4.28.08 BJJ Class

Warm Up - Butterfly Guard Pants Grip Break

Starting in butterfly guard, your partner will grab both of your pant legs to control your legs. To break his grip, grab one of his wrists with both of your hands (cupping behind the wrist), unhook your foot from inside his thigh and kick your leg out to the side. Now replace your hook and repeat on the other side. To use this as a warm up repeat the grip break 3 times and on the third time grab an underhook and take his back. Underhook his right arm with your right arm, pull him to you as you scoot your hips towards him. Keep the outside of your right leg flat on the ground and don't hook his leg yet. Grab his left Lat with your left hand over his back and place your right hand on the mat extended out and away from him (so he can't grab it). Pull yourself up onto your right knee and as you open your right knee and swing your left leg over his back to get the far hook. Establish back control.
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Here are some simple sweeps and submission set ups from the standing open guard. These are all pretty high percentage moves which I typically have success with during training.


Technique - Standing Guard Sweep A (knees to chest)

As your partner stands up in your guard, be sure to open your guard on your terms, not when they force it open. This will make catching standing guard sweeps easier.

Once he is standing and your guard is open grab the backs of both of his ankles so he cannot step away. From here, there are 2 ways to execute the sweep. Method 1 is to to keep your knees relatively close together and the backs of your ankles on his hips so your lower legs are in a "V" shape. Drive his hips down to the mat by raising your hips off the mat and pressing your heels down and towards the mat. As he falls your right hand will grab his right sleeve so that the momentum of his fall will help pull you up to a top position. If he lands with his left arm posting, so he is not flat, just hip into him and to the left to complete the sweep and end in mount. If he lands flat, keep your grip on his right arm and circle your body around so that your left knee ends up by his right shoulder, like you are going for an arm bar. Doing this circling motion will prevent you from taking your hips off his so you stay heavy and connected the whole time.

Method 2 is the same as method 1 except you start the sweep by pinching your knees together and punch your knees into his chest to knock him back down to the mat.

Technique - Standing Guard Sweep B (foot in hip)

Start with your left hand gripping his right sleeve at the wrist and your right hand gripping his collar at the neck. He stands and you open your guard. Place your left foot in right hip (toes pointing out) and hook behind his left knee with your right foot. Push him with your left leg and pull him with your arms to keep him off balance. Don't lay flat on your back, instead lay partially on your left side. Now, switch your grip so your right hand is now gripping his right sleeve, sit up part way and fall over to your left so you are closer to his right foot. Grap behind his right ankle with your left hand and pull his ankle to you as you push him away with your left foot. Once he is on the mat, use your grip on his sleeve to help pull yourself up and place your right knee on the far side of his right thigh, so you are pinning his thigh to the mat with your shin (shin against his inner thigh). Your left leg will circle out so your left foot is on the mat far away from him so he can't grab it (left foot on the mat not your knee). Now shoot your right arm to the mat outside of his left hip with your elbow in to prevent him getting the underhook. Pull up on his right arm with your left and slide into kesa-gatame.


Technique - Standing Guard Arm Bar

Start with your left hand gripping his right sleeve at the elbow and your right hand gripping his collar at the neck. He stands and you open your guard. Place your left foot in right hip (toes pointing out) and your right foot on his left bicep to control his left arm. Push him with your left leg and pull him with your arms to keep him off balance. Don't lay flat on your back, instead lay partially on your left side. To free his left arm he will either reach his arm over your foot or under it. If he reaches over your right foot swivel your torso to the right and raise your hips off the mat as you clamp your right leg under his arm across his back driving your heel to the floor. Pass you left leg across his face, pinch your knees together and drive your hips up to finish the arm bar.

Technique - Standing Guard Triangle

Same set up as the technique above but this time he reaches his left arm under your right foot.
Hip up and bring your right leg across his back. Lock your legs in a weak triangle (right lower leg is not perpendicular to his neck yet) first to hold the position. Move his right arm across your body and interlace your fingers behind his head to keep his head controlled. Unlock your legs and place your left foot on his hip so you can swivel your torso to the right and place your right leg perpendicular to the neck. Re-lock the legs and finish the triangle by squeezing your knees together and pulling his head down.
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*All technique instruction credit goes to Darren Branch of Evolution Jiu Jitsu

First Comments

So, I've finally realized that I need to step up my BJJ training if I ever want to attain my purple belt. I've been hanging out as a blue belt for quite some time now (years) and have come to the realization that I need push my training to the next level if I want to progress in this art. I figured that starting a blog to journal my thoughts and experiences would help me to stay focused on my goals. I also figure that I could use this blog to help organize my training strategies, training tips and techniques. So, welcome to Hizzy's BJJ Journal and lets hope its a fun ride.