Open Gaurd in MMA?

[danfaggella]

Basically, I am wondering what you guys think about being in gaurd while someone is standing above you, in a NHB situation.

When I spar in Kung Fu, I usually try to take the guys down and submit them. However, they are all significantly larger than I am and better with thier striking for the most part. Consequently, I am often flung onto my hip or meatheaded to the ground so that I don't have control of the takedown. So, I end up in gaurd, and Kung Fu guys don't like being in my gaurd, they know I grapple. So, they stand up, and I don't want to expose my back or dive for a lame shot when I'm already on the ground. So, I stay in close and play an open gaurd game, but my open gaurd is not very good.

Is it possable to be able to work for sweeps and such when someone is standing in your gaurd in an NHB situation? I've heard to the "X gaurd" and such, but I have not studied it intently, and I wonder if I should, so that when I'm on my ass I can still control them enough to take them to the ground, and work from my subs up top.

Thanks

[7r14ngL3Ch0k3]

If you have an open guard and someone is standing in it, kick them in the jaw or do a leg lock!

[Bjjexpertise@be]

Sickle sweep? I can usually take down my opponents even if they are bigger, so I don't have much knowledge in this area. How much do you weigh and about how heavy are your opponents?

[JkD187]

Basically, I am wondering what you guys think about being in gaurd while someone is standing above you, in a NHB situation.

When I spar in Kung Fu, I usually try to take the guys down and submit them. However, they are all significantly larger than I am and better with thier striking for the most part. Consequently, I am often flung onto my hip or meatheaded to the ground so that I don't have control of the takedown. So, I end up in gaurd, and Kung Fu guys don't like being in my gaurd, they know I grapple. So, they stand up, and I don't want to expose my back or dive for a lame shot when I'm already on the ground. So, I stay in close and play an open gaurd game, but my open gaurd is not very good.

Is it possable to be able to work for sweeps and such when someone is standing in your gaurd in an NHB situation? I've heard to the "X gaurd" and such, but I have not studied it intently, and I wonder if I should, so that when I'm on my ass I can still control them enough to take them to the ground, and work from my subs up top.

Thanks

Your best bet is to study the X guard sweep and the double X....i sweep big people all the time with those....also you can spin for a heel hook and take them down with that...or a kneebar possibly but it requires a great deal of exp in applying spinning kneebars and heel hooks...Also when you have them in your guard before they get a chance to stand up...make sure you have head control and get an underhook on their leg to try and break them down into your guard....then try to work for a sweep or submission...and if they keep trying to stand up prepare for the sweep.

[sapatiero]

NEVER try the x guard in MMA - your opponent will just punch you on the head! It's great for BJJ, but as far as MMA is concerned, the guy should either by in your closed guard (too close to punch you whiile u work for a sub), or beyond your feet (while you do a technical stand up & avoid his kicks). If you want evidence of this, checkout Jean Jacque Machados first (and only) MMA fight. He's an awesome BJJ technician, but you can't afford to be sat around someones knees in MMA.

I love the open guard, but if you try to use it against a good MMA fighter you're in danger of him posturing up & pounding you, or heel hooking you.

[JkD187]

NEVER try the x guard in MMA - your opponent will just punch you on the head! It's great for BJJ, but as far as MMA is concerned, the guy should either by in your closed guard (too close to punch you whiile u work for a sub), or beyond your feet (while you do a technical stand up & avoid his kicks). If you want evidence of this, checkout Jean Jacque Machados first (and only) MMA fight. He's an awesome BJJ technician, but you can't afford to be sat around someones knees in MMA.

I love the open guard, but if you try to use it against a good MMA fighter you're in danger of him posturing up & pounding you, or heel hooking you.

Very true but i meant the X guard sweep...if youve ever read Eddie Bravos book you will know what i mean....ive used it in MMA sparring all the time with great success.

[danfaggella]

That was my plan, to pull off a QUICK sweep from the X gaurd, or a sickle sweep, right away from open gaurd, I didn' plan to site there and work leg subs in an NHB situation, is this logical? I end up in this position sometiems in kungfu sparring and I don't want ot just roll backwards and try to get away, I want to grapple.

[sapatiero]

Doh! Now I get it - sorry

I guess a quick sweep would be good, unfortunately most of the open guard sweeps I know use gi grips (especially sleeves). One that can be quite quick is the tripod sweep (assuming you can get a firm grip on the wrist).

Your left foot sits on opponents right hip.
Your right foot hooks behind opponents left knee.
Your right hand grabs opponents right wrist.
Your left hand hooks opponents right ankle (from outside).

I like to jump into this position as the opponent stands up, then simultaneously

pull both hands back towards me
extend the left leg to push opponents hips
pull the right leg back towards me

this should force him to fall backwards so you can drive over into topmount (don't go flat, prioritise one hip first when climbing over into topmount).


Hope this helps