Atlas/Guard/Top Body Lock
Guard position·cradle to compress head and knee once stacked, head-and-arm and arm-triangle setups as a leg clears
Body Lock Pass
Body Lock Pressure Pass
Over-the-Back Body Lock
Hip-Lock Pass
Ground Body Lock Control

Top Body Lock

Clasped body lock around the hips - flatten and pass

Dominance
50
vs 50
Control depth
Proximal
Passing
Transitions
14
outbound
Submissions
10
downstream
//01—About this position

What it is

Top passing position where the passer clasps a closed grip around the bottom player's hips or lower back while pinning them chest-to-chest toward the mat. The clasp removes the bottom player's hip mobility and guard-retention frames, flattening them and shutting down leg activity. Common as a stalling-resistant control en route to side control or mount, with the bottom player limited to grip fighting, framing, and head-and-neck counters.

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 — Passing perspective
50 vs 50
Disadvantaged↓ 0Dominant
Control depth · Proximal — Hands clasped at the hips - flatten and clear
Dominance — Guarding perspective
50 vs 50
Disadvantaged↓ 0Dominant
Control depth · Distal — Frame and bridge to break the lock - recover guard
//02—Concept tags
PASSPRESSURECONTROL
//03—Transitions outbound

14 ways out.

All14transitionsin the App Store↗
Top Body Lock →
Body Lock Pass
Lying across torso - cross-body pressure control
Type
Pass
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Top Body Lock →
Body Lock Pass
Sitting on torso - heavy hips, dominant control
Type
Pass
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Top Body Lock →
Body Lock Pass
Knee on belly - mobile pressure, transition hub
Type
Pass
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Top Body Lock →
Body Lock Pass
Chest over head, inverted - heavy pressure, kimura attacks
Type
Pass
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Top Body Lock →
Body Lock Pass
Belly-down side control - sprawled chest pin
Type
Pass
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Top Body Lock →
Head-and-Arm Control
Arm trapped to neck - sets up arm triangle and darce
Type
Pass
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Top Body Lock →
Back Control
Over-under grip - upper body control from back
Type
Back take
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Top Body Lock →
Cradle from Top
Head and near or far leg connected — variant shapes available transition angles
Type
Submission entry
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Top Body Lock →
Open Guard
Unlocked legs - flexible guard system foundation
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Top Body Lock →
Half Guard
One leg trapped - asymmetrical guard control
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Top Body Lock →
Closed Guard
Legs locked around waist - complete distance control
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Top Body Lock →
Butterfly Guard
Feet hook inside thighs - lifting sweeps
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Top Body Lock →
Hip Bump Sweep
Sitting on torso - heavy hips, dominant control
Type
Sweep
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Top Body Lock →
Triangle from Guard
High hip position - break posture, attack submissions
Type
Submission entry
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
//04—Submissions downstream

10 finishes live
from this position.

All10submissionsin the App Store↗
SUB-001
Guillotine Choke
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-002
High Elbow Guillotine
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-003
Arm-in Guillotine
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-004
Ten Finger Guillotine
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-005
Goose Neck Wrist Lock
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-006
Ezekiel Choke
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-007
Cross Collar Choke
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-008
Straight Wristlock
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-009
Reverse Wrist Lock
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-010
Wrist Lock
Guarding
Long
2/10
//05—Linked positions

Browse the graph.

Control80
Side Control
Lying across torso - cross-body pressure control
15 ↗ transitionsControlling
Control85
Mount
Sitting on torso - heavy hips, dominant control
9 ↗ transitionsControlling
Control82
Knee on Belly
Knee on belly - mobile pressure, transition hub
13 ↗ transitionsControlling
Control84
North-South
Chest over head, inverted - heavy pressure, kimura attacks
8 ↗ transitionsControlling
// Top Body Lock · Guard

Read this position
on your phone.

Open Top Body Lock in Grapla for the full detail block, all 14 outbound transitions, the counter graph, and the option to log this position straight to your journal.

Download on the
App Store