Seated Guard

The Seated Guard is a versatile and dynamic Guard position in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu where the practitioner sits on the mat with their hips beneath them, knees bent, and feet in front. This position is commonly used as a transitional guard to engage an opponent who is standing or kneeling, offering excellent opportunities for sweeps, submissions, or transitions into other guards like Butterfly Guard or De La Riva.

Purpose of the Seated Guard

Engagement and Control

  • Allows the practitioner to actively engage with an opponent while maintaining distance and mobility.

Guard Retention

  • Enables quick transitions to other guards if the opponent attempts to pass.

Sweeping Opportunities

Submission Setups

Key Features of Seated Guard

Base and Posture

  • Keep your torso upright with your Core engaged.
  • Avoid leaning too far forward or backward, maintaining a balanced and active posture.

Leg Positioning

  • Knees should be bent with your feet in front of you, ready to engage or block your opponent.
  • Feet can be on the mat or actively pushing against your opponent's legs or hips.

Hand Placement

  • Use your hands to post on the mat for balance or to grip your opponent for control.
  • Common grips include Collar Tie, Wrist Control, or Ankle Grip.

Mobility

  • Stay light on your hips to allow quick transitions or adjustments based on your opponent’s movement.

Common Uses of Seated Guard

Engaging a Standing Opponent

  • Use grips and foot placement to off-balance or sweep an opponent who is standing.

Setting Up Sweeps

Defensive Position

  • Retain distance and guard against opponents attempting guard passes.

Submission Entries

Guard Transitions

Advantages of Seated Guard

Active Position

  • Promotes offensive play while retaining a strong defensive structure.

Mobility

  • Allows quick transitions to other guards or standing techniques like Technical Stand-Up.

Angle Creation

  • Facilitates the generation of Angles to sweep, submit, or counter effectively.

Distance Management

  • Enables effective Distance Management to keep your opponent at bay or control their movement.

Defending the Seated Guard

Avoid Leaning Back

  • Leaning too far back compromises your Base and opens you to guard passes.

Control Opponent’s Grips

  • Prevent your opponent from establishing grips that could nullify your position or attack your legs.

Active Feet

  • Keep your feet engaged to control your opponent’s legs and prevent them from closing the distance.

Drilling Tips for Seated Guard

Solo Drills

Partner Drills

  • Practice establishing grips and off-balancing your opponent while they apply light pressure.
  • Drill common sweeps like the Butterfly Sweep or Collar-Drag Sweep.

Flow Drills

  • Integrate the seated guard into sequences, transitioning into other guards, sweeps, or submission attempts.

Positional Sparring

  • Start from seated guard and focus on sweeping, transitioning, or defending against guard passes under live resistance.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Passive Play

  • Staying static allows your opponent to set up their attacks or guard passes.

Flat Hips

  • Keeping your hips flat on the mat limits mobility and sweep potential.

Poor Grip Management

  • Failing to establish or control grips gives your opponent the advantage.

Overcommitting

Tip

Seated Guard is a highly adaptable position that bridges defense and offense. Practice maintaining active posture, controlling grips, and transitioning fluidly to develop a strong and dynamic seated guard game.

Advancing Seated Guard

Transitions from Seated Guard

To Butterfly Guard

  • Scoot closer to your opponent and insert both hooks under their thighs to establish Butterfly Guard control. Use this for sweeps or submission setups.

To De La Riva Guard

  • When your opponent stands, extend one leg and hook it around their lead leg while maintaining a collar grip for De La Riva control.

To Single-Leg X Guard

  • As your opponent steps forward, hook one leg around theirs while controlling their ankle or knee, transitioning into Single-Leg X Guard for sweeps or leg locks.

To Technical Stand-Up

  • When your opponent gives you space, post on one hand and use the other to push off the mat, transitioning to a standing position.

Submissions from Seated Guard

Guillotine

  • Secure a Collar Tie or snap their head down. Wrap their neck with your arm and pull guard or finish directly if their posture breaks.

Triangle Choke

  • Off-balance your opponent forward and throw one leg over their shoulder while locking in a Triangle Choke as they engage.

Armbar

  • Control their wrist or sleeve and shift your hips to create an angle, trapping their arm and extending into the submission.

Kimura

  • Isolate your opponent’s arm by gripping their wrist and locking a Figure-Four Grip, then rotate their arm for the finish.

Sweeps from Seated Guard

Butterfly Sweep

  • Insert hooks under your opponent’s legs, lift with one hook, and pull them over as you rotate to take the top position.

Collar-Drag Sweep

  • Grab their collar and pull diagonally while scooting back to off-balance them, following up to take Back Control or Side Control.

Tripod Sweep

  • Control their ankle and collar, push with one foot on their hip, and sweep them backward to land in a dominant position.

Scissor Sweep

  • Create an angle by pulling their collar and using your legs to scissor their base out from under them.

Passes from Seated Guard

Over-Under Pass

  • Control one leg with an underhook and the other over your shoulder. Flatten your opponent and step over their guard to Side Control.

Toreando Pass

  • Grab the opponent’s pant legs or ankles, push their legs to one side, and circle around to pass their guard.

Knee Slide Pass

  • Create distance with grips, then slide your lead knee diagonally across their hips to clear their guard and stabilize on top.

Leg Drag Pass

  • Drag one of their legs across your body while controlling their hip and opposite arm to pass into Side Control or Back Control.

Escapes from Seated Guard

Recovering Guard

Hip Escape

  • Shrimp away from pressure while maintaining grip control to create space and reset your position.

Granby Roll

  • Use a Granby Roll to escape if your opponent tries to collapse your posture or take your back.

Underhook Recovery

  • Establish an underhook on their attacking side and scoot under to reverse or regain control.

Takedowns from Seated Guard

Ankle Pick

  • Control their collar and use your free hand to grab their ankle, pulling it toward you while scooting forward to topple them.

Collar Drag Takedown

  • Grip their collar and drag them diagonally while scooting back, pulling them off balance to take their back or top position.

Double-Leg Takedown Transition

Single-Leg Takedown

  • Grip their collar or sleeve and scoop one leg with your arm. Stand up into a single-leg takedown as you off-balance them.
Tip

The seated guard’s adaptability allows for seamless transitions, submissions, and sweeps. Focus on maintaining balance, controlling grips, and being proactive with your attacks to dominate from this position.

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