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Every new white belt asks it eventually, usually after a rough night of rolling: how long to get a blue belt in BJJ? It’s a fair question, and most answers online are either vague (“it depends”) or a single number with no context. The honest answer is around two years of consistent training for most adults, but the range runs from about one year to well over three, and the reasons behind that spread are what actually matter.

This guide covers the real timeline, what the IBJJF rules do and don’t require, the factors that speed you up or slow you down, and what instructors are actually looking for before they tie a blue belt around your waist.

How Long to Get a Blue Belt in BJJ: The Short Answer

For an adult training two to three times a week, blue belt typically arrives somewhere between 18 months and two and a half years. Train once a week and it stretches past three years. Train five days a week with real focus and some students get there in about a year, though that pace is the exception, not the plan.

A more useful way to think about it is mat time rather than calendar time. Two or three classes a week for two years works out to roughly 200 to 300 classes. That’s the ballpark most students need to build a blue belt level of skill. Missing three months for an injury or a busy season at work doesn’t reset anything; it just pushes the date back.

Along the way you’ll earn four stripes on your white belt. Those stripes break a long road into visible checkpoints, and on a two-year path they tend to come every few months. Our BJJ belt ranking system guide explains how stripes and belts fit together from white all the way to black.

What the IBJJF Rules Actually Say

The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation sets the graduation standards most reputable schools follow. For blue belt, the rules are short:

• Minimum age is 16. Blue is an adult rank. Younger students train in the kids’ belt system instead.
• There is no minimum time at white belt. Moving from white to blue is entirely up to your instructor.
• Blue belt has a two-year minimum before you’re eligible for purple. That’s the first belt where the IBJJF puts a clock on you.

So the “two years to blue” figure isn’t a rule. It’s what happens in practice when instructors hold a real standard. That’s also why blue belt timelines vary so much more between schools than later belts do: at white belt, the instructor’s judgment is the only gate.

Teenagers coming up through a kids’ program are a special case. Kids’ belts (grey, yellow, orange, green) transition into the adult system at 16, and a young athlete with years of training behind them may move straight to blue at that point rather than starting over at white. Our kids martial arts program is built around that long-term path.

What Speeds Up (or Slows Down) Your Blue Belt

Consistency beats intensity. Two classes every week for a year will outpace a month of daily training followed by two months off. Skills in jiu jitsu are built on repetition spread over time, and gaps cost you more than you’d expect.

Live rolling time matters. Drilling teaches you the move. Rolling teaches you when the move works. Students who stay for open mat or the live rounds at the end of class build timing far faster than those who only drill.

Athletic background helps, then levels out. Former wrestlers and judo players often look like blue belts in a few months because they already understand balance and pressure. They still need the guard work, escapes, and submissions that make jiu jitsu its own art, and instructors wait for those.

Age and recovery play a role. A 45-year-old who trains smart and stays healthy will reach blue belt. It may take a bit longer than a 22-year-old because recovery takes longer, and that’s fine. Missing months to an injury from training too hard is the real slowdown.

Learning habits. Students who ask specific questions, take notes after class, and focus on a few positions improve faster than those trying to collect every technique they see. Our BJJ white belt tips cover the habits that keep you on track through that first year.

What Instructors Look for Before Promoting You

There’s no single checklist that every academy uses, but the blue belt standard at most serious schools comes down to a few things.

You can defend yourself on the ground. A blue belt should escape bad positions like mount, side control, and back control against a resisting partner, and hold good positions without getting swept immediately. Defense comes before offense at this level.

You know the fundamental positions and transitions. Closed guard, half guard, mount, side control, back control, and how to move between them. The basic BJJ techniques every beginner should master are essentially the blue belt syllabus in disguise.

You have a few reliable attacks. Not dozens, just a handful of sweeps and submissions you can actually finish against people at your level.

You train safely and help others. Instructors watch how you roll with newer students. Controlling your strength, tapping and releasing properly, and being a good partner are part of the rank, not extras.

Some schools hold formal tests; many promote based on what the instructor sees week after week. Either way, a blue belt from a school with real standards means something, because it was earned on the mat, not bought or scheduled.

