Also called Open guards
Open guard is any guard where your legs control the opponent without being locked around them: feet on the hips or biceps, hooks inside the thighs, or a leg wrapped around theirs. Butterfly, spider, De la Riva and X-guard are all open guards. It trades the security of closed guard for more sweeps and back takes.
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How to do it
- 1Sit up on one hip or lie on your back with your knees between you and the opponent.
- 2Put your feet on their hips or biceps, or hook inside their thighs.
- 3Grip their sleeves or wrists so they cannot push your legs aside.
- 4Push and pull with your feet to break their balance toward your sweep.
- 5When they get past a leg, turn your hips and recover guard before they settle.
- Letting both feet lose contact with the opponent, which gives them a free pass.
- Hanging on grips with straight, tired arms instead of working with your legs.
- Staying flat on your back instead of moving your hips.
Safety: Release gi and finger grips when a partner pulls free, to avoid finger injuries.
Drills
Guard-retention rounds: your partner walks around your legs at half speed trying to pass; keep your feet and knees in front of them for a minute, then switch.
Legends known for it
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