Atlas/Guard/Open Guard
Guard position·triangle choke (fundamental open guard attack), armbar (classic hip escape to armbar), straight ankle lock (when opponent stands)

Open Guard

Unlocked legs - flexible guard system foundation

Dominance
58
vs 42
Control depth
Distal
Guarding
Transitions
29
outbound
Submissions
45
downstream
//01—About this position

What it is

Guard position where legs stay unlocked to allow movement between different guard types. Controls distance and angle through leg positioning while maintaining grip fighting options. Provides the foundation for all modern guard systems like De La Riva, spider, and butterfly guard.

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
58 vs 42
Disadvantaged↓ 16Dominant
Control depth · Distal — Switch guard types while attacking sweeps and submissions
Dominance — Passing perspective
42 vs 58
Disadvantaged↓ -16Dominant
Control depth · Distal — Fight grips and pass before guard resets
//02—Concept tags
CONTROLTRANSITIONPASSPRESSURE
//03—Transitions outbound

29 ways out.

All29transitionsin the App Store↗
Open Guard →
Shaolin Sweep
Sitting on torso - heavy hips, dominant control
Type
Sweep
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Open Guard →
Arm Drag to Back
Over-under grip - upper body control from back
Type
Back take
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Open Guard →
De La Riva Hook Entry
Shin hook behind leg - off-balance, sweeps, back takes
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Open Guard →
Shin-to-Shin Guard Entry
Shin pressed to shin - leverage connection for sweeps
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Open Guard →
Single Leg X Entry
One leg hooked, one elevating - sweep angles
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Open Guard →
Ashi Garami Entry
Basic leg isolation - straight ankle locks
Type
Entanglement
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Open Guard →
Triangle from Guard
High hip position - break posture, attack submissions
Type
Submission entry
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Open Guard →
Open Guard to Spider Guard
Feet on biceps with sleeve grips - posture control
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Open Guard →
Open Guard to Closed Guard
Legs locked around waist - complete distance control
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Open Guard →
Open Guard to Lasso Guard
Leg threads through arm - complete limb isolation
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Open Guard →
Open Guard to Collar Sleeve Guard
Collar and sleeve grips - break posture, create angles
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Open Guard →
Open Guard to X-Guard
Crossed leg hooks - explosive sweeps
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Open Guard →
Open Guard to Rubber Guard
Flexibility-based guard - leg trap controls posture
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Open Guard →
Open Guard to Clamp Guard
Shoulder clamped between legs - submission control
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Open Guard →
Open Guard to Octopus Guard
Multi-limb entanglement - wrap and control body
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Open Guard →
Tripod Guard
Same-side ankle and hip frame - sickle sweep loads
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Open Guard →
Leg Drag
Leg dragged across body - modern pass hub
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Open Guard →
Tornado Guard
Inverted shin pressure - rotational sweep platform
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Open Guard →
Leandro Lo Pass
Knee on belly - mobile pressure, transition hub
Type
Pass
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Open Guard →
Open Guard to Smash Pressure
Crushing chest pressure - flatten guard structure
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Open Guard →
Open Guard to Stack Pressure
Stacking weight on shoulders - compressed guard
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Open Guard →
Open Guard to Over-Under Grip
Asymmetric grip - one over one under
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Open Guard →
Open Guard to Double Underhooks
Both underhooks on legs - lift and stack control
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Open Guard →
Open Guard to Head-and-Arm Control
Arm trapped to neck - sets up arm triangle and darce
Type
Pass
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Open Guard →
Quarter Mount
One knee over, one alongside - advance to mount, back, s-mount
Type
Pass
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Open Guard →
Sprawl Control
Hips sprawled down, head controlled - stops takedown, creates attacks
Type
Pass
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Open Guard →
Tripod Guard
Same-side ankle and hip frame - sickle sweep loads
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Open Guard →
Leg Drag
Leg dragged across body - modern pass hub
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Open Guard →
Tornado Guard
Inverted shin pressure - rotational sweep platform
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
//04—Submissions downstream

45 finishes live
from this position.

All45submissionsin the App Store↗
SUB-001
Armbar
Guarding
Watch
7/10
SUB-002
Triangle Choke
Guarding
Watch
7/10
SUB-003
Guillotine Choke
Guarding
Watch
6/10
SUB-004
Omoplata
Guarding
Watch
6/10
SUB-005
Arm-in Guillotine
Guarding
Long
5/10
SUB-006
High Elbow Guillotine
Guarding
Long
5/10
SUB-007
Kimura
Guarding
Long
5/10
SUB-008
Kneebar
Guarding
Long
5/10
SUB-009
Straight Ankle Lock
Guarding
Long
5/10
SUB-010
Ten Finger Guillotine
Guarding
Long
5/10
SUB-011
Cross Collar Choke
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-012
Estima Lock
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-013
Heel Hook
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-014
Inside Heel Hook
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-015
Loop Choke
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-016
Outside Heel Hook
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-017
Straight Armlock
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-018
Toe Hold
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-019
Reverse Omoplata
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-020
Hiza Gatame
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-021
Aoki Lock
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-022
Cryangle
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-023
Gogoplata
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-024
Inverted Armbar
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-025
Inverted Heel Hook
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-026
Reverse Triangle
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-027
Rolling Kneebar
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-028
Tarikoplata
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-029
Arm Crush
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-030
Baratoplata
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-031
Bicep Slicer
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-032
Buggy Choke
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-033
Calf Compression
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-034
Calf Crank
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-035
Calf Crusher
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-036
Calf Slicer
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-037
Gi Tail Choke
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-038
Goose Neck Wrist Lock
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-039
Monoplata
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-040
Reverse Calf Slicer
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-041
Scissor Choke
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-042
Straight Wristlock
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-043
Wrist Lock
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-044
Z-Lock
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-045
Reverse Wrist Lock
Guarding
Long
1/10
//05—Linked positions

Browse the graph.

Control85
Mount
Sitting on torso - heavy hips, dominant control
9 ↗ transitionsControlling
Control82
Back Control
Over-under grip - upper body control from back
7 ↗ transitionsControlling
Guard60
De La Riva
Shin hook behind leg - off-balance, sweeps, back takes
19 ↗ transitionsGuarding
Guard58
Shin-to-Shin Guard
Shin pressed to shin - leverage connection for sweeps
17 ↗ transitionsGuarding
// Open Guard · Guard

Read this position
on your phone.

Open Open Guard in Grapla for the full detail block, all 29 outbound transitions, the counter graph, and the option to log this position straight to your journal.

Download on the
App Store