Pull guard

Pulling guard is a strategic defensive maneuver that transitions from standing to a guard position, prioritizing ground control over takedown exchanges. This technique allows practitioners to bypass the standing phase and immediately establish their preferred guard system, particularly valuable when facing opponents with superior wrestling or judo backgrounds. The guard pull represents a fundamental shift in engagement strategy, transforming a potentially disadvantageous standing exchange into a controlled ground scenario where technical guard players can implement their systematic attacks. Proper execution requires precise timing, grip control, and body mechanics to ensure safe descent while maintaining offensive positioning. The technique has become increasingly sophisticated in modern competition, with variations designed to establish specific guard types like De La Riva, Spider Guard, or Butterfly Guard directly from the standing position.

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

Key Principles

• Establish dominant grips before initiating the pull to maintain control throughout transition
• Sit back with hips low and controlled to prevent injury and maintain balance
• Keep opponent’s posture broken forward to prevent them from establishing top pressure
• Create immediate guard retention frames as you descend to protect against passing
• Maintain connection points with opponent throughout the entire movement
• Land with your guard already established, not in a defensive scramble
• Use the pull to set up your preferred guard system immediately

Prerequisites

• Strong grip control established on opponent’s sleeves, collar, or body
• Proper distance management to prevent opponent from sprawling or backing away
• Clear understanding of which guard position you intend to establish
• Adequate mat space behind you for safe descent
• Opponent’s weight slightly forward or neutral, not pulling back aggressively
• Your hips mobile and ready to sit with control

Execution Steps

1. Establish grip control: Secure dominant grips on opponent’s sleeves, collar, or both. For closed guard pull, typical grips include two sleeve grips or collar and sleeve. For open guards, establish grips specific to that guard system (spider, DLR, lasso, etc.). Ensure grips are tight and controlling before proceeding. (Timing: Before any weight shift)
2. Break opponent’s posture: Pull opponent’s weight slightly forward using your established grips. This prevents them from sprawling backward or establishing heavy top pressure as you descend. Keep their head and shoulders moving toward you, disrupting their base. (Timing: Immediately before sitting)
3. Step in close: Take a small step forward with one foot to close distance, bringing your hips within range of opponent’s center line. This proximity is essential for maintaining connection as you sit and prevents opponent from creating separation during your descent. (Timing: As posture breaks)
4. Sit back with control: Lower your hips smoothly to the mat by sitting back, keeping your back rounded and core engaged. Do not drop straight down or jump backward. Maintain constant tension on your grips throughout the descent. Land on your tailbone and immediately begin establishing your guard position. (Timing: Continuous smooth motion, 1-2 seconds)
5. Establish guard position: As you land, immediately establish your chosen guard: for closed guard, wrap legs around opponent’s waist and lock ankles; for open guard, place feet on hips, biceps, or establish hooks depending on guard type. Create frames and connections that prevent opponent from simply stepping back or passing. (Timing: Within 1 second of landing)
6. Begin offensive sequence: Transition immediately into your attacking sequences from the established guard position. Do not allow opponent time to settle into defensive posture. Use the momentum of the pull to create off-balancing opportunities for sweeps or submission setups. (Timing: Immediately after guard establishment)

Opponent Counters

• Opponent backs away or disengages as you sit (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Maintain grip tension and follow them with your guard, using grips to prevent complete separation. Scoot your hips forward aggressively and re-establish connections with legs or feet on their hips to prevent them from establishing distance.
• Opponent sprawls forward with heavy chest pressure (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Use the pressure to establish underhooks or create angles for off-balancing sweeps. Convert the forward pressure into sweep opportunities rather than fighting it directly. Rotate hips to side and look for butterfly hooks or deep half guard entries.
• Opponent immediately begins passing sequence (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Establish strong guard retention frames, create distance with pushing frames on hips and shoulders, and circle your hips away from the passing pressure. Use grip fighting to break their grips and re-establish your preferred guard configuration.
• Opponent grabs your pants or belt during descent (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Accelerate your descent and immediately establish closed guard or tight hooks to prevent them from using the grips for stacking or pressure passing. Break their grips with hand fighting while securing your guard position.

