Love them or hate them, lapel guards are now a key component of the gi game and have been around for a few years now. With this being said, it seems they’re here to stay and are still used at the highest levels of competition. Not only is the use of lapels genuinely creative, there’s also a number of new lapel guards that are introduced everynow and then so there’s still more techniques being found and used even to this day.
For the record, we will also be listing other guards that focus on gi grips. Whilst these grips may technically not be reliant on the gi, they’re still based on gripping the fabric which isn’t an option in no gi. This means we will include the likes of Spider guard, even though it may not be classified as a lapel guard. Below is a list of the lapel guards that are used in BJJ.
Worm guard – Created by Keen Cornelius, this involves wrapping your far foot onto the leg of the opponent. This is done by threading the gi between your and their leg holding on to the tail of the gi. This guard creates a powerful connection between the two BJJ players and can lead to a number of sweeps and submissions. There are other variations within this guard such as ‘ring worm’, ‘Polish worm rider’ and ‘reverse de la worm’ which feature slightly different grip and foot placements.
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Wormaconda – This is similar to the worm guard but is mixed in with the single leg X / anaconda position, hence the name. This starts with the same set up as the worm position but differs significantly in placing the lapel wrap in between the opponent’s leg. Whilst playing a single leg X guard, this allows the guard player the option to attack single leg X sweeps whilst having the security of a lapel wrap.
Lasso – The lasso relies on wrapping your leg around the opponents arm. This is done by gripping the opponents sleeve on the arm that you thread your foot through. When the lasso is created, it can act as a push and pull motion which can be difficult to unwrap or pass as a result. The lasso can also be used in collaboration with half guard, de la riva and other positions.
Gubber guard – This involves wrapping your foot around their gi whilst in closed guard. Mechanically it is similar to the rubber guard but has greater control due to the lapel wrap which further breaks the posture of the opponent. This is a very aggressive guard which can lead to a variety of chokes and submissions. If this guard is fully set up, it can be very difficult to escape from.
Spider guard – Now considered an older guard than most on the list, this involves putting your feet on the biceps of the opponent whilst holding their sleeves with your fingers. Unlike the worm and others, it uses your finger muscles more so than hand muscles as a result. You can then push and pull the opponent as you fully control their upper body.
Squid guard – This is yet another creation from Keenan Cornelius. The squid guard uses a lapel wrap between your leg and the leg of the opponent, you then swing to face in front of them. This is a tricky guard to pass and has a number of sweeping options. A slight variation of this is called the ‘lapeloplata’ which uses the same grip but then the guard player inverts and can start attacking omoplatas as a result.
50/50 lapel wrap – Although 50/50 is not a lapel guard, it is often used in unison with the gi. The idea of this is to wrap the entangled leg of the opponent with their own lapel. This makes it incredibly difficult for them to pass and escape the 50/50 position. Often you will see competitors use this position to tactically rack up advantages or stall their opponent whilst winning during a tight match.
Galaxy guard – Created by Braulio Estima, this guard is done by opening up the opponent’s gi and placing your foot on their lapel. This makes it difficult to pass and can allow you to get underneath the opponent and start sweeping. Like many on the list, when this guard is fully set up, it can be a nightmare to pass as the top player.
