· By Joshua Howden
Names and explanations of 10 guards in No-Gi Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu
10 Best Guards to Learn in No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu
No-gi Jiu-Jitsu has a fast, dynamic style where grips on clothing aren’t available, so the best guards here focus on controlling the opponent’s body and creating strong angles without the use of the gi. Each guard on this list is versatile, allowing you to transition between positions, attack, or retain guard under pressure. Here are the top 10 guards to prioritize in no-gi Jiu-Jitsu:
1. Closed Guard
The closed guard is a fundamental position that gives you control over your opponent by locking your legs around their waist. In no-gi, closed guard is great for controlling your opponent’s posture and breaking down their base. It’s also a fantastic starting point for sweeps, armbars, triangles, and guillotines. Mastering closed guard helps establish a strong foundation in no-gi grappling.
2. Butterfly Guard
Butterfly guard is an open guard where you sit with your feet hooked inside your opponent’s legs, enabling you to elevate and control their balance. This guard is effective for sweeps and setting up submissions, especially against opponents trying to pass low. Butterfly guard is versatile, allowing quick transitions to single-leg X or X-guard, making it essential in no-gi.
3. Half Guard
Half guard is a powerful position that lets you trap one of your opponent’s legs while maintaining control with your hands. In no-gi, half guard is excellent for stalling your opponent’s movement, creating off-balance situations, and setting up sweeps, back takes, or submissions. Learning techniques like the underhook and knee shield in half guard makes it a great defensive and offensive tool.
4. Single-Leg X Guard
Single-leg X guard is a fantastic way to isolate one of your opponent’s legs, giving you leverage for sweeps and leg entanglements. In no-gi, it’s particularly effective for transitioning into leg locks, ankle picks, or sweeps. Single-leg X is also very effective against standing opponents, as it disrupts their balance and opens up opportunities for strong attacks.
5. X Guard
X guard is similar to single-leg X but with both legs entangled. This guard offers excellent control over your opponent’s base and is effective for sweeping. X guard is versatile and can transition into single-leg X or leg attacks. Learning X guard is useful for both defense and offense, helping you sweep and off-balance even stronger opponents.
6. Knee Shield Half Guard
Knee shield half guard is a variation of half guard where you place one knee as a “shield” between you and your opponent, creating space and managing distance. This guard is great for keeping opponents from pressuring forward and setting up sweeps and submissions. The knee shield offers control without grips, which makes it highly valuable in no-gi.
7. Reverse De La Riva Guard
Reverse De La Riva guard is popular in no-gi because it provides excellent control over an opponent’s leg and base. By hooking their leg, you can disrupt their balance, set up sweeps, or transition to the back. Reverse De La Riva works especially well against standing opponents and allows you to set up attacks without relying on gi grips.
8. Z Guard
Z guard is a variation of the half guard where you use your knee and shin to frame against the opponent’s chest or shoulder. This guard helps you manage distance and prevents pressure passing. It’s ideal for setting up sweeps, leg locks, and transitions, especially in no-gi, where staying mobile and keeping distance from heavy pressure is crucial.
9. K Guard
K guard is a modern guard position that’s highly effective for no-gi, especially when setting up leg entanglements and transitions to leg locks. In K guard, you position one of your legs behind the opponent’s knee while using the other leg to hook their hip, creating strong control of their base. K guard is useful for entering single-leg X, ashi garami, and other leg entanglement positions, making it an excellent tool for sweeping and attacking. This guard is especially popular for those with a strong leg lock game, as it offers direct access to your opponent’s legs while keeping you safe from passing threats.
10. De La Riva Guard
While traditionally used in the gi, De La Riva guard can still be effective in no-gi, especially if you modify your grips to control the opponent’s ankle or shin. It works well against a standing opponent and is an excellent entry for sweeps and back-takes. With no-gi De La Riva, focus on foot placement and strong hooks to control the opponent’s leg, limiting their movement while setting up your attacks.
Final Thoughts
Each of these guards brings unique advantages to your no-gi game, helping you maintain control, create space, and launch attacks without relying on grips. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand your guard options, practicing these guards will make you a more versatile and effective guard player in no-gi Jiu-Jitsu.