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Sitting without establishing grips first
  • Consequence: Opponent easily disengages or establishes dominant top position without any control challenges
  • Correction: Always secure controlling grips before initiating the pull. Grips are your connection and control throughout the transition.
• Mistake: Dropping straight down rather than sitting back
  • Consequence: Hard impact on tailbone, potential injury, loss of control during descent, easier for opponent to establish pressure
  • Correction: Sit back smoothly with rounded back and controlled descent. Think of sitting into a chair behind you, not falling straight down.
• Mistake: Pulling guard without clear plan for which guard to establish
  • Consequence: Landing in scramble position with no immediate offensive or defensive structure
  • Correction: Decide your guard type before pulling and establish appropriate grips for that guard. Execute the pull specifically to enter that position.
• Mistake: Letting go of grips during descent
  • Consequence: Complete loss of control, opponent easily backs away or establishes dominant position
  • Correction: Maintain constant grip tension throughout the entire pulling motion. Grips are your primary control mechanism from standing to guard.
• Mistake: Pulling guard too far from opponent
  • Consequence: Opponent steps back and disengages, forcing you to chase or stand back up
  • Correction: Step in close before sitting, ensure your grips can maintain connection, and pull opponent’s weight forward as you descend.
• Mistake: Landing with legs apart or no immediate guard structure
  • Consequence: Opponent easily passes or establishes top control while you’re still organizing your guard
  • Correction: Establish guard position simultaneously with landing. Your legs should be wrapping, hooking, or framing as your hips touch the mat.

Training Progressions

Week 1-2: Fundamental Mechanics - Safe descent and basic closed guard pull Practice sitting back motion without partner, focusing on smooth controlled descent. Progress to pulling with compliant partner into closed guard only. Emphasize grip control and safe landing mechanics. No resistance. (Resistance: None)

Week 3-4: Guard Type Variations - Different guard pulls (closed, open, DLR, spider) Learn specific grip configurations for different guards. Practice pulling into various guard types with light resistance. Partner provides slight backward pressure but allows completion. Build muscle memory for different guard setups. (Resistance: Light)

Week 5-8: Timing and Opposition - Pulling against moderate resistance and opponent movement Partner actively tries to maintain standing position but doesn’t aggressively counter. Practice recognizing timing windows during grip fighting exchanges. Learn to pull when opponent’s weight is forward or neutral. Develop sensitivity to opponent’s balance. (Resistance: Medium)

Week 9-12: Counter Defense - Defending common counters to guard pull Partner uses realistic counters including backing away, sprawling, and immediate passing attempts. Practice maintaining connection and establishing guard despite opposition. Develop recovery skills when pull isn’t perfect. Build competitive timing. (Resistance: Full)

Week 13+: Competition Integration - Pulling into immediate offensive sequences Full resistance training where guard pull flows directly into sweep or submission attempts. Partner actively defends and attempts to pass. Practice pulling specifically to set up your highest percentage attacks. Refine timing for competition scenarios. (Resistance: Full)

Variations

Closed Guard Pull: Traditional guard pull where you wrap legs around opponent’s waist and lock ankles behind their back immediately upon landing. Most basic and fundamental variation. (When to use: When facing opponent with strong pressure passing game, or when you want to control posture and prevent immediate passing attempts. Best for beginners learning guard pull mechanics.)

Spider Guard Pull: Pull with both hands controlling sleeves, sit back and immediately establish feet on biceps with extended legs controlling distance. Requires strong grip endurance. (When to use: Against opponents who try to establish heavy top pressure. Excellent for creating distance and off-balancing opportunities. Effective in gi for setting up sweeps immediately.)

De La Riva Guard Pull: Pull while establishing DLR hook behind opponent’s knee, with opposite foot on hip or collar grip. More technical entry requiring precise positioning. (When to use: When you want to immediately attack opponent’s base and create off-balancing. Excellent against opponents who try to back away since the hook prevents disengagement.)

Sitting Guard Pull: Sit to seated guard position with feet ready to engage, often used to enter butterfly or single leg X. Less commitment than closing guard. (When to use: When you want flexibility to establish various guards based on opponent’s reaction. Good for no-gi where closed guard is harder to maintain. Allows quick transitions between guard types.)

Sacrifice Pull: Pull directly into inverted or rolling position to establish more advanced guards like reverse DLR or berimbolo positions. (When to use: Advanced variation for competitors comfortable with inverted positions. Creates immediate back-taking opportunities when opponent follows your movement.)

