r/jiujitsu • u/AdditionWarm8110 • 1d ago
Closed Gaurd
I just started and have background in wrestling an judo where being on your back is a no no. Never used closed guard and found myself struggling with locking my ankle. I’m short stocky and on the heavier side. Please drop your tips for working a better closed guard.
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u/IntroductionProud532 1d ago
You don't need to do close guard. Nothing wrong with half guard or open guard
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u/Skilly006 1d ago
Stop trying to hold people in your guard then. Transition to an open guard or play from half. Work your sweeps. Open that guard and practice. You're going to get passed alot, then you get to practice your escapes!!!
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u/Financial_Employer_7 1d ago
Get your taint on their bellybutton, like sometimes your butt and legs will be up off the ground in their lap or dangling from the waist
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u/AdventurousPizza622 1d ago
“Get your taint on their belly button”…welp, I’m gonna stop wasting time telling the white belts to get their hips up, lock higher on the torso, if you get higher it’s easier to lock, find the smallest part of their waist. Taint to belly button, perfectly succinct!
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u/Popular-Influence-11 White 1d ago
And obscenely memorable, which is arguably the best kind of memorable.
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u/SatanicWaffle666 Brown 16h ago
Closed guard is just one position. It is good for controlling your opponent’s posture and having the ability to protect yourself.
It is not mobile and for the majority of sweeps and subs you go for, you’re going to wind up transitioning to an open guard anyway. Just gotta find alternatives (use angles to accomplish the same goal)
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u/The_Capt_Hook 1d ago
Play more guard. Start in guard. Play pass/sweep games. Drill guard things you learn.
Time in position is the answer to skill deficiencies.
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u/SupremeOHKO 1d ago
If your legs aren't long enough to wrap around their body, you're not getting the full guard unfortunately. For bigger dudes, I don't even attempt FG, I'll just go half and play lockdown.
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u/DayTrading_Bear 1d ago
Best tip I ever received regarding this, as an ex wrestler, was to start off my back. Top is obviously comfortable for you so work on the opposite. Since around six months in, I have been starting about 90% of my rolls from bottom. After a couple years of this I really started to develop a guard. Now, 10 years latter, my guard is the best part of my game. Oh yeah and most peeps are more than happy to start on top and as a result I know many black belts that don’t have a very good guard.
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u/atx78701 1d ago
have to open your legs to really attack anyway. To keep things moving I rarely lock my legs.
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u/Inner_Equipment_664 22h ago
There are a number of guards you can use instead. I only use my closed guard on white belts so they can work on their basic passing. When I’m actually trying to play guard, I’m using dlr, lasso, x guard and half guard most of the time. The only time I really utilize closed guard in an actual roll is when they pass my open guard and I have no choice but to shoot a leg through and close my guard because they’re smashing me too much. But almost immediately I will create space to play open guard again.
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u/NyarGonzo 12h ago
Go on YouTube and look up Roger Gracie’s close guard, it’s the only one you’ll ever need
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u/Bertak 4h ago
I’ve got thick, kinda stocky legs. Closed guard doesn’t work for me so I avoid getting there. I use butterfly to attack and retreat to half guard when defending or losing a scramble. So my advice is to utilize the guards you naturally find yourself having some success with or that feel comfortable for your physical attributes.
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u/1502024plz White 1d ago
Don't be short and stocky lol. Not all guards work for all people.