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Keenan Cornelius

IBJJF medalist · 2012–2022

195 lbs·Black Belt·Legion American Jiu-Jitsu·Gi
Skill ScoreHow you win — in-game attributes
83/99
Dominant

Cornelius's elite Guard Game (95) and strong Competition IQ (88) define this era.

Legacy ScoreCareer dominance — record, titles, defenses
34/99
Contender
Win Rate +12Win Volume +7Sub Rate +3Pan Am (1) +3

Competition Record

Career grappling record

Gi

Wins45
Losses10
Subs14

No-Gi

Wins20
Losses5
Subs6
Submission Rate31%

IBJJF medalist, lapel guard innovator

Records via BJJ Heroes & IBJJF

Mat Resume

Time on the mats in professional competition

68

Pro Matches

32

Mat Hours

25

Events

7.0 min

Avg Duration

45 sec

Fastest Sub

16

Sub-Only Matches

Style Analysis

The lapel guard innovator who created the worm guard, squid guard, and multiple other systems that changed modern gi competition.

Signature Submissions

Worm Guard SweepTriangleArmbarLapel Choke

Notable Matches

Key competition results

L
vs Leandro Lo
Mundials 2014·2014
Points
W
vs Paulo Miyao
IBJJF 2015·2015
Advantage
W
vs Murilo Santana
Pan Ams 2016·2016
Points

Did You Know?

1

Invented the worm guard and squid guard systems

2

Founded Legion American Jiu-Jitsu academy

3

Popular BJJ YouTuber and educator

Style Matchup Analysis

Where this game is vulnerable

Exploitable Patterns

1

Explosive passers who can blast through his lapel guard systems before they are established

2

Pressure passers who can pin his hips and deny the space needed for worm guard

3

No-gi specialists where his lapel-dependent guard innovations cannot be used

Nightmare Matchup

Leandro Lo

Lo's toreando passing speed and refusal to engage with lapel grips made him the worst stylistic matchup for Keenan. Lo could consistently pass before Keenan established his worm guard system.

Closest Calls

L
Mundials 2015 Medium Heavy Final·2015

Lo passed Keenan's guard with speed and footwork, refusing to get drawn into Keenan's lapel guard web.

L
Pan Ams 2014 Absolute·2014

Buchecha's size and aggression overwhelmed Keenan's guard innovations with raw pressure.

Engine Insight

Relative weakness: Takedowns (72) is 11 points below their 83 average — opponents strong in this area have the best chance.

Trophy Case

Pan American Champion

Plus multiple IBJJF medals

Guard System Innovator

Created worm guard and squid guard

Signature Moments

The Lapel Guard Revolution

2013-2020·vs vs Everyone

Keenan Cornelius invented an entire family of guards using the opponent's own lapel as a weapon — worm guard, squid guard, and multiple variations. He open-sourced the techniques on YouTube while simultaneously competing at the highest level. His innovation changed competitive gi BJJ permanently.

He invented an entire guard system, named it, and then gave it away for free on YouTube. The lapel guard changed competitive gi forever.

Career Numbers

Pan Am Golds

Pan American Championship golds

1

Verified Feb 2026 · bjjheroes.com

4

Deep Guards Invented

4 distinct guard systems invented (worm guard, squid guard, ringworm guard, mantis guard) — more than any other competitor in history

Season Stats · IBJJF medalist

RecordCareer competition record
65-15
Submission RateCareer submission rate
31%
Submission WinsCareer submission victories
20

Engine Attributes

Athleticism80
Competition IQ88
Escapes85
Guard Game95
Guard Passing82
Submissions85
Takedowns72
Top Control78
Skill Score
83/99
Dominant
Legacy
34/99
Contender

Data Coverage

100%
Bio & Identity
Competition Record
Major Titles
Notable Opponents
Style & Attributes
Signature Submissions
Career Timeline
Gi/No-Gi Breakdown

FloGrappling / BJJ Heroes / IBJJF

8 of 8 profile sections complete

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