Test Your Knowledge

Q1: Why is establishing grips before pulling guard critically important? A: Grips provide the essential connection and control that prevents opponent from simply backing away or establishing dominant top position as you descend. Without grips, you lose all control during the transition and may end up in a defensive scramble or with opponent completely disengaged. Grips allow you to break opponent’s posture, maintain connection throughout the pull, and ensure you can establish your chosen guard position rather than landing in a neutral or disadvantaged position.

Q2: What is the most common mistake that leads to hard impact when pulling guard? A: Dropping straight down rather than sitting back is the primary cause of hard impacts. Practitioners who fall or jump straight down land heavily on their tailbone, risking injury and losing control. The correct technique involves sitting back smoothly as if sitting into a chair behind you, keeping the back rounded and core engaged to control the descent. This distributes impact across a larger surface area and maintains body control throughout the movement.

Q3: How do you prevent opponent from backing away and disengaging during a guard pull? A: Prevention requires three key elements: strong grip control established before sitting, breaking opponent’s posture forward as you initiate the pull, and stepping in close to reduce distance. The grips must be maintained with constant tension throughout the descent. Breaking posture forward prevents them from pulling their weight back. Close proximity ensures your legs can immediately establish hooks, wraps, or frames that prevent separation. If they do back away, you must aggressively scoot hips forward while maintaining grips and re-establish guard connections quickly.

Q4: What are the key differences between pulling to closed guard versus open guard positions? A: Closed guard pull prioritizes immediate control and posture breaking, using leg wrap around waist to create a closed system that prevents opponent movement. Open guard pulls establish distance control points with feet on hips, biceps, or establishing specific hooks (DLR, spider, etc.), maintaining connection while allowing more mobility. Closed guard requires closer proximity and works well against pressure passers. Open guards require more precise positioning and grip configurations specific to each guard type, but offer better options for creating angles and off-balancing. Open guards also transition more easily between different guard variations based on opponent’s reactions.

Q5: How should you respond when opponent sprawls forward with heavy pressure immediately after you pull guard? A: Rather than fighting the pressure directly, use it to your advantage by creating angles and establishing underhooks or deep positions. As they sprawl forward, rotate your hips to the side to prevent being flattened, and look for entries to butterfly hooks, deep half guard, or X-guard positions. The forward pressure can be redirected into sweep opportunities since their weight is already committed forward. You can also use the pressure to establish lockdown or deep half positions that nullify their passing pressure and create offensive opportunities. The key is accepting the pressure and using it rather than trying to push it away, which typically fails against heavier opponents.

Q6: What grip configurations are most effective for pulling to different guard types, and why? A: For closed guard, two sleeve grips or collar-and-sleeve provide strong posture breaking control. Spider guard requires two sleeve grips to establish bicep control points. De La Riva pull needs cross-collar grip and same-side sleeve to set up the hook properly. Lasso guard requires deep collar grip and opposite sleeve. Butterfly guard pull works well with double underhooks or overhook-underhook combinations. Each configuration serves the specific mechanical requirements of that guard: sleeve grips extend distance control, collar grips break posture and create off-balancing, underhooks enable close-range control and lift mechanics. The grips must facilitate both the pulling motion and the immediate establishment of the target guard position without requiring grip changes during transition.

Safety Considerations

When pulling guard, descend with control to avoid hard impact on your tailbone or spine, which can cause acute injury or cumulative damage over time. Always ensure adequate mat space behind you before initiating the pull to prevent collisions with walls or other practitioners. Communicate with training partners when practicing guard pulls, especially when learning new variations, as unexpected movements can cause both partners to lose balance. Release grips immediately if you feel yourself falling in an uncontrolled manner to prevent wrist, finger, or elbow injuries. Never pull guard on hard surfaces or inadequate mats. Be aware that pulling guard in self-defense situations may be inappropriate as it concedes top position and may involve landing on concrete or other dangerous surfaces. In competition, understand the rules regarding guard pulling and whether penalties apply for immediate disengagement attempts. Warm up properly before drilling guard pulls as the hip and back movements require flexibility and core strength.

