Open BJJ
BJJ Bottom Positions
Guards and bottom positions explained: how to retain guard, recover when you are pinned, and attack from underneath.
Bottom positions teach survival, recovery, and offense under pressure. Being on bottom does not always mean losing, but it does mean you need structure before action.
The first priority is safety: protect your neck, keep frames active, and prevent the opponent from settling their weight. Once you create space, you can recover guard, build to a better position, or attack during the transition.
Bottom-position training should emphasize:
- Frames that carry weight without overextending.
- Hip movement that creates real space.
- Guard recovery before desperate submissions.
- Timing escapes when the top player moves or attacks.
Better bottom skills make you calmer everywhere. When you can survive pressure, you can make clearer decisions.
Start here: Closed Guard, Half Guard, Open Guard, Turtle, Hip Escape.
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