Overview Of Closed Guard (theory) Flashcards
What 4 scenarios must we have effective responses/reactions for to master closed guard?
1- opponent on 2 knees
2 opponent transitioning to standing (typically in 2 steps)
3- opponent has stood but has bent over posture
4- opponent stood up and achieved vertical posture
What is the Tactical Advantage Principle of closed guard?
As long as you can keep closed guard, you can attack your opponent with many subs while they cannot attack you with any realistic subs
What is the Top Hip Principle?
The athlete who has his hips on too of the other athletes hips with always dominate the upper body submission game, regardless of top or bottom position over all
What 2 main advantages does the Top Hip principle offer?
1- if you have too hip position and get outside of the opponent’s elbows you have direct access to the most advantageous position- REAR MOUNT
2- If you sweep an opponent when you have top hip position you will find yourself in the second most advantageous position - MOUNT
What skills are necessary to exploit closed guard?
- being able to hold closed guard long enough to launch attacks
- you must have effective responses to all 4 main scenarios (opp on 2 knees, opponent transitioning to standing with 2 steps,opp stood up bent over, opp stood up vertical)
- ability to break opponents stance and balance (KUZUSHI)
What are the 3 main directions of kuzushi?
1- FORWARD KUZUSHI (most common)- used when:
•opponent is bent over
•opponent on 2 knees
•opponent is standing
*when opponent is bent over with shoulders in front of his hips, you should employ forward kuzushi
2- SIDEWAYS KUZUSHI - used when:
•opponent on 2 knees
*only rarely occurs when opp is standing
3- BACKWARDS KUZUSHI - used when:
• opponent in straight up posture
What are the 6 VULNERABILITIES an opponent can be put into, inside a closed guard, maximising our chances of successful sweeps or submissions?
•elbow across the centreline -> side scissor position
•the top lock -> (1) 45 inside
(2) head below hips
- the trap triangle -> inside wrist position
- hand on the floor -> clamp position
- opponent stands up in closed guard -> second step overhead sweep
- hips on the mat -> makes sweeps easier
What are the 4 main high percentage sweeps from closed guard?
1- Hip sweep
2- pendulum sweep
3- flower sweep
4- scissor sweep
What general rule must we keep in mind with regards to making our job of restraining, controlling and submitting our opponent, much easier?
An opponent on his knees is much easier to restrain,control and submit, than when he’s standing.
As a general rule, always try to keep the opponent on 2 knees
A crucial skill when playing closed guard, is being able to return a standing opponent back to the mat. What 3 main sweeps can we employ to achieve this?
- double ankle sweep
- scoop handstand sweep
- omoplata sweep
What are the first three abilities we need to be effective from closed guard?
1- hold a closed guard long enough to launch attacks -
e.g , we must be able to deal with an opponent using various methods to open our closed guard, by using kuzushi and realigning ourselves, or returning the opponent to the mat if they stand up in our closed guard etc
2- be effective in the 4 main scenarios:
- opp on 2 knees
- opp goes to stand up (usually a 2 step procedure)
- opp stands up but has bent over posture (head lower than hips)
- opp stands and achieves vertical posture (head and shoulders over his hips)
3- break opponents balance and posture using kuzushi with
- forwards kuzushi (using forward knee pulls when opp is on 2 knees and standing with BENT OVER posture)
- sideways kuzushi ( using a ‘half pendulum motion’ when employing pendulum sweeps,flower sweeps, scissor sweeps etc)
- backwards kuzushi (when opp is standing vertically with shoulders over hips)
