Playing the Guard

[GuardMaster]

What's the best way to get your opponents to play the guard game?

What kinda suggestions do you have to lure your opponent into a guard position (open or closed), in sport BJJ.

Jumping into the guard is fairly blunt i'd think. I'm surpised that that strategy works at all!

If takedowns and balance from the top positions are not your game (not to mention becoming a good guard passer) then you need ways to get your opponent into a guard.

I'd like to collect a list of ways one can do this, be it setups, or bait.

Thanks

GuardMaster

[Lacrymosa]

Re: Playing the Guard

Originally posted by GuardMaster

If takedowns and balance from the top positions are not your game (not to mention becoming a good guard passer) then you need ways to get your opponent into a guard.

GuardMaster

At this stage, sure, to be competitive you "need" to get people in your guard.........but I think your confusing the word "want" with "need".

If you're having difficulties holding someone in the mount or passing someone's guard.....then I would suggest that those two aspects of your games are bigger "needs" than anything else.

My favorite move (which I do once a session without fail) is to jump right out of the gates and try for a "flying" armbar. Since it's on the knees, it's not exactly a flying armbar, but it's fun. I get a good grip on the elbow of one of the arms......roll back.....and whip my hips and legs into the lock. About 90% of the time, it doesn't work, but who gives a damn?! It only means that I'll get to practice escaping.....or better suck him into my guard. On one glorious occassion, I pulled the move off against a blue belt in front of Roland Sarria.......

Hey! Where was I?

[SweepEm]

BJJ is like the master's chess game.

But it depends on the skill level you are at.
By asking this question, it sounds like you are not at the upper level.

There are many ways to get your opponent to your guard, open or closed.

If you start on your knees, the easiest way is to push your opponent backwards. What is the natural response? They will usually push forward and then you can transition into your guard. But in some instances, your opponent may just take you in their guard, which you want to put up one knee so that your opponent doesn't close their guard and you can start to pass from here.
But usually in either a white or blue belt level, most people will want to take the push backwards and push forward.

If you are standing up, there are many ways to transition into your guard but once again, you need a "feint" or jab to get your opponent to do what you want to set up. But in the stand up, you will probably have to take your opponent down, but be careful because if in sport BJJ in a tournament setting, if your opponent has a grip on your ankle/leg and you sit down into guard, they score take down points on you.

[GuardMaster]

Guard Passing

Someone here mentioned that guard passing is more important than a guard position. I think its 50/50. Personally I think you have to know the system well before you learn to defeat it. Even if you do pass guard, you still have to acquire a dominant position like mount or others to acquire a submission. This doesn't predispose the fact that you can get submitted or rolled along the way when trying to pass.


Two specialists: Takedowns, pass guard, top position control, excellent mount

[GuardMaster]

Guard Passing

Someone here mentioned that guard passing is more important than a guard position. I think its 50/50. Personally I think you have to know the system well before you learn to defeat it. Even if you do pass guard, you still have to acquire a dominant position like mount or others to acquire a submission. This doesn't predispose the fact that you can get submitted or rolled along the way when trying to pass.

Keep the opinions coming of how to get someone in the guard game, both standing and on the ground. Plus if you know of any great guard tapes that take about how to get someone into your guard, be it closed, open, spider, half guard etc then please advise!

[GuardMaster]

Any great tapes on guard fighting

Please advise if you know kick ass tapes on the best way to guard fight.

Closed guard, open guard, spider guard, half guard. Counters from this position to all kinds of attacks, as well as counters to all kinds of guard passes.

I had Pedro's tapes on guard fighting but found little use for it. There very little flow in it. All isolated movements.

Who are the best Sport BJJ guard fighters? And do they have tapes out.

Thanks

[Mako]

GM, don't take this the wrong way, but it sounds like you are pre-disposed to an answer when you are "asking" a question.

If you want to get better, take the advice of experinced BJJ guys like Sweep. I know that I too like to go to guard. It's comfortable. And it feels a little uneasy to pass guard. The reason is that you are not experienced enough. Don't worry about messing up or getting tapped. Keep trying things outside your comfort zone!

Good luck, bro!

[SweepEm]

Experienced?

I'm just a beginner........

"let's go easy"

[KyleS]

@ SweepEm If only I had a $ for every time...

- Kyle