How to Fix Closed Guard Posture in BJJ: Overcoming Years of Struggle
Chasen Hill 
Discover effective techniques to improve your closed guard posture in BJJ and enhance your game.
How to Fix Your Closed Guard Posture in BJJ (Step-by-Step Guide)
Struggling with Closed Guard Posture? Here's the Fix
Maintaining strong posture inside closed guard is one of the most critical skills in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). Yet, many practitioners struggle with this, leading to:
- ❌ Getting pulled forward into submissions.
- ❌ Being easily swept or controlled.
- ❌ Feeling unstable when trying to break the guard.
But if you’re looking for a structured step-by-step guide, keep reading. In this article, I’ll walk you through exactly how to fix your sitting posture inside closed guard, so you can stop getting broken down and start controlling the position.
Watch: How I Fixed My Closed Guard Posture
🎥 Watch this step-by-step breakdown on fixing closed guard posture.
Step 1: Understand Why Your Posture Is Weak
Before jumping into fixes, you need to assess why your posture inside closed guard is weak. Here are the three most common reasons:
- Lack of ankle flexibility – If you can’t sit on your heels, you’ll struggle to maintain balance.
- Incorrect hip positioning – If your hips are too high or tilted forward, you become easy to pull down.
- Poor upper-body structure – If you don't control your posture with your hands and head placement, your opponent will dominate the position.
✅ Watch the video for more insight on identifying your weak points: 👉 Watch Here
Step 2: Fix Your Sitting Posture Inside Closed Guard
Now that you know why your posture is weak, let’s go over how to fix it.
- 🔹 Find your best foot positioning: Some people need to cross their feet slightly, while others prefer a flat sit. Test what works for you.
- 🔹 Engage your core: Keep your abs slightly tight to prevent collapsing forward.
- 🔹 Use “safe hands” positioning: Control your opponent's shoulders or biceps to deny grips that break your posture.
- 🔹 Drill proper posture in sparring: Instead of trying to pass, focus only on maintaining posture against a resisting opponent.
🔥 These are just a few adjustments. I break down the full details in my video: 👉 Watch Here
Step 3: Implement Drills to Reinforce Good Posture
Once you’ve made adjustments, you need to drill and reinforce the habit. Here are some effective exercises:
1️⃣ Seated Mobility Drills
Work on your ability to sit comfortably on your heels by using:
- ✅ Static stretches after training.
- ✅ Sitting for 30 seconds at a time to build endurance.
2️⃣ Posture Maintenance Drills
When rolling, practice keeping your head, hands, and hips in the correct position. If you get broken down, reset and try again.
3️⃣ Live Guard Retention Sparring
Ask your training partner to actively try to break your posture while you focus on maintaining it.
💡 Need a complete training strategy? I cover this in depth inside my coaching program.
Go Beyond the Basics: Join My Jiu-Jitsu Acceleration Coaching Program
Fixing your posture inside closed guard is just one part of a larger skill set. If you want a complete training approach to:
- ✅ Improve guard posture, passing, and control.
- ✅ Develop a personalized game plan that fits your body type.
- ✅ Train smarter with a step-by-step strategy for rapid improvement.
🎯 My Jiu-Jitsu Acceleration Coaching Program is designed to help BJJ students develop a clear training system, so they stop feeling lost and start making real progress.
💡 Apply now to see if you’re a good fit:
👉 Apply Here
Final Thoughts
Fixing your posture inside closed guard is a game-changer. If you want to:
- 🔹 Stay balanced and prevent sweeps.
- 🔹 Stop getting broken down into submissions.
- 🔹 Learn a complete system for fixing your posture.
📺 Start improving today by watching my full video:
👉 Watch Now!
🔥 And if you’re serious about upgrading your Jiu-Jitsu, apply for my coaching program:
👉 Join Here
Categories: : BJJ, Closed Guard