Earning Your Blue Belt in Gallatin, TN

Our Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes in Gallatin, TN follow the Gracie lineage and IBJJF standards. Grandmaster K.O. Spillmann earned his BJJ black belt under Professor Rocian Gracie Jr., and promotions at Global Martial Arts USA are earned through consistent training and demonstrated skill. There are no pay-to-promote shortcuts. That’s part of the 50+ years of teaching behind GMA and why families across Sumner County have voted us a top school.

We run both gi and no-gi classes, so you can build the complete skill set a blue belt needs. If you want to go deeper into competition and advanced technique, our dedicated academy at GMA Team Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the next step. Not sure which style fits you? Read our breakdown of gi vs no-gi BJJ, then check the class schedule for a time that works.

Ready to Get Started?

Your first class is free. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced martial artist, we’d love to welcome you to the GMA family.

Call us at (731) 324-3847 or book your free trial online.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you get a BJJ blue belt in one year?

It’s possible, but uncommon. Students who reach blue belt in about a year usually train four or more times a week, roll live regularly, and often bring a grappling background like wrestling or judo. For most adults training two to three times a week, 18 months to two and a half years is the realistic range.

Is there a minimum time at white belt before blue?

No. The IBJJF sets no minimum time at white belt; the promotion is entirely at your instructor’s discretion. The only firm IBJJF requirement for an adult blue belt is a minimum age of 16. Time requirements begin at blue belt, which requires two years before purple.

Do I need to compete to get my blue belt?

No. Competition can sharpen your skills and show an instructor how you perform under pressure, but it isn’t required for promotion at most schools. Consistent training, solid defense, and a few reliable techniques are what earn a blue belt.

Walk into most jiu jitsu academies and you’ll still see more men than women on the mat. That gap is exactly why so many women hesitate before their first class. Will I be the only woman? Will I get crushed by someone twice my size? Is it awkward to grapple with men? Here’s the honest answer from a school that has taught for over 50 years: BJJ for women isn’t a watered-down version of the art. It’s the art working exactly the way it was designed to.

This guide covers why Brazilian Jiu Jitsu suits women so well, what training is actually like, the common worries (and how good academies handle them), and how to get started with confidence.

Why BJJ for Women Makes So Much Sense

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was refined around one idea: a smaller, weaker person can control and defeat a larger opponent with leverage, positioning, and timing instead of raw strength. Most sports reward size. BJJ was built to take it out of the equation as much as possible.

That’s why women often progress so well in jiu jitsu. Instead of trying to out-muscle a partner, you learn to use your hips, legs, and frames to create space, off-balance people, and lock in submissions. Your legs are the strongest muscles in your body, and the guard puts them to work. Technique that works for a 130-pound woman against a 200-pound man is simply good technique.

There’s also a practical self defense angle. Many real-world assaults against women end up at close range or on the ground, which is where most striking-only programs stop teaching. Our guide to self defense for women goes deeper, but the short version is that knowing how to stay calm on your back, protect your neck, and get back to your feet is one of the most valuable skills any woman can build.

The Benefits of Jiu Jitsu for Women Beyond Self Defense

Self defense is usually why women start. It’s rarely the only reason they stay.

• Real-world confidence. There’s a particular calm that comes from having been pinned by a bigger training partner hundreds of times and knowing exactly how to get out. That confidence shows up off the mat too.
• Full-body fitness without a boring workout. Rolling builds grip strength, core strength, mobility, and cardio at the same time. Most people are so focused on the problem in front of them that they forget they’re exercising.
• Problem-solving under pressure. Jiu jitsu is often called physical chess. Every position has a puzzle to solve, and learning to think clearly while uncomfortable is a skill that carries into work and life.
• Community. Training partners become friends. The women who stick with BJJ often say the people are what keep them coming back.

Common Worries Women Have About Starting BJJ

Every one of these is normal. Good academies plan for all of them.

“I’ll be the only woman in class.”

You might be one of only a few, especially at first. That’s changing fast across the sport, and a well-run school makes sure it doesn’t matter. You’ll be paired with partners who match your level, and nobody expects you to prove anything on day one.

“Rolling with men feels intimidating.”

That’s an understandable feeling, and it’s worth saying out loud. In a healthy academy, training is controlled and respectful. Experienced partners adjust their intensity to yours, and you always have the tap to stop any situation instantly. You can also ask to work with a specific partner, or sit out a round. Our post on BJJ etiquette explains the mat rules that make that safety possible.

