Guard Retention: Keep Your Guard, Stay in the Fight

What Is Guard Retention?

Guard retention is the collection of movements and decisions that stop your opponent from passing and help you recover to a strong guard when they start to get around your legs. In practical training, it means you recognize early threats, place strong frames, manage distance, and use hip mobility to square back up or re-guard before the pass settles.

It sits between defense and offense. Good guard retention denies points and dominant positions, buys you time, and turns your opponent’s forward pressure into openings to attack. Without it, even great sweeps or submissions won’t matter because you’ll spend most rounds escaping from bad spots.

Guard Retention Videos on BJJ University (Top 20 Videos, Top 10 Courses)

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Guard Retention - How To Never Get Your Guard Passed In Jiu Jitsu by Gordon Ryan

13m · Gordon Ryan

In this instructional video renowned Brazilian Jiu Jitsu athlete, Gordon Ryan, demonstrates how to retain guard. He emphasizes the importance of not allowing your opponent to pass your guard, particularly past your hips which he refers to as the "J point". Ryan demonstrates various grips and transitions to keep the opponent in front and avoid guard pass, stressing the concept of "stickiness" and constant off-balancing. He also outlines strategies for preventing the opponent from taking control of the head and keeping control of the inside position.

Position: Guard Generic Category: Guard Retention

How To NOT Get Your Guard Passed | Gi & Nogi BJJ

8m · Jordan Teaches Jiujitsu

The video explains the theory and techniques required to stop your guard from being passed. The instructor emphasizes the importance of maintaining four points of contact through dominant grips and making use of your limbs efficiently. The instructor provides examples from both Gi and NoGi, including a variety of rolling footage to demonstrate effective prevention of guard passing. The video also teaches preventive measures and suitable counterattacks when your opponent manages to bypass your legs.

Technique: Grip Fighting / Hand Fighting Position: Open Guard Category: Guard Retention

PREMIUM

Go Further Faster Bundle by John Danaher

$1297.00 • BJJ Fanatics

The video is an advertisement for an 8-volume bundle by renowned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor, John Danaher, titled Go Further, Faster. This wraparound series emphasizes learning basic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tactics, methods for preserving one's guard, and escaping from precarious positions. Students are educated about using strategies effectively when grappling within half guard, closed guard, and open guard. This content aims to deepen learners' understanding of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and accelerates their progress in the martial art.

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How To Build The Perfect Half Guard Game by John Danaher

27m · John Danaher

In this instructional video, John Danaher shows how to effectively build a half guard game. He discusses the significance of the half guard position from both a defensive and offensive perspective, highlighting how athletes can either use it as their main sweeping technique or a primary passing position. The underlying aspect to keep in mind, according to Danaher, is the control or lack of control of the head and shoulders of the bottom player, which determines the success of the half guard game. He emphasized the importance of protecting the head and shoulders from the opponent to effectively utilize the half guard position.

Position: Half Guard Category: Guard Retention

ROGER GRACIE Explains the Best Closed Guard in BJJ

11m · Roger Gracie

In this video, jiu-jitsu legend Roger Gracie demonstrates his approach to maintaining a closed guard, with a focus on posture control. Gracie explains the importance of not allowing your opponent to achieve a strong grip in the middle of your chest, which would enable them to break your guard. By preventing this and forcing them to place their hands elsewhere, Gracie asserts that it weakens their posture and disrupts their attempts to stand. The video offers a deep dive into Gracie's strategy and technique, illustrating how to apply physical pressure and strategic positioning to maintain control from a closed guard position.

Position: Closed Guard Category: Guard Retention

PREMIUM

The Ultimate Guard Bundle by Gordon Ryan

$999.00 • BJJ Fanatics

The video titled "The Ultimate Guard Bundle by Gordon Ryan" teaches viewers about maintaining and utilizing their guard in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). The content focuses on various techniques such as shoulder crunch sumi gaeshi, X guard and ashi entries and butterfly half guard, which are shown and explained by three-time ADCC Gold Medalist and Absolute IBJJF No-Gi World Champion, Gordon Ryan. In addition to explaining techniques in detail, Ryan also offers strategic insights on how to prevent and counter guard passers from the bottom position.

