Atlas/Guard/Closed Guard
Guard position·triangle choke (legs high, head/arm isolation), armbar (hip pivot, leg over face), kimura (overhook wrist control)
Full Guard
Closed Guard

Closed Guard

Legs locked around waist - complete distance control

Dominance
65
vs 35
Control depth
Proximal
Guarding
Transitions
21
outbound
Submissions
39
downstream
//01—About this position

What it is

Bottom position where legs wrap around opponent's waist with ankles locked behind their back. The leg lock controls their distance and limits hip movement. Grips break down their posture and create angles for attacks.

What you do

The step-by-step execution guide lives in the app — 6-step breakdown, biomechanics, and situational tips.

Open1position detailin the App Store↗
Dominance — Guarding perspective
65 vs 35
Disadvantaged↓ 30Dominant
Control depth · Proximal — Control distance while attacking in combinations
Dominance — Passing perspective
35 vs 65
Disadvantaged↓ -30Dominant
Control depth · Distal — Fight for posture and inside control
//02—Concept tags
ATTACKCONTROLESCAPEPASSDEFENCE
//03—Transitions outbound

21 ways out.

All21transitionsin the App Store↗
Closed Guard →
Kimura from Guard
Shoulder clamped between legs - submission control
Type
Submission entry
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Closed Guard →
Omoplata from Guard
Unlocked legs - flexible guard system foundation
Type
Submission entry
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Closed Guard →
Guillotine from Guard
Arm around neck - choke or takedown
Type
Submission entry
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Closed Guard →
Arm Drag to Back
Over-under grip - upper body control from back
Type
Back take
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Closed Guard →
Rubber Guard Entry
Flexibility-based guard - leg trap controls posture
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Closed Guard →
Williams Guard Entry
Closed guard omoplata triangle hub
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Closed Guard →
Arm Drag to Back
Behind with hooks - back control, submission access
Type
Back take
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Closed Guard →
Kimura from Guard
Kimura grip for control - sweeps, back takes, submissions
Type
Submission entry
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Closed Guard →
Spider Guard Entry
Feet on biceps with sleeve grips - posture control
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Closed Guard →
Collar Sleeve Guard Entry
Collar and sleeve grips - break posture, create angles
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Closed Guard →
Lasso Guard Entry
Leg threads through arm - complete limb isolation
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Closed Guard →
Technical Stand Up
Equal standing - fight for grips
Type
Standup
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Closed Guard →
Single Leg X Entry
One leg hooked, one elevating - sweep angles
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Closed Guard →
X-Guard Entry
Crossed leg hooks - explosive sweeps
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Closed Guard →
De La Riva Hook Entry
Shin hook behind leg - off-balance, sweeps, back takes
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Closed Guard →
Reverse De La Riva Hook Entry
Reverse leg hook engaged - inverted angles, back access
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Closed Guard →
Deep Half Guard Entry
Hip penetration beneath opponent - sweep leverage
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Closed Guard →
Tornado Guard
Inverted shin pressure - rotational sweep platform
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Closed Guard →
Standing Guard Break
Standing upright in closed guard - break pressure
Type
Guard break
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Closed Guard →
Arm Triangle Setup
Arm trapped to neck - sets up arm triangle and darce
Type
Submission entry
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Closed Guard →
Closed Guard to Combat Base
One knee up, one down - stable passing platform
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
//04—Submissions downstream

39 finishes live
from this position.

All39submissionsin the App Store↗
SUB-001
Armbar
Guarding
Live
9/10
SUB-002
Triangle Choke
Guarding
Live
9/10
SUB-003
Cross Collar Choke
Guarding
Watch
7/10
SUB-004
Guillotine Choke
Guarding
Watch
7/10
SUB-005
High Elbow Guillotine
Guarding
Watch
7/10
SUB-006
Kimura
Guarding
Watch
7/10
SUB-007
Omoplata
Guarding
Watch
7/10
SUB-008
Arm-in Guillotine
Guarding
Watch
6/10
SUB-009
Ten Finger Guillotine
Guarding
Watch
6/10
SUB-010
Ezekiel Choke
Guarding
Long
5/10
SUB-011
Loop Choke
Guarding
Long
5/10
SUB-012
Scissor Choke
Guarding
Long
5/10
SUB-013
Straight Armlock
Guarding
Long
5/10
SUB-014
Reverse Omoplata
Guarding
Long
5/10
SUB-015
Hiza Gatame
Guarding
Long
5/10
SUB-016
Gogoplata
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-017
Mir Lock
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-018
Reverse Wrist Lock
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-019
Straight Wristlock
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-020
Tarikoplata
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-021
Wrist Lock
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-022
Americana
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-023
Arm Crush
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-024
Arm-in Ezekiel
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-025
Arm Triangle
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-026
Baratoplata
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-027
Bicep Slicer
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-028
Cryangle
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-029
Gi Tail Choke
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-030
Goose Neck Wrist Lock
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-031
Head and Arm Choke
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-032
Hip Slicer
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-033
Inverted Armbar
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-034
Monoplata
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-035
Reverse Triangle
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-036
Top Wrist Lock
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-037
Anaconda Choke
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-038
Brabo Choke
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-039
D'Arce Choke
Guarding
Long
2/10
//05—Linked positions

Browse the graph.

Guard70
Clamp Guard
Shoulder clamped between legs - submission control
8 ↗ transitionsGuarding
Guard58
Open Guard
Unlocked legs - flexible guard system foundation
18 ↗ transitionsGuarding
Standing54
Guillotine Control
Arm around neck - choke or takedown
8 ↗ transitionsInitiating
Control82
Back Control
Over-under grip - upper body control from back
7 ↗ transitionsControlling
// Closed Guard · Guard

Read this position
on your phone.

Open Closed Guard in Grapla for the full detail block, all 21 outbound transitions, the counter graph, and the option to log this position straight to your journal.

Download on the
App Store