Out of curiosity.

[MrBoxerGrappler]

Do the people here who practice JJ prefer the mount or the guard more? I have been reading a number of articles and opinions and just wanted to see where the people here stand.

I personally prefer to be in the guard, I guess I feel safer, but that all depends on how effective somone is from the mount. I just feel that I can control the tempo and such better if I am on my back. I also tend to submit people more when I am on the bottom lol.

[TylerDurden]

I guess I am confused by the question. If I am on my back the guard is obviously better than being mounted. But if you mean having someone in my guard, or sitting on their stomach. I will take mount, much better position, in partciular for a street fight. Or any fight that allows punching really.

[bvermillion]

You would definately have to be crazy to want to be on your back in a fight. What do you mean it depends on how good you are in the mount. It doesn't take much skill to punch down onto someones face. The guard position is just so you have an option if you happen to be on your back.

[MrBoxerGrappler]

You would definately have to be crazy to want to be on your back in a fight. What do you mean it depends on how good you are in the mount. It doesn't take much skill to punch down onto someones face. The guard position is just so you have an option if you happen to be on your back.

Perhaps I did not state the question correctly. I meant in training/rolling/sparing, I was not speaking is a street fight or fighting sense. Sorry for the confusion.

[bvermillion]

Well in that case I still dont want to be on the ground I will happily take the guard position if I can get it but would still prefer the mount. You have the advantage. It is just like in war you always want to be higher then your opponent. You want to be on the hill and them in the valley.

[MrBoxerGrappler]

Well in that case I still dont want to be on the ground I will happily take the guard position if I can get it but would still prefer the mount. You have the advantage. It is just like in war you always want to be higher then your opponent. You want to be on the hill and them in the valley.

I guess I agree with that, I dunno like I said when I am on the ground I feel that I can control things more, I feel that I have more oportunities for openings while defending myself at the same time. When I am in the mount it is all offense really and I prefer to be more defensive.

But as far as strait stratagy I suppose your right.

[bvermillion]

I guarantee this is why you feel there are more openings from the guard. You train for the guard more then the mount. Most people neglect training from the mount because they feel it is sorta common knowledge your on top you win. If you train moves from the mount position more you will appreciate the mount position more.

[gregimotis]

You train for the guard more then the mount. Most people neglect training from the mount

I also feel stronger in the guard than the mount and I know for certain this is why. My instructor learned back when the guard was 'new' and that's what he is best at - therefore it's what I am better at.
It seems intuitive that mount is the better postion though, if you know how to use it, so I try to use guard as a transitional position and only attack from there if the opportunity presents itself.


What about knee mount (or knee-on-stomach) vs. front mount? I have worked with a man who can control knee mount very well and prefers it to front mount... is this another case of the fighter being better at an inferior postion? Or is the knee mount comparable to the front mount in control and finish opportunity (given equal practice)?

[bvermillion]

I think if you practice the knee mount you can use it just as effectively as the front mount but logistics still tell me to go on into the front mount. You have more of your mass over your opponent where as you just have your knee as a point of contact in a knee mount. I am usually able to flop quite a bit in a knee mount but not without pain. Whereas with a front mount i have trouble. Not many people can successfully get out of a good front mount by an experienced grappler.

[tekshow]

i don't know, i like playing from the gaurd too. doesn't mean i don't like the mount, but i'm usually transitioning between positions. I like the cross body, side mount, or kesse better than both the guard or mount....


but on your question: I play a lot from the guard... if there's no striking, it's easy for me to get an armbar, put on a triangle, or if my opponent stands up there's a lot of throws i can do from there.


plus i'm smaller, so the gaurd is more secure since i'm not putting my wieght on my opponent and i can use my leg strength to keep them trapped, and use my hands to distract and lead their upper body around.


i play the way i like to play. what works for you works for you?

[bvermillion]

I wasn't saying people had to grapple the way I say. I was just explaining how I grapple and the logistics behind that. Why anyone would put themselves in a naturally defensive posture is beyond me. The best defense is a good offense.

[Uber_Tap]

Like other posts people have already said, I have no problem working from the guard, but I would prefer to have the mount. I probably liked the guard better until I started contemplating real punches to the head, and it doesn't take but a few shots to the head to make you change your mind. I understand your talking sport, but in a real fight you'll do what you've always trained to do and that's probably a bad time to figure out you prefer the mount. Not saying that having someone in the guard is a bad position to be in, it's just not the ideal position.

[adacas]

I like to be on top...

[adacas]

oh sorry I didn't realize that we were talking about training.