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Mastering The Rubber Guard by Eddie Bravo

8m · Eddie Bravo

Eddie Bravo, the inventor of the rubber guard in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, provides instruction on entering the rubber guard position. Bravo explains the implementation of a position called the cocoon, used as a set up for the entry, often from the Z-guard position. He discusses the importance of gaining an underhook and using a butterfly guard as transition steps. Bravo emphasizes the importance of understanding entries into positions before focusing on submissions, comparing its significance to entering the saddle in leg lock games.

Position: Open Guard Category: Guard Retention

K Guard system

9m · Tum Energia

This video is an instructional video on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu presented by Tum Energia. The video provides an overview of the K Guard system from closed guard and presents strategies for gaining and maintaining this position. These strategies include controlling the lower body, specifically the hip and the back side of the knee, and framing the upper body for both attack and defense. The video emphasizes the importance of practice for effective application of the K Guard system, and it offers additional entries and submissions not covered in the video in a referenced DVD.

Position: K Guard Category: Guard Retention

PREMIUM

Attacking From Guard Bundle by Gordon Ryan

$629.00 • BJJ Fanatics

"The video is a comprehensive tutorial by Gordon Ryan on attacking from a supine guard position. He provides a detailed guide towards mastering sweeps, back takes, and leg locks that are applicable at the highest levels of grappling. Viewers can also gain insights from watching Gordon Ryan roll in real-time, as he breaks down the footage to explain the system's workings in action. It’s a valuable resource for grappling enthusiasts aiming for a competitive edge.

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Butterfly Guard Guide In Gi & Nogi | BJJ Fundamentals

6m · Jordan

In this video, Jordan provides a detailed guide on the Butterfly Guard and the Butterfly Sweep in both gi and nogi. He outlines key details needed to successfully perform butterfly sweeps and demonstrates a variety of options from different positions including arm drags, overhooks, and underhooks. He also discusses entries into other positions as well as submissions. Techniques such as recognizing and addressing common obstacles your opponent may use to resist the sweep are covered in the video.

Position: Butterfly Guard Category: Guard Retention

How To Build The Perfect BJJ Closed Guard Game by John Danaher

21m · John Danaher

This YouTube video features BJJ instructor John Danaher sharing his strategies on how to build the perfect closed guard game. He discusses the importance and advantage of closed guard in BJJ and how everyone, regardless of body type, can effectively play this position. He challenges the idea that closed guard is a neutral or defensive position, promoting it instead as an aggressive, attacking position. He also explains how small adjustments in a neutral position can confer a mechanical or tactical advantage, transforming it into a mildly dominant position.

Position: Closed Guard Category: Guard Retention

PREMIUM

The Down Under Bottom Game Bundle by Craig Jones

$599.00 • BJJ Fanatics

The video is a part of the "Down Under Bottom Game Bundle" presented by Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, Craig Jones. The tutorial focuses on mastering Jones's unique Z-guard to enhance your bottom game on the mat. The instructional video contains over 10 hours of content that comprehensively covers different aspects of the Z-guard system, offering strategies for effectively employing the technique. By following this instruction, viewers can improve their guard's effectiveness in various combat situations.

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Stop getting SMASHED in Half Guard 🙏 #brazilianjiujitsu #bjj #jiujitsu

19s · Jordan Teaches Jiujitsu

The YouTube video provides an instructional on how to prevent getting smashed while in half guard position in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The instructor Jordan elaborately explains and demonstrates how to utilize a butterfly hook to regain frames against an opponent. He teaches viewers how to insert this butterfly hook into the opponent's thigh, use it to rock them sideways then as they return, positions the hand onto their hip to flip the frame back in front. The lesson ends with a suggestion to start attacking with butterfly sweeps.

