Who else loves the spider/butterfly guard?

[Tant01]

A good fighter with half a mind for leg locks should take anything "pressing" on him and break it! Defensive tactics are great but I'll LOCK a hip too?

I love these old threads... LOL

[Jujujason]

In the 17 yrs that I've been doing bjj at different schools, the spider and butterfly guards are just as Tyler defined them. Just my two cents. J~

[pstevens]

In the 17 yrs that I've been doing bjj at different schools, the spider and butterfly guards are just as Tyler defined them. Just my two cents. J~

17 years of BJJ?! That's fantastic... Are you a black belt (not that it matters, but I was just wondering?).

I used to enjoy spider guard a lot, but since doing MMA, I've had to let go of my tendencies. Actually, spider guard teaches an over-dependence on grips that aren't available in no-gi or MMA, so I adapt some of the principles in a different way (i.e. pushing on the biceps, etc). The thing is, I'm more of a stocky, muscular build; but i've always had a decent spider guard (my legs aren't very long either).

Butterfly guard is almost non-existent in my game now. I use it as a control position in emergencies, but don't really have a specific game plan. My guard strategy is based on 3 things in this order:

1. Get up
2. Sweep
3. Submit (if possible)

[Jujujason]

No, I'm just a purple belt. 17 yrs sounds like a long time, but there were some breaks in training. Now, I'm 40 and I'm content to go to class once per week and work out at home doing drills with a partner/grappling dummy once or twice a week (In addition to all the other martial stuff that I do).

[pstevens]

No, I'm just a purple belt. 17 yrs sounds like a long time, but there were some breaks in training. Now, I'm 40 and I'm content to go to class once per week and work out at home doing drills with a partner/grappling dummy once or twice a week (In addition to all the other martial stuff that I do).

Well, it's good you're still training. Either way, 17 years represents a ton of knowledge that can contribute to this site. Do you find that the way you do BJJ now is any different from when you were in your 20s or 30s? Just curious, because I'm nearing 30 and it feels like I have to keep up with the younger guys.

[cakegirl]

Used to use it a lot before I got pregnant and fat.

[Kintanon]

If you're a little guy you should learn to use Butterfly (hooks in position) guard with a quickness. I sweep guys who outweigh me by 100lbs using it all the time. Spider Guard I don't like as much because I have a hard time keeping control of the arms.

[Bjjexpertise@be]

My legs are too short for spiderguard, honestly my body is built like a weiner dog, short limbs and long body lol. Butterfly guard is a thing of beauty though, just the leverage you can get from that position is amazing.