“Some of the positions feel awkward.”

Grappling is close contact, and positions like guard or mount can feel strange at first. That feeling fades quickly once you understand the purpose of each position. Everyone on the mat is focused on the technique, not anything else, and good instructors set that tone from the start.

“I’m not in shape yet.”

You don’t need to be. Beginner classes build conditioning gradually, and you’ll get in shape by training, not before it.

What Women’s BJJ Training Actually Looks Like

A typical class starts with a warm-up of movement drills like shrimping and bridging. Next, the instructor demonstrates a technique, and you drill it with a partner at low resistance. Many classes end with positional sparring or live rolling, where both partners work at a controlled pace.

A few practical tips that make the first months easier:

• Gear: Wear a rash guard under your gi or for no-gi class, plus a supportive sports bra. Gi sizes vary by brand, and many companies now make women’s cuts.
• Hair and nails: Tie long hair back securely, and keep fingernails and toenails trimmed. Remove jewelry before training.
• Pick your partners wisely early on: Look for training partners who move with control. Experienced belts, male or female, are often the best people to learn from because they know how to adjust.
• Tap early and often: Tapping is learning, not losing. Every person in the room has tapped thousands of times.

Our BJJ white belt tips cover the first-year mindset in more detail, and they apply to every new student.

Competition and Progression for Women in BJJ

You don’t have to compete to train jiu jitsu, and most students never do. If you want to test yourself, major organizations like the IBJJF run women’s divisions organized by belt, age, and weight, so you’ll compete against women at your own level. Women progress through the same belt system as everyone else, from white to blue, purple, brown, and black, and the path takes years of consistent training for every student.

BJJ for Women at GMA in Gallatin, TN

At Global Martial Arts USA, women train side by side with everyone else in our Brazilian Jiu Jitsu program. Our BJJ curriculum operates under the Rocian Gracie Jr. organization, and Grandmaster K.O. Spillmann received his BJJ black belt directly from Professor Rocian Gracie Jr. Our staff is Safe Sport Certified, and with 50+ years of teaching in Sumner County, we know how to pace new students so they learn safely and stay with it.

Women at GMA also find support off the mat through the Ma’am’s Club, one of the GMA community clubs that bring our members together. If personal safety is your main goal, our self defense classes pair perfectly with jiu jitsu. You can also explore our dedicated BJJ program at GMA Team, or check the class schedule to find a time that works for you.

Ready to Get Started?

Your first class is free. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced martial artist, we’d love to welcome you to the GMA family.

Call us at (731) 324-3847 or book your free trial online.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is BJJ good for women?

Yes. BJJ is built on leverage and technique rather than strength, which is why it works so well for smaller practitioners. It also builds practical ground self defense skills, fitness, and confidence.

Is it safe for women to train BJJ with men?

In a well-run academy, yes. Training is controlled, partners adjust their intensity, and you can tap at any time to stop. You can also choose your partners and sit out rounds whenever you need to.

What should a woman wear to her first BJJ class?

Comfortable athletic clothes or a rash guard and leggings work fine for a first class, plus a supportive sports bra. Tie back long hair, trim your nails, and remove jewelry. Your instructors will help you find a gi when you’re ready.

Walk into any jiu jitsu academy and you’ll notice the room runs on rules nobody wrote on the wall. People bow at the edge of the mat, slap hands before every round, and step aside when a higher belt rolls toward them. That’s BJJ etiquette, and it isn’t about tradition for its own sake. In a sport where two people practice chokes and joint locks at full speed, good etiquette is what keeps everyone healthy and coming back.

This guide covers the mat rules every BJJ student should know: hygiene, how class runs, how to start and finish a roll, how belts factor in, and the safety rules that protect you and your training partners.

Why BJJ Etiquette Matters More Than in Most Sports

In most martial arts, contact is limited or controlled at a distance. In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu you spend the whole class pressed against other people, cheek to cheek, often with your partner’s arm across your neck. That closeness is what makes the art so effective, and it’s also why the rules of behavior are stricter than they look.