Position: Half Guard Category: Guard Retention

Easy to Use Entire Closed Guard System

8m · Jon Thomas

Jon Thomas introduces viewers to a system for attacking from closed guard, a position often taught to beginners in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He emphasizes the importance of breaking down an opponent's posture to initiate attacks. He examines different common responses an opponent might have, such as using hands on thighs, floor, high or low on the chest, and shows viewers how to counter these defenses effectively. The system focuses on isolating an opponent’s arm to set up for various submissions such as the triangle choke.

Technique: Concepts / Systems Position: Closed Guard Category: Guard Retention

PREMIUM

Under Pressure Bundle by Brian Glick

$597.00 • BJJ Fanatics

The 'Under Pressure Bundle' video by Brian Glick, a Danaher black belt, is designed to help BJJ practitioners enhance their guard game. This instructional video covers competitive guard techniques that require minimal athleticism and effort, making it ideal for a wide range of participants. Brian imparts a detailed and systematic methodology for improving one's BJJ. As a student of John Danaher, Brian emulates his teacher's excellent instruction style and helps viewers effectively attack from the bottom position.

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BJJ Butterfly Guard - Most Important Principles by Marcelo Garcia

14m · Marcelo Garcia

In this video, Marcelo Garcia teaches the most important principles of Butterfly Guard in BJJ. He emphasizes the importance of connecting moves and thinking about your next move while executing your current one. Marcelo discusses how to control your opponent, adjust to their movements, and how to effectively transition to submissions from the butterfly guard. He also demonstrates the techniques with a training partner.

Technique: Concepts / Systems Position: Butterfly Guard Category: Guard Retention

How To Do Perfect Guard Retention In BJJ by John Danaher

20m · John Danaher

John Danaher discusses the topic of guard retention in this video, specifically focusing on the methods to maintain one's guard successfully against an opponent's guard passing attempts. He first critically analyzes and challenges the conventional move-for-move method, in which one identifies the opponent's guard pass strategy then counters it with a specific response. Danaher then introduces a conceptual method where he suggests applying broad concepts and principles that can be effective against different types of guard passes, which reduces the necessity of identifying the specific pass your opponent is employing. He suggests that there are six fundamental requirements that an opponent must satisfy to pass the guard, and the player must focus on preventing these.

Position: Guard Generic Category: Guard Retention

PREMIUM

Modern Guard Systems Bundle by Neil Melanson

$547.00 • BJJ Fanatics

This video is a promotional introduction for the Modern Guard Systems Bundle by Neil Melanson, who is known for his unique perspective on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) due to his catch wrestling base. The video highlights his innovative approaches to guard retention, focusing on sneaky attacks such as the shoulder pin, K guard, and triangles. The bundle mentioned in the video contains over 12 volumes of Neil's full-length instructional videos.

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The Most Basic Principles Of Butterfly And Open Guard by Gordon Ryan

7m · Gordon Ryan

The video features elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athlete Gordon Ryan demonstrating fundamental principles of maintaining a butterfly guard or open guard. Ryan emphasizes the idea of 'sticky hooks,' keeping feet locked into the opponent's thighs to prevent them from passing the guard. He also stresses the need for concave shoulders to create a 'rocking chair effect,' allowing for easy movement and limited energy usage during a match. Furthermore, he discusses the importance of sweeps and categorizes them into two groups: chest-to-chest sweeps and non-chest-to-chest sweeps. Finally, Ryan explains the necessity of maintaining the 'inside real estate' or inside position to prevent the opponent from gaining control.

Position: Butterfly Guard Category: Guard Retention

All About Jiu Jitsu Half Guard No Gi by Gordon Ryan

12m · Gordon Ryan

In the video, Bernardo Faria interviews Gordon Ryan about his preferred half guard strategies when in a NoGi match. Ryan emphasizes the need for a comprehensive guard game, explaining that a successful half guard player needs to also be proficient in open guard, sumo guard, and leg lock game among other things. He demonstrates techniques to elevate from a half guard, present dilemmas for the top player from a knee shield half guard, and how to transition to attacking positions from a deep half guard. He emphasizes that the bigger picture is to interconnect various guard systems starting from a half guard position.

