Grip control in the Guard?

[Robert V]

Scott, Steve and anyone else:

I have a new BJJ training partner who is "very" good in the guard. He controls my wrist/sleeve very well. I have difficulty in escaping his grip to pass his guard. Any tips?

Robert

[JasonE]

With guys that use a lot of wrist/sleeve control, I've had success with the following 2 tactics:

1. If my opponent is using their Right to control my Left, I drive my trapped hand to their Right bicep to break their grip, then tuck my elbow in tight and draw it rapidly straight back until I can reset my hand in a position to start controlling their hips. I will often drive forward off the balls of my feet and start stacking them to accomplish this, and I start drawing my elbow back before I let their hips drop back down.

2. If my opponent is using his Left to control my Left, I often use my Right to trap his Left against his body. With his controlling hand/wrist trapped, it is usually much easier to break the grip because he can't move with my arm. Some guys get paranoid and lose some or all of their controlling grip when I trap that hand/wrist, which saves me a lot of time. I will often drive in off the balls of my feet on this one as well, usually stacking or partly stacking them.

Sometimes I am able to rotate my wrist within their grip and use my Left to counter-control their Left, giving me 2 against their 1. At this point, I will take my Right and start using it against their hips while my Left keeps their Left trapped.

Of course, you have to base out a bit and keep their hips a bit compressed so they can't turn for a sweep or pop up for an armlock or triangle. I have been caught by alert players whose hips weren't properly controlled when I drove in.

I hope all this helps, and I look forward to seeing what other suggestions are offered.

[Dan Chomycia]

Robert,


I have a new BJJ training partner who is "very" good in the guard. He controls my wrist/sleeve very well. I have difficulty in escaping his grip to pass his guard. Any tips?

:!:
If you find it difficult and energy consuming to keep breaking his grasp on your jacket then you would need to develope a new strategy with a partner on how to confirm his grip and use it to your advantage.

There are examples in the Series IOUF (http://www.rmax.tv/iouf.html)of confirming someone's grasp so that you can use it to control him.

Basically everything your opponent does can work to your advantage if you are able to allow yourself to see the possiblities.

Since this guy is your partner ask him to help you with this strategy of Confirming his grasp, and then use it to effect your escape or make him tap if you wish.

Start off with a Static Drill working only on this aspect to create possible tactics that will not counter his grasp but use his grasp for your benefit. :twisted:

Then test those tactics in a game where he is controlling only your Sleeve and you are only seeing how to use that grip to your advantage.

The Protocol will be as follows.

5mins for tactic creation,

20 mins for the Game,

Then at the next training session test this in your Sparring agaist him and someone else who employs this strategy.

Good luck and keep us posted on your results,

[Robert V]

Thanks, guys!

I will review Quantum gripping and let my imagination take over.

I'm sure my partner will help me out.

I have welcomed this new challenge since I don't play BJJ much and this guy is "very" good. He is trying to figure out how to submit me from the guard, I'm trying to figure out how to pass his.

It's a real mental and strategic game with him.

[Scott Sonnon]

Robert,

We're still entrenched in publishing the latest issue of CST Mag... so I only have a quick opportunity to ask: is his strength and skill at wrist/sleeve control based upon countering your passing his guard? If so, how is his strength and skill when you work within his guard - or 'reframed' - when you hold him down in a straddle mount?

[Robert V]

Coach,

If you've had the pleasure of seeing Nogueira fight in Pride and how he uses a "very active" guard, constantly going for triangles, sweeps, arm locks, kimuras and Oma platas, all while controlling his opponents wrist...well that's this guy.

At times he goes to open guard and spider guard, but that's when I've had the most success. Yet, he'd sweeped me once(I was distracted by all of his submission attempts) and mounted me, but I used "your" leg thread to escape his mount within seconds.

It's usually just a very active game in his guard, with no submissions and very few passes. I can see the submissions in advance and he can see my guard pass attempts and change his game.

Again, he is not so worried about my passing his guard, for he is pugnacious about submitting me.

To be honest, I can't believe I am doing as well as I am against him. He instructs the BJJ class now, while I'm teaching my yoga. I just rush over after my class to get a little mat time in.

Thanks!

I can't wait for the next issue.

[Scott Sonnon]

Robert,

Use the Performance Diagnostic Trinity to evaluate yourself: do you see this as a skill inadequacy, attribute deficiency or mental toughness issue?
http://www.circularstrengthmag.com/images/pdt.gif

If toughness is the issue, perhaps if he's consumed with submitting you, and dismissing attention to your guard passing, then it would seem a strong possibility of cloaking a guard pass setup behind a baited 'sugar' submission. If he's strong in wrist/sleeve control, then your guard pass would need to conclude such that any manipulation of your held arm would be ineffective.

If attributes are the issue, is there a specific manner in which he's controlling your arm where you feel weakness? Often in similar issues, it's not a strength deficit, but a lacking in the ability to absorb and retranslate force.

If a skill issue, is there a specific family of skills he's using which gives him the abilty to manipulate your sleeve in such a way he's controlling your structure?

Robert, it reads as if you're into a specific realm in which general guidance would do you little benefit. The forum may be not a strongly effective medium for this issue.

[Robert V]

Thanks, Coach!

You've already helped me see a little more clear, as usual. The "baiting of a submission" appears to be an efficient strategy. I'm still going to review "Quantum Gripping". You're right, were are in this alone...together!

Robert

[Scott Sonnon]

Robert,

Just remember that he can only control one arm at a time. The arm he controls is your "Locking Arm" or your "Power Transfer" depending upon how you want to move. Your "Supporting Leg" will be the fulcrum about which you rotate (for instance, your solar plexus), and your "Mobile Leg" that part of your body causing the motion.