Open guard overview
A map of the open guard family, where the feet and grips manage a passer at range.
How to read it
What this entry helps you see
Open guard is a family of positions rather than one shape. Collar-sleeve, spider, lasso, butterfly, and De La Riva are all members, each built from a different mix of foot and grip connections. What they share is the job of managing distance and off-balancing a passer before the legs are cleared. Learning the family map makes each specific guard easier to place.
Study cues
- Notice which feet and grips define each open guard
- Manage distance before the passer settles a grip
- Off-balance the passer rather than waiting flat
Common errors
- Letting the feet lose contact with the passer
- Gripping without a plan to off-balance
- Staying flat instead of following the passer with the hips