Position: Half Guard Category: Guard Retention

PREMIUM

Systematically Attacking From Open Guard Seated Position by Gordon Ryan

$349.00 • BJJ Fanatics

In this video, Gordon Ryan shares advanced techniques from his seated open guard. Techniques covered include the shoulder crunch sumi gaeshi, double kouchi gari, and ashi garami entries. He imparts knowledge on how to systematically control and attack any reaction from this position, having honed these techniques with his professor, John Danaher. The video includes live sparring footage where Gordon applies these techniques, followed by a breakdown of the footage for better understanding.

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Understanding The Closed Guard by Gordon Ryan

11m · Gordon Ryan

This video features BJJ instructor, Gordon Ryan, detailing how to understand and utilize the no-gi Closed Guard effectively. He explains the strategic use of minor adjustments to gain advantage positions within the closed guard. Two important concepts he highlights are the use of movement to create angles for attacks and the principle of viewing the opponent's spine as a lever. Ryan also emphasizes the importance of controlling your opponent's posture to prevent them from standing up and opening your guard, incorporating knee pulls and misdirection. He concludes by discussing options when the opponent stands up to vertical posture.

Position: Closed Guard Category: Guard Retention

Ryan Hall - Defensive Guard, Strategy, Fundamentals, Building Walls, Sweeps & Submiss…

19m · Ryan Hall

Ryan Hall presents the concept of viewing the guard as a position with multiple defensive walls where each wall has a unique set of tactics for defense and counter-fighting. The three layers of defense consist of the insteps or the ending of the feet, knees or outstretching hands, and elbows respectively. Ryan emphasizes that failing to hold off an opponent at one layer only means falling back to the next layer and continuing the fight. He also outlines the importance of using the proper range tools according to the closeness of the opponent.

Position: Open Guard Category: Guard Retention

PREMIUM

Systematically Attacking From Open Guard Supine Position by Gordon Ryan

$349.00 • BJJ Fanatics

Gordon Ryan, an ADCC Absolute Champion, teaches his proven system of attacking from the Open Guard Supine Position in this instructional video. Ryan demonstrates how to systematically sweep, take the back, perform leg locks, and use no-gi De La Riva variations while in this position. He also explains how to use this system to keep opponents off-balance and the ways to create pressure from the back. Finally, Ryan shows how to flow between various techniques including ashi garami entries, guard passes, and creating back exposure.

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De la Riva Guard Basics & 4 Great Options

6m · Knight Jiu-Jitsu

The YouTube video titled "De la Riva Guard Basics & 4 Great Options" by Knight Jiu-Jitsu focuses on techniques from the De la Riva Guard position. The instructor explains how to do a triangle choke, a rolling arm lock, standard back take, and berimbolo from the De la Riva Guard. The video includes detailed instructions, highlighting useful tips, preferences, and adjustments depending on the opponent's actions.

Technique: Triangle Choke Position: De La Riva Guard Category: Guard Retention

The Easiest Way to Dominate Closed Guard - Gordon Ryan

6m · Gordon Ryan

In this instructional video, Gordon Ryan offers guidance on retaining Closed Guard position. He instructs viewers on key fundamental elements to effectively control and attack from bottom Closed Guard. He emphasizes the use of movement and angling by pulling the knees to the chest, thereby off-balancing the opponent and drawing them in. Thereafter, he suggests the creation of angles through pivots made off the opponent's hips. From the top Closed Guard, Ryan advises standing up to a vertical posture to minimize the risk of being pulled into submissions. He also gives brief insights on dealing with any counteractions from the opponent.