Most BJJ mat rules fall into three groups. Hygiene rules keep skin infections out of the room. Respect rules keep the training culture healthy, so higher belts help newer students instead of punishing them. Safety rules make sure dangerous techniques stay safe to practice. Break any of the three and people get hurt, get sick, or quit.

If you’re brand new, you don’t need to memorize everything before your first class. Your instructors will show you how class runs. But knowing the basics ahead of time makes your first weeks on the mat at our Brazilian Jiu Jitsu program a lot more comfortable.

Hygiene: The First BJJ Mat Rule

Ask any instructor what the most important rule is and most will say hygiene. Grappling mats can spread skin infections like ringworm, staph, and impetigo when people get careless. These spread through skin contact and shared surfaces, and one person training with an infection can take half the room out for weeks.

• Wash your gi or rash guard after every class. Not every other class. A gi that sat in a gym bag overnight is a problem for your partners.
• Trim your fingernails and toenails. Long nails cut partners and tear gis. Check them before every session.
• Shower before and after training. Showing up clean is a courtesy. Showering promptly afterward is your best defense against picking something up.
• Never walk off the mat barefoot. Wear sandals to the bathroom and the lobby, then take them off at the mat’s edge. Shoes never go on the mat.
• Cover cuts and stay home with a rash. If you have an open wound, tape it up. If you have a suspicious spot on your skin, get it checked before you train. Nobody will think less of you for skipping a class.

Class Etiquette: Before, During, and After

Most academies follow a similar rhythm. Knowing it means you’ll never feel lost.

Arrive early. Get changed and be ready a few minutes before class starts. If you’re running late, wait at the edge of the mat until the instructor waves you in rather than walking into the middle of a lesson.

Bow on and off the mat. Many schools bow when stepping onto and off the training area. It’s a simple sign that you’re entering a space with its own rules.

Listen when the instructor is talking. When a technique is being shown, stop drilling, sit down, and watch. Side conversations and practicing your own moves during a demonstration are the quickest way to annoy everyone around you.

Drill what was taught. If the lesson is a scissor sweep, drill the scissor sweep. Save the move you saw online for open mat.

Thank your partners. At the end of class, shake hands or slap hands with the people you trained with. A quick “thanks for the roll” goes a long way.

Rolling Etiquette: How to Spar the Right Way

Live sparring, called rolling, is where etiquette matters most. These are the rules most academies share.

Slap and bump to start. Before every round, slap hands and bump fists with your partner. It signals that you’re both ready and that the roll is friendly, even when it’s competitive.

Tap early, and respect every tap. Tap with your hand on your partner or the mat, or say “tap” out loud if your hands are trapped. When your partner taps, let go immediately. Not after one more squeeze, not after you finish adjusting. Releasing late is one of the most serious etiquette violations in jiu jitsu.

Match your partner’s intensity. Rolling with a beginner, a smaller partner, or someone coming back from an injury is not the time to go all out. A good partner adjusts. A bad one treats every round like a world championship final.

Don’t slam and don’t crank. Apply submissions slowly and with control so your partner has time to tap. Spiking someone onto the mat or snapping on an armbar is how training partners end up in physical therapy.

Mind the room. Keep an eye on the pairs around you. If you’re about to roll into another pair, stop and reset to the middle of the mat. When two pairs are about to collide, the lower belt typically gives way.

Belt Etiquette and Respecting Rank

BJJ belts take years to earn. Our guide to the BJJ belt ranking system explains how long the path usually runs, and that timeline is a big part of why rank is respected on the mat.

• Address instructors properly. Black belts are commonly called “Professor” in jiu jitsu. Follow whatever your academy uses.
• Learn your academy’s custom for asking to roll. In some gyms lower belts can ask anyone to roll. In others it’s customary to let higher belts do the asking. Watch how your academy does it.
• It’s okay to decline a roll. If you’re injured or exhausted, a polite “not this round, thanks” is fine.
• Higher belts set the tone. Rank comes with responsibility. The best upper belts help newer students learn instead of just tapping them over and over.
• Never wear a belt you didn’t earn. Belts and stripes are awarded by your instructor, period.

Safety Rules That Protect Your Training Partners

The most important BJJ mat rules are about keeping each other in one piece. Tell your partner about any injury before you start, not halfway through the round when they grab the bad shoulder. Don’t use techniques that are above your level or not allowed at your rank. IBJJF competition rules restrict dangerous leg locks like heel hooks and certain neck cranks by belt level and division, and most academies apply similar limits in the training room.

