At first glance, the worm guard looks complicated, but once you get the grips and positioning down, it opens up a ridiculous amount of offensive opportunities. And the best part? Most opponents still don’t know how to shut it down properly. Whether you’re looking to frustrate passers, add more layers to your open guard, or out-technique stronger opponents, learning the Worm Guard is 100% worth it.
What is the Worm Guard?
The worm guard is one of the most innovative and frustratingly effective guards in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Unlike traditional open guards that rely solely on leg positioning and grips, this one weaponizes your opponent’s own gi against them. By wrapping their lapel around their leg and feeding it through to your far hand, you create a strong anchor point that locks them in place, kills their movement, and sets you up for sweeps, back takes, and submissions.
This guard is strictly for the gi. You won’t find a No-Gi version because, well, there’s no lapel to work with. That said, in high-level competition, it’s been a game-changer. When Keenan Cornelius introduced it in 2014, it caught top-tier grapplers off guard (pun intended). Even today, plenty of competitors struggle against it, simply because it disrupts passing strategies and forces opponents to deal with an entirely different style of control.
Who Popularized the Worm Guard?
A grappling mastermind with a knack for breaking the meta, Keenan introduced this gi-based lapel guard to the competitive scene in 2014 and immediately started racking up wins against elite opponents. While lapel guards weren’t new, his unique lapel entanglement system was unlike anything seen before.
The first time the worm guard made waves was at the 2014 Pan American Championship when Keenan used it against Murilo Santana to shut down his guard passing and take control of the match. From there, it became a staple in his game, helping him secure victories in IBJJF Worlds, the Abu Dhabi World Pro, and countless other high-level events. Before long, others began to adopt the technique, proving that this was a legitimate competitive weapon.
Applications and Importance
The worm guard opens the door for sweeps, submissions, and back takes. Locking down your opponent’s movement with the lapel makes it nearly impossible for them to pass, forcing them to react while you stay a step ahead.
- Control & Neutralization: The lapel grip anchors your opponent in place, making it difficult for them to generate passing pressure.
- Sweeping & Attacks: Once they’re off-balance, you can transition into a variety of sweeps, forcing them to the mat and putting yourself in a dominant position.
- Creating New Offense: The worm guard gives you angles for submissions, back takes, and guard transitions that traditional open guards don’t.
- Transitioning to Dominant Positions: You can use the control to set up back attacks or flow seamlessly into mount after sweeping.
Basic Mechanics of the Worm Guard
The Worm Guard works because it weaponizes the gi, turning your opponent’s own uniform into a tool for control.
- Use the Lapel for Grip: First, you pull out their lapel and pass it under their leg to create tension.
- Wrap the Lapel Around Your Leg: By threading it under your own shin and gripping it tight, you create a trap that restricts their movement.
- Prevent Pass Attempts with a Tight Lock: The lapel connection makes traditional knee cuts and pressure passes ineffective, keeping you safe from aggressive top players.
- Maintain Control: With the lapel grip secured, you dictate their balance and force them into uncomfortable positions, setting up sweeps and attacks at will.
When to Use the Worm Guard
The worm guard is a gi-exclusive weapon, meaning you won’t see it in No-Gi or MMA. If you’re competing under IBJJF rules or other major gi tournaments, this guard can slow down aggressive passers and help you control the pace of the match. It’s especially useful when dealing with pressure-heavy opponents who are driving forward, trying to break your guard open. Instead of playing a reactive game, you can anchor them down with the lapel, forcing them into your system instead of theirs.
When Not to Use the Worm Guard
As dominant as the worm guard can be in gi-based competition, it’s completely useless in No-Gi for one simple reason: no lapel, no control. The entire system relies on gripping and wrapping your opponent’s gi lapel around their leg, which obviously isn’t possible when everyone’s wearing rash guards and board shorts.
If you’re competing in No-Gi tournaments, MMA, or even self-defense scenarios, you’ll need to rely on other open guard options like De La Riva, Reverse De La Riva, or Single Leg X to maintain control and execute sweeps.
Common technique Variations from the Worm Guard
The control you establish with the lapel grip and leg positioning gives you a ton of options to off-balance your opponent, transition into dominant positions, or even go straight for submissions. Here are some of the most effective variations off the worm guard:
Sweeps to off-balance the opponent
The lapel anchors your opponent’s leg, making it incredibly difficult for them to maintain balance. Common sweeps include:
- The Classic Worm Sweep, where you tilt them forward or backward by controlling their posture.
- The Technical Stand-Up Sweep, where you post and stand, using the lapel grip to force them to the mat.
- Wormnado, an inversion-based sweep that flips the passer over and puts you in a dominant position.
Transition to Attacks
Once they’re trapped, you can flow directly into submissions or positional advancements:
- Back Takes: The lapel grip can be used to create an angle and swing around for the back take, locking in hooks as you go.
- Triangle Choke & Omoplata: If they try to posture up or disengage, you can switch gears and snap on a submission.
- Armbar: By controlling their posture, you create openings to attack the arm while keeping them stuck.
Reverse Worm Guard and Reverse De La Worm Guard
These are variations of the worm guard that tweak the positioning and lapel wrapping:
- Reverse Worm Guard: Instead of feeding the lapel under your shin, you loop it around in a way that controls their far leg, opening up new sweep angles.
- Reverse De La Worm Guard: A hybrid between De La Riva and worm guard, this variation adds even more control and flexibility, letting you attack from different angles.
Tips for refining your Worm guard game:
Grip strength is everything. If you can’t hold the lapel, your worm guard falls apart. Train gi pull-ups, towel hangs, and grip drills to keep your hold strong.
Don’t just sit in the position—flow into sweeps, submissions, and back takes. The worm guard is a control system, not a stalling tactic, so practice transitioning smoothly between attacks.
Lastly, drill guard pass counters. Pressure passers will test your grips, so sharpen your ability to adjust, reset, and stay ahead.
Why Every Gi Competitor Should Learn the Worm Guard
Keenan Cornelius revolutionized modern gi Jiu-Jitsu with this technique, and it remains a key weapon at the highest levels of competition. Mastering the mechanics, grip strength, and transitions will make your guard nearly impenetrable while opening up endless offensive opportunities. If you put in the reps, drill with intent, and refine your timing, opponents will be dreading your lapel game before long.