Position: Closed Guard Category: Guard Retention

PREMIUM

Systematically Attacking From Half Guard by Gordon Ryan

$349.00 • BJJ Fanatics

This video is a comprehensive guide on how to control and attack from the Half Guard position by Gordon Ryan, an ADCC Absolute Champion. Ryan delves into his preferred Half Guard configurations such as knee shields, half butterfly, and deep half, and explains the techniques, strategies and combinations that he has perfected for no-gi grappling. Moreover, he shows how to effectively pummel and grip in a no-gi context using underhooks, cross shoulder posts and more. The video also includes live rolling footage, broken down in real-time by Ryan, which gives a hands-on demonstration of the system in action.

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The BEST Guard In BJJ... X Guard

8m · Jordan Teaches Jiujitsu

The video by Jordan Teaches Jiujitsu delves into the X Guard in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. The instructor explains why he considers the X Guard to be one of the best guards, most notably due to the control it offers over an opponent's hips making sweeps easier. He then walks viewers through the basics of establishing the X Guard, including important details such as leg positioning and grip fighting. Finally, the video provides a detailed explanation on various ways to enter into X Guard from different positions, highlighting the principle that accessing the X Guard requires being beneath the opponent's hips. Several variations of the X Guard are also covered, providing viewers with diverse options to use in their rolling or competition moments.

Position: X Guard Category: Guard Retention

Beat The Step Over in BJJ by Craig Jones

2m · Craig Jones

In this video, Craig Jones instructs on how to prevent an opponent from executing a step over in a half guard situation in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, thus helping in guard retention. He gives a detailed explanation on how this can be achieved with techniques that involve using butterfly hooks and codo hooks. The techniques are meant to immobilize or trap the opponent's foot, thereby preventing them from tucking inside, stepping over, or taking control of your back. The video focuses on the importance of being active and strategic with your legs to maintain guard and avoid losing position.

Position: Half Guard Category: Guard Retention

PREMIUM

They Shall Not Pass by Gordon Ryan

$349.00 • BJJ Fanatics

This video features Gordon Ryan, the ADCC Absolute Champion, presenting his guard retention system that can be employed in various positions including X guard, half guard, and seated guard. Gordon shows detailed techniques on how to prevent common passes such as knee cuts, torreando, and stacking. The 8-volume series not only showcases the techniques but also includes footage of Gordon performing these techniques live at the gym while narrating the process, giving a comprehensive understanding of the system.

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Core Concepts That Make Guard Retention Work

Early recognition and line of pass: Identify which direction the passer is winning—outside step, knee cut, body lock, or north-south—and redirect that line with your shin frames and hip angle before they consolidate.

Frames before hooks: Hands, forearms, and shins create space first; hooks connect second. Lead with a knee/shin frame on the shoulder or hip, then insert your inside leg as a shield or lasso-style hook once you’ve made room.

Hip mobility and shoulders off the mat: Turn your hips to face the passer, shrimp to create space, and try to keep at least one shoulder off the mat. A flat back and pinned shoulders kill retention.

Inside position wins: Keep your knees and elbows inside their frames. When they win the inside space (underhooks on legs, chest-to-chest clamps), retention becomes much harder.

Distance management: Alternate between long-range retention (shin-to-shoulder, stiff-arm frames, collar/sleeve or wrist posts) and mid-range retention (knee shield, reverse knee shield, seated frames). If the passer chest-clamps your hips, shift to late-stage turtle or sit-ups to re-guard.

Angle and wedges: Use your top knee as a wedge across their chest/shoulder to steer them. Small hip turns change the passing lane and give you the angle to recover a knee line or invert if appropriate.

Two-beat recoveries: Think in pairs—frame then hip escape; post then pendulum; collar grip then elbow pull; shin shield then underhook recovery. Chaining two actions is more reliable than one big move.

Common Passing Scenarios and Your Retention Choices

Knee cut pressure: Place a shin frame across the chest/near shoulder, grab the near wrist or sleeve to stop head control, and hip escape to square up. If the knee pins your thigh, pummel your bottom leg to inside position first, then slide your top knee in as a shield.

