often overlooked is the psychological component - jumping guard immediately establishes aggressive tone for the match and can rattle opponent who expected more methodical engagement. In submission-only formats where we can take more risks, jumping guard becomes even more viable because there’s no points lost for failed attempt, only opportunity cost. My advice for anyone developing jumping guard game is to make it one component of multifaceted standing-to-guard attack system, not your only trick.