What comes next from closed guard
Closed guard: the bottom player locks their ankles behind the top player's waist. The bottom player wants to pull the top player's head down and attack. The top player wants to sit up straight and open the legs.
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Learn the position itself: Closed Guard in the library ›
If you are the in the guard
Good Works well with the right setup.
- Stand up to open the guard
Sit up straight first, then stand up one leg at a time, hands on their chest or arms. Standing makes it easier to open their legs.
Leads to closed guard, top standing › - Open from the knees (knee in the tailbone)
Pin their hips with your hands and drive one knee into their tailbone. Their ankles unlock and you are in open guard.
Leads to open guard › - Posture up and keep base
Keep your head up, your back straight and your hands on their hips. They must break your posture before they can attack.
You stay in this position.
Mistake Avoid this: it usually makes things worse.
- Lean forward and grab their collar
Leaning forward lets them pull your head down. You give them the position they want.
Usually goes wrong. Choose a better option above. - Crank their neck to open the guard
Pulling on their head to open the legs is a neck crank, also called a can opener. It can hurt your partner's neck. It is not taught here, so never do it.
Usually goes wrong. Choose a better option above.
If you are the guard player
Best The choice that works most often here.
- Break their posture: pull them down
Pull their head and arms down toward your chest. Almost every sweep and submission from closed guard works better after this.
Leads to closed guard, posture broken ›
Good Works well with the right setup.
- Hip bump sweep
Sit up, post one hand on the mat and drive your hip into them. It works best when they sit back on their heels, and you land in mount.
Leads to mount › - Scissor sweep
Put one shin across their belly and chop their leg with your other leg. Get your grips first, and you land in mount.
Leads to mount › - Squeeze and hold
You keep your legs locked and hold them close. This is a safe place to rest, but you cannot win without attacking.
You stay in this position.
Risky Can work, but often goes wrong.
- Armbar
You try an armbar while they sit up straight. A good opponent stacks you (drives their weight down onto you), so break their posture first.
Ends the match if it works: a submission. - Triangle
You try a triangle choke while they sit up straight. You need one of their arms inside your legs and one outside, which is hard to get now.
Ends the match if it works: a submission.
Mistake Avoid this: it usually makes things worse.
- Push them away with both hands
You push them away and open your legs with no grips. Now they are free to pass your guard.
Usually goes wrong. Choose a better option above.
Train it on the Path
The What a guard is unit turns this into short lessons: you see a position and pick the best move.
The Path goes in order: start free from lesson one and you reach What a guard is on the way. With Rolla Plus you can jump straight here.