Gi and no-gi training have a few differences too. In no-gi, clothing grips aren’t allowed, and rash guards and spats replace the kimono. Our breakdown of gi vs no-gi BJJ covers what changes. And if you’re in your first year, our BJJ white belt tips pair well with everything here.

Learn BJJ the Right Way at GMA in Gallatin, TN

At Global Martial Arts USA, good BJJ etiquette is part of the curriculum. Our program in Gallatin, TN operates under the Rocian Gracie Jr. organization, and Grandmaster K.O. Spillmann received his BJJ black belt directly from Professor Rocian Gracie Jr. With 50+ years of martial arts teaching in Sumner County, our instructors pace beginners carefully and pair them with experienced training partners, so you learn the art in a safe, family-friendly environment.

Want to see more of our grappling program? Explore our dedicated BJJ program at GMA Team, or check the class schedule to find a gi or no-gi class that fits your week.

Ready to Get Started?

Your first class is free. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced martial artist, we’d love to welcome you to the GMA family.

Call us at (731) 324-3847 or book your free trial online.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most important rule of BJJ etiquette?

Respect the tap. When your partner taps, release the submission immediately. Close behind it is hygiene: a clean gi, trimmed nails, and staying off the mat when you have a skin infection.

Do you bow in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

Many academies bow when stepping on and off the mat, and some bow to the instructor at the start and end of class. Others use handshakes instead. Follow what your academy does. Either way, the point is the same: showing respect for the space and the people in it.

Can a white belt ask a black belt to roll?

It depends on the academy. In many gyms anyone can ask anyone, while in others it’s customary to let higher belts do the asking. If you’re not sure, watch how others do it or ask your instructor.

Ending up on your back is the worst thing that can happen in most fights. In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, it’s where half the game is played. The guard is any position where you’re on the bottom and using your legs to control, block, and attack the person on top of you, and learning the main BJJ guard positions is what turns “stuck underneath” into “dangerous from underneath.”

Below you’ll find what the guard actually does, the five BJJ guard positions every beginner should know, which ones work in the gi versus no-gi, and how to start building a guard of your own.

What Is the Guard in BJJ?

The guard is any bottom position where your legs sit between you and your opponent. As long as your legs are in the way, they can’t settle into side control or mount, and you still have the tools to sweep them or submit them. When they get past your legs, they’ve “passed your guard.”

Every guard does three jobs. It blocks your opponent from advancing, it controls their posture and balance with your grips and hooks, and it attacks with sweeps and submissions. A guard that only blocks is a waiting game you’ll eventually lose. A guard that does all three is why a smaller person on the bottom can still win.

The scoring under IBJJF rules shows how much the guard matters. A sweep from guard to top position earns two points, and passing someone’s guard earns three. Most jiu jitsu matches are decided by those exchanges, which is why guard work makes up a big share of every Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class.

5 BJJ Guard Positions Every Beginner Should Know

There are dozens of named guards, and new variations show up at every major tournament. You don’t need them all. These five cover the foundation, and almost every advanced guard is built on top of one of them.

1. Closed Guard

Your legs wrap around your opponent’s waist with your ankles crossed behind their back. This is the first guard most students learn and the most stable one to hold. By pulling your knees toward your chest you break their posture forward, and from there you can attack with collar chokes, armbars, triangles, the kimura, and sweeps like the scissor and hip bump. The main goal on the bottom is simple: keep their posture broken. A partner who sits up tall in your closed guard is starting to open it.

2. Half Guard

You trap one of your opponent’s legs between yours. Half guard is often where you land when someone is halfway through passing, so it’s a recovery position as much as an attacking one. The key detail is getting your bottom arm under their arm (the underhook) and staying on your side instead of flat on your back. Flat half guard gets crushed; half guard on your side, with the underhook, leads to sweeps and a path back to your feet.

3. Butterfly Guard

You sit up facing your opponent with both feet hooked inside their thighs. Butterfly guard is built for movement. With an underhook and a good grip, you can elevate your partner with your hooks and send them over for a sweep. It works especially well in no-gi and against opponents who kneel or stay low, and it’s one of the best guards for learning how to use your hips and balance from the bottom.