Toreando/side-to-side: Use inside foot posts on their biceps/hips and stiff-arm frames at the shoulder. Follow their hips with small hip switches, not big scoots, and re-center your hips facing their belt line. If they get to the outside, rotate your top knee across their chest to slow the angle.

Body lock/half guard smash: Win the hand fight at the far underhook. Frame on the neck/shoulder line, hide your bottom elbow, and use reverse knee shield to create space. If they glue chest-to-chest, turn to your side, wedge your knee in, then recover butterfly or closed guard.

North-south chase: Keep your near-side elbow tight, block their hip with your forearm, and shrimp your hips away from the head. As soon as you face them, thread a knee inside to rebuild frames or sit up to seated guard.

Late-stage saves: If they’re almost past, roll to a strong turtle with elbows glued and hands protecting your neck, then sit out to seated guard or roll back to half guard. Late retention prioritizes survival over grips—win posture first, then rebuild.

What to Study First (And What to Avoid)

Start with movement patterns: 1) hip escape/shrimp variations, 2) shoulder shrugs to keep one shoulder light, 3) pendulum leg swings, 4) technical stand-ups and sit-ups to seated guard. Do 3–5 minutes of each in every warm-up.

Build your frames: Learn a reliable knee shield, reverse knee shield, and shin-to-shoulder frame. Pair them with a simple collar/wrist or head/arm post depending on gi/no-gi. Your goal is to stop head control first, then recover your knee line.

Choose a re-guard pathway: Pick one early-stage recovery (square back to closed or half guard), one mid-range (recover to knee shield or butterfly), and one late-stage (turtle to seated guard). Rehearse these as flow chains so you can switch without thinking.

Integrate reactions to common passes: Drill responses to knee cut, toreando, and body lock. Add a timer constraint—3 to 5 seconds to establish a frame and angle—so you feel the urgency of early retention.

Track mistakes to avoid: Don’t reach over the head and get cross-faced. Don’t let both shoulders pin. Don’t chase grips before making space. Don’t invert without a frame; you’ll get folded. Don’t accept side control—use late-stage options to keep moving.

Training Methods That Turn Retention Into a Skill

Positional sparring ladders: Start with the passer in knee cut or side-to-side headquarters. Bottom player’s goal is to frame, angle, and re-guard to a named target (e.g., butterfly). Reset on a clean pass or a successful re-guard. Increase resistance weekly.

Side-specific rounds: Do right-side-only retention for a full round, then left-side-only. This exposes gaps and forces you to build symmetry.

Constraint drills: Remove a hand or limit grips so you must rely on hip movement and frames. Or require two-beat recoveries (e.g., frame then hip escape before any hook).

Timed escapes into offense: After you re-guard, you must immediately attack a sweep or grip sequence. This connects defense to offense and stops you from stalling.

Video feedback: Film short retention rounds and note when your shoulders flatten, when head control lands, and which frames you miss. Adjust one habit per session.

How to Use BJJ University to Study Guard Retention

BJJ University is a free, curated learning hub that organizes Brazilian jiu-jitsu videos, short clips, breakdowns, and instructional resources by instructor, technique, position, category, and training topic. You can use the navigation menu to jump straight to what you need without wading through unrelated content.

Start at the Guard Retention main page to browse essential concepts, step-by-step recoveries from common passes, and drills that build hip movement and frames. Then branch into related positions like knee shield and butterfly to connect your re-guard targets to offense.

Filter by category to compare approaches across instructors and passing styles. Save standout clips to revisit before class, and share links with training partners to align your drilling. Bookmark BJJ University and check back often as we add new curated material and training maps.

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Related BJJ University Pages

• 1Guard Retention main page: Primary hub for curated guard retention concepts, drills, and recoveries.
• 2All BJJ categorys: Browse related categories like guard passing, sweeps, and positional control to connect retention to offense and defense.
• 3Guard Passing Category Guide: Compare related BJJ University category study guides.
• 4Leg Locks Category Guide: Compare related BJJ University category study guides.