Marcelo has his students work on keeping their back off of the ground when playing guard: When on bottom, if you complacently allow your opponent to push you backwards such that your shoulders are forced to the mat, you should consider yourself in an inferior position. Learn to fight up off of your back and sit up to attack a standing passer. However, beware of accidentally head-butting your opponent's knees with your face as you lean forward. Conversely, if you are swept by your opponent, don't be so quick to lay down and fight from the supine open guard position. Oftentimes, this habit can quickly cascade into a series of unfortunate events, typically starting with a guard pass. It is usually better to develop the habit of sitting up into your opponent after conceding a sweep or takedown, rather than just lying defensively and waiting for more to follow.