4. Open Guard

Open guard is the umbrella term for any guard where your legs aren’t locked around your opponent. You use your feet on their hips, knees, and biceps, and your grips on their sleeves, collar, or wrists, to keep distance and steer them. Two of the best-known open guards are spider guard (feet on the biceps with sleeve grips) and De La Riva guard (named after Brazilian black belt Ricardo De La Riva, with one leg hooked around the outside of the opponent’s lead leg). Open guards take longer to learn, but they’re essential once your opponents start standing up to pass.

5. X-Guard

From underneath a standing or kneeling opponent, you hook one of their legs with both of yours in an X shape while holding their other leg. X-guard puts them badly off balance and leads to some of the cleanest sweeps in jiu jitsu. Most students learn it a little later, usually as a follow-up from butterfly guard or single-leg X, but it’s worth knowing it exists early because it shows how much control your legs can have.

Guard Positions in the Gi vs No-Gi

The gi changes which guards are practical. Spider guard, lasso guard, and many De La Riva variations depend on gripping the sleeves, collar, or pants, so they only exist in the gi. Without the gi, there’s nothing to hold, so those grips disappear.

No-gi grapplers lean more on closed guard, butterfly guard, half guard, and the single-leg X and X-guard family, using wrist control, underhooks, and overhooks instead of cloth grips. No-gi is also faster and more slippery, which makes holding a static guard harder. If you’re deciding where to focus, our breakdown of gi vs no-gi BJJ covers how the two styles shape your whole game.

How to Build Your Guard as a Beginner

Start with closed guard. It’s the easiest guard to hold and the best place to learn posture breaking, grips, and your first sweeps and submissions. Most of the basic BJJ techniques you’ll see in your first few months start here.

Learn guard retention before fancy guards. Hip escapes (shrimping), framing with your forearms, and pummeling your knees back between you and your partner are what keep any guard alive. A beginner with good retention is much harder to pass than one who knows ten guard names.

Always connect the guard to an attack. For every guard you practice, know at least one sweep and one submission from it. Closed guard to armbar and triangle, half guard to an underhook sweep, butterfly guard to a hook sweep. Our guide to BJJ submissions covers the finishes most of these set up.

Don’t live on your back. The guard is a powerful position, but in self defense you rarely want to stay underneath someone. Use your guard to sweep, get up, or get on top. That’s why we teach guard work alongside the stand-up game, including the best BJJ takedowns for beginners.

Tap early, tap often. Guard work involves a lot of chokes and joint locks in close quarters. Tap as soon as you’re caught, and let go the moment your partner taps.

Learn BJJ Guard Positions at GMA in Gallatin, TN

At Global Martial Arts USA, students learn to control and attack from their back using closed guard, open guard, half guard, and butterfly guard, then tie those positions into sweeps, submissions, and getting back to their feet. Our BJJ program in Gallatin, TN runs gi and no-gi classes for kids and adults, led by Grandmaster K.O. Spillmann, who earned his BJJ black belt under Professor Rocian Gracie Jr. With 50+ years of teaching in Sumner County, we help beginners build a guard that actually works under pressure.

For more grappling instruction, explore our dedicated BJJ program at GMA Team. When you’re ready, check the class schedule and come roll with us. If you’re brand new, start with our BJJ white belt tips for what to expect in your first year.

Ready to Get Started?

Your first class is free. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced martial artist, we’d love to welcome you to the GMA family.

Call us at (731) 324-3847 or book your free trial online.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best BJJ guard for beginners?

Closed guard is the best place to start. It’s the most stable guard to hold, it teaches you how to break your opponent’s posture, and it sets up many of the first sweeps and submissions you’ll learn, like the scissor sweep, armbar, and triangle.

What does it mean to pass the guard?

Passing the guard means getting past your opponent’s legs and settling into a dominant top position such as side control or mount. Under IBJJF rules, a successful guard pass scores three points.

How many guard positions are there in BJJ?

There are dozens of named guards and new variations appear all the time. Most of them build on a handful of foundations: closed guard, half guard, butterfly guard, open guards like spider and De La Riva, and X-guard. Beginners should master a few of these before branching out.