Worm Guard Sweep

Also known as: Lapel Sweep · Worm Sweep · Squid Roll (family)

With their lapel wrapped under your leg, their posture is chained to your hips: off-balance them over the wrapped side and stand up while the lapel holds them down for you.

Sweep · Gi only · Difficulty 4/5 · Usually learned at Purple belt

Starts from Worm Guard as the worm guard player → lands in Open Guard.

The details that make it work

1. The wrapped lapel means every hip movement you make transmits to their spine — off-balance with your legs, not your grip strength.
2. Sweep over the wrapped-leg side: they cannot post or backstep in that direction.
3. Keep the lapel until you are fully up — it pins them through your transition to the top.

Where it goes wrong

• Letting them square up and settle; worm guard rewards constant angles and punishes patience.

How opponents counter it

• Strip the lapel from their leg before settling into grips
• Stand and stack directly over the wrap

Is the Worm Guard Sweep legal in competition?

Legal in all major rulesets at all levels (IBJJF, ADCC, sub-only). Rules change — always confirm against the current official rulebook for your event.

History & naming

Keenan Cornelius built the worm guard system on the world stage in 2014.

Related techniques

• Worm Guard Entry
• De La Riva Sweep
• Lasso Sweep

All moves from Worm Guard · Back to Grapplepedia