Atlas/Guard/Z-Guard
Guard position·kimura (when opponent posts near-side arm), guillotine (when opponent drops head to pressure), triangle choke (by elevating legs around head/arm)
Z Guard

Z-Guard

Shin across hip - distance control, sweep setup

Dominance
62
vs 38
Control depth
Distal
Guarding
Transitions
15
outbound
Submissions
50
downstream
//01—About this position

What it is

Half guard variation where the bottom player's shin lies across the top player's hip in a Z-shape. The shin frame manages distance and prevents forward pressure. Creates space for sweeps and transitions while maintaining defensive structure.

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
62 vs 38
Disadvantaged↓ 24Dominant
Control depth · Distal — Shin frame active - prevent pressure, sweep
Dominance — Passing perspective
38 vs 62
Disadvantaged↓ -24Dominant
Control depth · Distal — Fighting their shin frame - control grips, pass
//02—Concept tags
CONTROLESCAPE
//03—Transitions outbound

15 ways out.

All15transitionsin the App Store↗
Z-Guard →
Half Guard to Dogfight
Kneeling half guard - underhook battles, back takes
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Z-Guard →
Deep Half Guard Entry
Hip penetration beneath opponent - sweep leverage
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Z-Guard →
Kimura from Guard
Shoulder clamped between legs - submission control
Type
Submission entry
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Z-Guard →
Guillotine from Guard
Arm around neck - choke or takedown
Type
Submission entry
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Z-Guard →
Z-Guard Sweep
Sitting on torso - heavy hips, dominant control
Type
Sweep
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Z-Guard →
Single Leg X Entry
One leg hooked, one elevating - sweep angles
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Z-Guard →
X-Guard Entry
Crossed leg hooks - explosive sweeps
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Z-Guard →
De La Riva Hook Entry
Shin hook behind leg - off-balance, sweeps, back takes
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Z-Guard →
Reverse De La Riva Hook Entry
Reverse leg hook engaged - inverted angles, back access
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Z-Guard →
Lockdown Entry
Figure-four leg trap - restrict mobility, disrupt base
Type
Position adjustment
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Z-Guard →
Technical Stand Up
Equal standing - fight for grips
Type
Standup
Tier
Core
Perspective
Guarding
Z-Guard →
Z-Guard to Knee on Belly
Knee on belly - mobile pressure, transition hub
Type
Pass
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Z-Guard →
Z-Guard to Smash Pressure
Crushing chest pressure - flatten guard structure
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Z-Guard →
Leg Drag
Leg dragged across body - modern pass hub
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
Z-Guard →
Knee Cut
Knee sliced across the thigh - shear past to pin
Type
Advance
Tier
Core
Perspective
Passing
//04—Submissions downstream

50 finishes live
from this position.

All50submissionsin the App Store↗
SUB-001
Kimura
Guarding
Live
8/10
SUB-002
Guillotine Choke
Guarding
Watch
7/10
SUB-003
Triangle Choke
Guarding
Watch
7/10
SUB-004
Arm-in Guillotine
Guarding
Watch
6/10
SUB-005
High Elbow Guillotine
Guarding
Watch
6/10
SUB-006
Ten Finger Guillotine
Guarding
Watch
6/10
SUB-007
Armbar
Guarding
Long
5/10
SUB-008
Omoplata
Guarding
Long
5/10
SUB-009
Anaconda Choke
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-010
Calf Slicer
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-011
D'Arce Choke
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-012
Kneebar
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-013
Hiza Gatame
Guarding
Long
4/10
SUB-014
Arm Triangle
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-015
Prone Armbar
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-016
Brabo Choke
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-017
Buggy Choke
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-018
Cross Collar Choke
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-019
Head and Arm Choke
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-020
Heel Hook
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-021
Inside Heel Hook
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-022
Inverted Armbar
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-023
Loop Choke
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-024
Outside Heel Hook
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-025
Rolling Kneebar
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-026
Saddle Heel Hook
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-027
Straight Ankle Lock
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-028
Straight Armlock
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-029
Toe Hold
Guarding
Long
3/10
SUB-030
Aoki Lock
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-031
Arm Crush
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-032
Baratoplata
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-033
Bicep Slicer
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-034
Calf Compression
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-035
Calf Crank
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-036
Calf Crusher
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-037
Cryangle
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-038
Estima Lock
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-039
Gogoplata
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-040
Goose Neck Wrist Lock
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-041
Inverted Heel Hook
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-042
Monoplata
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-043
Reverse Calf Slicer
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-044
Reverse Triangle
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-045
Reverse Wrist Lock
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-046
Sitting Arm Triangle
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-047
Straight Wristlock
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-048
Tarikoplata
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-049
Wrist Lock
Guarding
Long
2/10
SUB-050
Z-Lock
Guarding
Long
2/10
//05—Linked positions

Browse the graph.

Guard58
Dogfight
Kneeling half guard - underhook battles, back takes
12 ↗ transitionsGuarding
Guard65
Deep Half Guard
Hip penetration beneath opponent - sweep leverage
10 ↗ transitionsGuarding
Guard70
Clamp Guard
Shoulder clamped between legs - submission control
8 ↗ transitionsGuarding
Standing54
Guillotine Control
Arm around neck - choke or takedown
8 ↗ transitionsInitiating
// Z-Guard · Guard

Read this position
on your phone.

Open Z-Guard in Grapla for the full detail block, all 15 outbound transitions, the counter graph, and the option to log this position straight to your journal.

Download on the
App Store