Problems with posturing

[Penance]

I've been drilling guard escapes the last few classes, and although I'm getting better I still feel I'm very weak at them.

Everyone tells me that my posture is off. Either too far forward or too far back. Unfortunately it seems like no matter what I try to do to adjust, it either doesn't work or feels uncomfortable or off balance.

Firstly I try to get a wide "base" by putting my knees fairly far apart. I try to keep my back straight and my head up, but in an effort to avoid being pulled forward I often learn too far back, then my opponent just comes forward and knocks me over. I feel like there's nothing I can do to avoid being pulled in once an opponent starts grabbing my sleeves or collar.

While in their guard I'm almost always crouched on the balls of my feet, heels in the air and then leaning on my knees to form my base. I havn't tried it much, but is it better to sit on the tops of the feet instead so that the whole length of the tibia is on the ground in addition to the top of the foot and knee?

To escape I try to press down on their hips without bending forward, then I put my knee into their pelvis, turn my hips away from that leg and then it usually all falls apart. Sometimes I can complete the escape by pushing down on their thigh with my elbow, but I usually feel like I need to stick my other leg out to open their ankles...this is very awkward for me and I always lose my balance.

So, any advice?

[Tant01]

I've been drilling guard escapes the last few classes, and although I'm getting better I still feel I'm very weak at them.

....
So, any advice?

Practice!

Stacking him tightly after you open his gaurd will help you pass and be easier to do on your feet (standing in his open gaurd)

[SweepEm]

when you're sitting in a person's closed guard, take a look at where your head is in relation to your knees.
If your head is past your knees, you're leaning too far foward.
You don't want your back straight up and down and instead with a forward lean.

Your hand position is most important so you keep your head up.
When I am in someone's close guard I usually have my left foot flat and I am usually sitting on it. My right foot, I am on the balls of my foot, ready to push foward and I have my knees spread apart very wide to keep my butt as low as possible to have a better base.
I have my left hand grabbing my opponent's belt or pants at the belt level and have my elbow heavy, on my opponents outside part of his right thigh.
My right hand grabs both the lapels [or just your opponent's left lapel]
and have my fist on top of their solar plexus.
Too high a right hand placement and you will set yourself up for an arm drag and possible arm/shoulder lock or a triangle.
Too low and your opponent can reach up and grab your shoulders or triceps and pull you down.
Proper hand placement in close guard is very important.
visualize you're climbing a rope, you never or rarely want to have your hands in the same plane, always one in front of the other, like you're climbing that rope.
This is not easy to explain and I hope you can visualize what I am talking about.
it's so much easier to just show you how to keep a good base in closed guard than trying to describe it.

[Penance]

Thanks for the advice, you did a good job of explaining it!

I'll try the foot positioning and hand holds you described.

Tant: thanks for the advice too. My problem is that I can't get their guard open to begin with, though!

[Tant01]

Thanks for the advice, you did a good job of explaining it!

I'll try the foot positioning and hand holds you described.

Tant: thanks for the advice too. My problem is that I can't get their guard open to begin with, though!

Ahhh, I thought something ELSE was amiss! Try this; Hand positions as described by sweepem... As you get your hand on his (belt?) push down hard on his pelvic girdle as you quickly stand (up) in the gaurd.., if that doesn't break it, repeat it, push down with your hand and push up with your legs and give him a little bounce/ giggle to unlock the feet holding the closed gaurd on you...Then stack him and pass rapidly... You'll get it with some practice! It's easy, really, don't be discouraged!

[pstevens]

Things to consider while sitting in someone's Guard:

1. Sit up straight - Push your stomach forward a bit if you have to.

2. Postion hands in the right place: One hand by his sternum, the other by the navel. And ELBOWS in, NOT out.

3. Sit on your butt.

4. MOST IMPORTANTLY: Don't look down. Look straight ahead. Looking down forces your spine to naturally bend and your opponent will pull you down.

5. Understand that a good position nullifies most attacks.

[crazyjoe380]

Keep practicing.. you can't expect results that fast.. you keep practicing..

Patiences is Jiu Jitsu..

[wardancer]

I've been drilling guard escapes the last few classes, and although I'm getting better I still feel I'm very weak at them.

To escape I try to press down on their hips without bending forward, then I put my knee into their pelvis, turn my hips away from that leg and then it usually all falls apart. Sometimes I can complete the escape by pushing down on their thigh with my elbow, but I usually feel like I need to stick my other leg out to open their ankles...this is very awkward for me and I always lose my balance.

So, any advice?

You have the basics ok.
so just keep praticising!
I find 'strong' elbows on thights against your training partners rude.
It is ok for competition.

[cakegirl]

When you're sitting up in guard, make a triangle on the floor - your knees wide apart, forming 2 corners of the triangle, and your feet together forming the 3rd point.

Now, when you're sitting up, your head should not go outside that triangle. If it goes forward in front of your knees, you're in danger of having your posture broken. If it goes behind the triangle, you're in danger of being swept backwards or to the sides.

NB, this advice doesn't count if you're doing the hold-on-for-dear-life technique of putting your ear on your opponent's tummy and holding their legs tight!