Position Integration

Guard pulling serves as a critical tactical transition that allows practitioners to bypass the standing phase entirely and immediately establish their preferred ground fighting system. This technique represents a fundamental strategic choice in competition and training: rather than engaging in takedown exchanges where wrestling specialists may have advantages, guard players can immediately enter the domain where their technical systems are strongest. The guard pull connects directly into the entire guard retention and attack framework, making it an essential entry point for all guard-based games. Modern competition has evolved sophisticated guard pull variations specifically designed to enter advanced positions like De La Riva, spider guard, lasso guard, or even inverted positions that immediately threaten back takes. The technique also integrates with grip fighting strategy, as the grips established during standing exchanges directly determine which guard positions can be most effectively established. Understanding guard pulling is essential for developing a complete game, as it provides the bridge between standing engagement and ground control, allowing practitioners to dictate the pace and domain of the match. The technique’s effectiveness multiplies when combined with strong guard retention skills and immediate offensive sequences from the established position.

Related Techniques

• Closed Guard - Primary ending position for basic guard pull
• Open Guard - Alternative ending position for distance-based guard pulls
• Spider Guard - Specific guard variation established from grip-dependent pull
• De La Riva Guard - Advanced guard entry using hook-based pull variation
• Sitting Guard Pull - Transition variation leading to seated guard positions
• Jumping Guard - Related technique with higher risk but more aggressive entry
• Standing Position - Starting position for all guard pull variations
• Butterfly Guard - Common guard type established from sitting pull variation
• Hip Bump Sweep - Common offensive follow-up from closed guard pull
• Pendulum Sweep - Alternative offensive sequence from closed guard pull
• Triangle from Closed Guard - Submission attack initiated immediately after guard pull
• Lasso Guard - Advanced guard variation with specific pull entry requirements

Expert Insights

• Danaher System: The guard pull represents a critical strategic decision point in the match, one that must be understood not merely as a technique but as a systematic choice about which domain you wish to contest. The essential mechanical principle is that the pull must create immediate hierarchical advantage in the position you establish - you cannot simply fall to guard and hope to organize afterward. Your grips must be configured before the pull to facilitate the specific guard system you intend to implement. The descent must be controlled through core engagement and proper hip mechanics to prevent injury while maintaining connection tension. Most importantly, the guard pull must flow seamlessly into your offensive sequences - it is not a defensive retreat but an aggressive entry into your attacking system. Consider the guard pull as the gateway technique that either enables or destroys your entire ground game. If executed poorly, you enter ground fighting from a position of disorder and defensive scrambling. If executed properly, you enter with immediate control, established frames, and offensive initiative. The difference between these outcomes lies entirely in the precision of your mechanical execution and strategic preparation.
• Gordon Ryan: In high-level competition, pulling guard is often the most percentage move against elite wrestlers, but it requires absolute commitment and immediate aggression to work. When I pull guard, I’m not retreating - I’m entering my strongest domain where I have systematic advantages. The key is making your guard pull so tight and controlled that opponent has zero opportunities to establish their passing game. I prefer pulls that establish immediate off-balancing or back-taking threats, like DLR or single leg X positions where I’m attacking from the first second. Never just fall to closed guard and hang out - that’s how you get smashed by good pressure passers. Pull with specific grips already configured for your highest percentage attacks, and launch into those attacks within 2-3 seconds of hitting the mat. Against high-level opponents, guard pulling success is measured not by whether you establish a guard, but by whether you create immediate offensive threats that put them on the defensive. If they’re defending your attacks, they’re not passing. That’s the mindset difference between guard pulling as defense versus guard pulling as strategic offensive entry.
• Eddie Bravo: Guard pulling gets a bad reputation in some circles, but in reality it’s one of the most strategic moves you can make when you know your ground game is superior to their takedown game. In 10th Planet we emphasize pulling to very specific positions - usually rubber guard, lockdown, or positions that immediately threaten the truck and back takes. The traditional closed guard pull is fine for beginners, but I teach my students to pull into positions that create immediate confusion and dilemmas for the opponent. When you pull to rubber guard with mission control already configured, you’re not in a neutral guard - you’re in an offensive control position threatening omoplatas, triangles, and gogoplatas immediately. Same with pulling to lockdown half guard - you’re entering a systematic position where you have the structural advantage and numerous sweep and back-take options. The key innovation in modern guard pulling is treating it as an entry into advanced positions rather than basic positions. Don’t just pull to guard - pull to the specific variation of guard where you have the most developed attack systems and where your opponent has the least experience defending. That’s how you turn a simple technique into a major strategic weapon.