Working the guard

[OmaPlata]

I keep seeing time and time again, other than my boy Lister, guys in MMA not working the guard at all. FIrst of all, if you have the guy in your guard, esp. in MMA, crawl your legs all the way his back to hold him down so he cant get space. I havent seen anyone at all do that when i watch these fights, only Lister who then submitted the guy. How can anyone set up anything when your legs are wrapped around the guys waist??? Very basic, yet watch these so called MMA greats, they hardly "climb the back" to set anything up. Its very simple way to hold the opponent down and set up subs

[Penance]

So what's your MMA record?

[Tim McFatridge]

Hey Oma...I agree that is a very simple and effective way to help control your opponent better. I work the guard alot but I try not to stay there any longer than I have to...I also like to work my defensive boxing from there...you can still slip the punch inside or outside, can still parry, cover and ecen do a modified bob and weave. I think it is very important when working the guard in class to work it as a "transition" position instead of a time hold.

[grappler-jordan]

I think the reason you don't see people climbing the back alot Oma is because it can leave you vulnerable to some intensive ground and pound. If you are climbing to break posture it's easier for your opponent to drop some damaging elbows into your face.

In other situations, some guys don't have a good climbing guard or rubber guard that will effectively break posture and keep control of the opponent. I agree Lister's use of the Rubber guard in UFC 60 was brilliant but his opponents ground skills were sub par as well.

[Adept]

Umm, it's EASIER said than done. It's SO EASY to sit there in front of your TV and criticize what the fighter should or shouldn't do, but when you get in the ring with the other guy, adrenaline shoots way up.

[EmptyneSs]

oma, didnt you say yourself you got into a fight once and you werent able to do anything with your bjj cause you feared there was a chance your buddy you were "fighting" may have hit you?

[DaNutz]

BJ Penn can work a good guard...As far as high guard OR rubber guard goes not everyone has the flexibility and/or long legs.

But overall I would like to see more active guards like Diego Sanchez,
Lister, and Penn (with 2 minutes to go in a fight)..especially things
like sweeps and the omo plata.

Much of the JJ I see, seems to be ancient..with the exception
of a few elite (like the names above).

Id also like to see more innovation when the fence is involved.

[grappler-jordan]

Originally Posted by DaNutz

BJ Penn can work a good guard...As far as high guard OR rubber guard goes not everyone has the flexibility and/or long legs.

But overall I would like to see more active guards like Diego Sanchez,
Lister, and Penn (with 2 minutes to go in a fight)..especially things
like sweeps and the omo plata.

Much of the JJ I see, seems to be ancient..with the exception
of a few elite (like the names above).

Id also like to see more innovation when the fence is involved.

Yes, Yes and Yes....

[OmaPlata]

Originally Posted by EmptyneSs

oma, didnt you say yourself you got into a fight once and you werent able to do anything with your bjj cause you feared there was a chance your buddy you were "fighting" may have hit you?

Not really, I wasnt going to break the guys arms, the reasons didnt warrant that , so i was limited to chokes, which really meant the triangle, and i wasnt totally in the guard, he was still standing, but bend over with me and my back on the ground. I got the triangle but my pants were so baggy he slipped out and that was that.

I am just saying, and to respond to the other comments, that when you climb the back you actually give the opponent less room to GNP you, you are holding him tight against you and he has no space to drop punches at all, and also he wont posture because you will have too much pressure on his back. But I always climb the back and bring the guy down, its easier to set up attacks, least for me, from that position.

[OmaPlata]

Originally Posted by Penance

So what's your MMA record?

What does that have to do with knowing if climbing a guys back when hes in your guard to give you more attacks and to limit his space to pound you?

Whats Listers MMA record, since he climbs the back? Every victory but one by submission last time I looked,.
Now get back home, hurr, your mom just left here and is looking for you to clean my nutt mustard out of her stanky couchee with your tongue, and get some salt saline at the grocery store too on your way back, she said.

[grappler-jordan]

Originally Posted by OmaPlata

I am just saying, and to respond to the other comments, that when you climb the back you actually give the opponent less room to GNP you, you are holding him tight against you and he has no space to drop punches at all, and also he wont posture because you will have too much pressure on his back. But I always climb the back and bring the guy down, its easier to set up attacks, least for me, from that position.

I agree, but it is the initial breaking of posture and trying to move into a high guard that leaves you vulnerable. Alot of guys who lack ground experience will avoid this period where they can be stacked and pounded if they make a mistake. However, point conceded that you really can't attack from the guard if you just sit there, you have to break posture, get an angle and you are not going to do that just sitting there in full guard position.