Name two common guard positions used on the ground in Level 1.

• A. Mounted and side control.
• B. Closed guard and open guard.
• C. Full mount and half guard.
• D. North-south and knee-on-belly.

Answer: (B)

Guard positions are the ways you use your legs to control an opponent when you’re on the ground. The two most common guard positions taught in Level 1 are closed guard and open guard. Closed guard means you wrap your legs around your opponent’s hips and lock your feet together, which traps their upper body and makes it hard for them to posture up or pass your guard. This gives you solid control and a base to set up submissions or sweeps. Open guard is when your legs aren’t locked around the opponent; you keep your feet active and use grips, hip movement, and leg angles to control distance, threaten attacks, and create movement for sweeps or submissions while you’re prepared for their passing attempts.

The other options describe top positions or transitional standings (mounted, side control, north-south, knee-on-belly) or a variation that isn’t considered a basic bottom guard position (half guard). In Level 1, the emphasis is on the two fundamental ways to control from the bottom with the legs around the opponent, which is why closed guard and open guard are the standard choices.