Jiu-Jitsu Control and Pins

Knee on Belly

A dominant transitional control that pressures the opponent and opens up submissions and transitions.

De La Riva Guard

An open guard using a hooking leg around the outside of the opponent's leg. Foundation for many sweeps and back takes.

Spider Guard

Sleeve grips and feet on biceps create a versatile open guard for sweeps and submissions.

Lasso Guard

A spider-guard variant with a lasso grip on the sleeve. Strong control to off-balance and submit.

X Guard

A bottom guard where you scoot under the opponent and use a leg-X to control and sweep.

Lockdown

A controlling half-guard configuration that ties up the opponent's leg and sets up sweeps and elevators.

Crucifix

Trap both arms with your legs from the back/turtle and finish with a choke or shoulder lock.

Reverse De La Riva

Hook on the inside of the opponent's leg, used heavily for back takes and sweeps.

High Mount Control

Climb knees up to the armpits to neutralize bridging and isolate arms for submissions.

Knee on Belly Control

Mobile top pin with knee on the torso. Light, mobile, ideal for submissions and transitions.

Back Body Triangle

Lock a triangle with your legs around the opponent's torso for crushing back control.

Crucifix from Back

Trap one arm with the legs and the other with the hand for a devastating control position.

Lockdown from Half Guard

Eddie Bravo–style triangle of the legs to immobilize the opponent's trapped leg.

Knee Shield Half Guard

Defensive half guard with knee blocking the opponent's chest. Frame and recover full guard.

Collar Sleeve Guard

Control one sleeve and the cross-collar, using the free foot on the hip to maintain distance and attack.

Worm Guard

Advanced lapel guard where you pass your own lapel under the opponent's leg for extreme off-balancing.

Gubber Guard

Wrap the opponent's arm with your lapel from half or seated guard to trap and sweep or submit.

Reverse De La Riva Guard

Mirror-image hook of DLR, used to enter leg entanglements and back takes from the bottom.

Williams Guard

Shawn Williams' seated guard with lapel trap under one leg: excellent for triangles and sweeps.

Gift Wrap from Mount

Trap one arm behind the opponent's back, securing a gift wrap for submissions or back takes.

Kimura Trap from Side Control

Use the kimura grip to sweep, take the back, or submit as the opponent defends.

Z-Guard (Knee Shield)

Half guard with knee shield blocking the shoulder, creating frames and attack angles.

Coyote Half Guard

Lucas Leite–style half guard with cross-face pressure, ideal for deep half entries and sweeps.

Outside Ashi Garami

Control the leg from the outside, setting up toe holds and heel hooks from the lateral position.

Squid Guard

Open guard variation using deep lapel grip from underneath.

Shin-to-Shin Guard

Shin-to-shin control entry into single leg X or ashi entanglements.

Z-Guard Knee Shield Frame

Form a knee shield from half guard to block hip pressure.

Tornado Guard

Modern open guard entry using underhook and inversion.

Reverse X-Guard

X-guard structure on the inside leg setting up sweeps and entries.

Gift Wrap Control

Trap one arm across the face to set up cross choke or back take.

Mount Pressure Pass Top

Maintain mount with crossface and grapevines.

Mount Heel Drag

Drag the heel down to break the bridge defense.

Tight Waist Roll Recovery

Recover mount when opponent rolls by gripping tight to the waist.

Reverse Kesa Gatame

Reverse scarf hold from north side, controlling the arm.

Crossface Pressure Top

Heavy crossface from side control to break posture.

Twister Side Control

Twister side mount setting up the twister submission.

Seatbelt Control

Establish seatbelt grip with overhook and underhook from back.

Turtle Crackdown

Heavy top pressure on turtle to flatten and attack.

Turtle Front Headlock

Get the front headlock from opponent's turtle.

Inside Sankaku

Triangle the legs from inside position for back exposure.

Outside Sankaku

Outside leg triangle to threaten heel hooks and back take.

Cross Ashi

Cross-body ashi garami entry for heel hook attacks.

Closed Guard Break Defense

Maintain closed guard against standard posture breaks.

Sit-Up Guard

Open guard variant sitting up with grips.

Rubber Guard Setup

Form rubber guard structure for attacks.

Mission Control

Rubber guard control position.

Chill Dog

Rubber guard transition position.

New York

Rubber guard finishing position.

Crackhead Control

Rubber guard back take setup.

Lapel Guard

Use the lapel to entangle opponent's legs.

Ringworm Guard

Lapel variant looping around the leg.

De La Worm

Hybrid DLR and worm guard.

Crab Ride

Back-take position using underhooks on opponent's legs.

Truck Position

Leg entanglement back-take position.

Low Mount Control

Lower mount riding the hips for control.

High Mount Tight

High mount on the chest with grapevines.

Mounted Crucifix

Crucifix from mounted position.

Single-Hook Back Control

Maintain back control with one hook.

Body Lock Back Control

Body lock back control without hooks.

Top Turtle Control

Heavy ride on opponent's turtle.