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Closed Guard

What To Do When Your Guard Attacks Fail

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It's my very favorite quote from the movie 'The Avengers' which I saw last night: Captain America: We need a plan of attack! Iron man: I have a plan... Attack!! It's a funny moment in the movie, but there's a lot of truth to that statement. For example, wouldn't having an continuous, irresistible and relentless offense from the guard would be great in BJJ? In an ideal world you'd be … [Read more...]

An Easy Way to Make Your Closed Guard Hard to Pass

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I was recently watching an out-of-print instructional DVD by a friend of mine and had one of those really great 'aha' moments. It was a tweak that I can use to make my closed guard  much, much harder to pass. And also much more powerful when it comes to setting up attacks and sweeps. … [Read more...]

Technique 2: Reverse Shoulder Lock

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Marcus and Denis demonstrate the reverse shoulder lock. (1) Marcus starts out with Denis in his guard using a basic sleeve and lapel grip (2) He puts his left foot on the hip and his right foot on his opponent's bicep (3) He steps over Denis's head with his right foot (4) Putting a lot of pressure on his opponent's shoulder he hooks his instep under Denis's right … [Read more...]

Marcus Soares – Kimura from Mount

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Here's how the Kimura can help you transition from the Closed Guard, to the Mount, and then to your opponent tapping out. Photo 1 - If your opponent is quick he may be able to counter your Kimura from the guard by posting his foot and grabbing his pants. You may be able to simply rip his grip free from his gi pants if you are stronger or he is sloppy, but the following is a more elegant … [Read more...]

Marcus Soares Kimura from Closed Guard

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Marcus Soares demonstrates a basic attack from the guard: Closed Guard to Kimura Photo 1 - In Brazil this sequence is often taught as one of the most basic attacks from the guard. You start with your opponent in the closed guard and a grip on his sleeve and lapel. Photo 2 - With your sleeve grip you pull your opponent's hand to the ground. At the same time you open your guard, escape your … [Read more...]

Technique 4: Omo Plata to footlock

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A four step instructional article on transitioning from guard to the omoplata and then into an unexpected footlock when your opponent attempts to counter the omoplata. Stephan has his opponent in his guard and climbs his legs up until his left thigh is resting OVER his opponent's right shoulder. This is known as the "crooked", "climbing" or "high" guard. Stephan creates an attack … [Read more...]

Technique 3: Scissor sweep to Omoplata

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The scissor sweep is one of the very first sweeps most BJJ students learn. And it's a legit technique, but even if your opponent counters it then it can still be used to set up a great omoplata attack... Stephan has his opponent in his closed guard, and uses the basic closed guard grip on his opponent's left side Stephan opens his guard, shifts his hips, puts his left shin across his … [Read more...]

Technique 2: Omoplata to wristlock

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It's never good when your opponent manages to stand up in your guard.  Fortunately you can use the omoplata to bring him back down to earth and put him into a very bad position... Stephan's opponent stands up, attempting to pass his closed guard. He maintains control of his opponent's right arm Stephan swivels his body to his left (so his left ear is touching his opponent's right shin). … [Read more...]

Technique 1: Triangle choke to Omoplata

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The omoplata can be an attack in its own right, or a great followup to another technique.  Here Stephan shows you how the omoplata can be used to salvage a failed triangle choke... Stephan attacks his opponent with a loose triangle choke. His opponent counters the choke by wrapping his right arm around Stephan's left thigh, preventing the choke from tightening. He controls his … [Read more...]

Eddie Bravo’s Rubber Guard “The NewSchool”

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In this sequence Eddie 'Twister' Bravo shows yet another one of his innovative rubber guard setups to lock on the diviangle choke. Hold your opponent's head down by headlocking him with your left arm. Use the classic wrestling grip with your right hand. Shift your hips by pushing off your opponent's right hip. ONLY while your opponent's right hand is on the mat, bring your … [Read more...]

Never Get Guillotined Again!

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OK, I have to admit that I’m exaggerating with the whole “never get guillotined again” title, but it’s almost true. If you incorporate principle that I’m about to share with into your grappling two things will happen: you’ll tap out to many, many fewer guillotine chokes, and you’ll really increase how often you manage to finish your opponent’s with the same choke. I was very happy when … [Read more...]

Mastering the Kimura

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By Stephan Kesting and Marcus Soares Originally published in Grappling Magazine, May 2002 The Kimura lock is one of the most important submission holds in Jiu-jitsu. It is also found in many other grappling systems, where it might be called a hammerlock, a chickenwing, or ude-garami. Whatever it is called, it is a powerful and versatile attack. Wherever you see grapplers competing, whether … [Read more...]

Get Up, Stand Up!

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Why getting off the ground is a critical skills in grappling! (originally published in Black Belt Magazine) When mixed martial arts competition exploded in North America, martial artists quickly learned that most fights end up on the ground. And for years the prevailing wisdom was that groundfighting was inevitable, and if a fight went to the ground it would most likely stay there. In the … [Read more...]