The 5 Most Underrated BJJ Guards That Let You Control Bigger, Stronger Opponents

The 5 Most Underrated BJJ Guards That Let You Control Bigger, Stronger Opponents

In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the gentle art shines brightest when technique triumphs over raw power. If you're smaller or lighter, facing bigger, stronger training partners can feel overwhelming—until you find guards that neutralise their size advantage. These underrated guards don't get the spotlight like De La Riva or X-guard, but they excel at creating distance, framing, leveraging hooks, and setting up sweeps or submissions without relying on brute strength.

Here are five underrated guards that give you real control against heavier opponents.

1. Butterfly Guard

Often dismissed as basic or too easily passed in modern no-gi, butterfly guard remains a powerhouse for smaller practitioners. With your feet hooked inside their thighs and strong underhooks or collar ties, you prevent them from dropping heavy weight on you. The key is grip fighting: never concede inside control if they're bigger. Use the hooks to elevate and off-balance them for classic sweeps like the sit-up or butterfly lift. Players like Marcelo Garcia built legendary games around this guard against much larger foes—it's simple, structural, and brutally effective when you prioritise distance and posture breaks.

2. Z-Guard (or Knee Shield Half Guard)

Half guard variations get smashed easily if played passively, but Z-guard flips the script. By wedging your knee shield high across their torso and framing with your arms, you create unbreakable space even under heavy pressure. It's underrated because it looks defensive, yet it sets up devastating underhook sweeps, old-school get-ups, or transitions to deep half. Against bigger opponents, the framing stops them from flattening you out, letting you recover or attack while they burn energy trying to pin you down.

3. Lasso Guard

This open guard gem uses one leg lassoed around their arm while controlling the opposite sleeve or collar. It keeps dangerous big guys at bay by entangling their posting arm and limiting posture. Many overlook lasso because it requires good hip mobility and grip endurance, but once locked in, it frustrates power-based passers. You can transition to sweeps like the tripod or collar drag, or chain into spider or De La Riva. It's especially potent gi-wise, where grips multiply your leverage exponentially.

4. 2-on-1 Guard (or Two-on-One Control Open Guard)

This isn't a flashy named guard, but controlling one of their arms with both of yours (often gripping sleeve and tricep or wrist) while using your feet on hips or biceps creates a nightmare for bigger opponents. It stops them from posturing up or driving forward, turning their strength into a liability. From here, you dictate angles for arm drags, collar drags, or scissor sweeps. It's underrated in the meta dominated by leg entanglements, yet it's straightforward, low-risk, and lets you neutralise their top pressure without exposing yourself to heavy passes.

5. Sit-Up Guard

Popularised by heavy hitters like Lucas Lepri, this guard starts from a seated open position with strong grips (often collar and sleeve or underhook). You sit up explosively to break their base, then use frames and angles to sweep or submit. It's criminally underrated because it looks vulnerable at first glance, but the sit-up disrupts their posture instantly, preventing them from smashing down. Against bigger opponents, it turns defence into offence fast—perfect for smaller players who can't afford prolonged bottom battles.

These guards reward patience, grip fighting, and framing over athleticism. Drill them against resisting bigger partners to feel the difference: instead of surviving under mount or side control, you stay mobile, conserve energy, and dictate the roll. Master one or two, and you'll turn size mismatches into your favourite matchups.

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