Frames

What it is

Frames are stiff structures made of your bones that hold space between you and your opponent: a forearm across the neck, a hand on the hip, a shin across the waist. A frame holds space the way a pole holds up a tent, with skeleton rather than muscle, so it does not tire you out. A frame keeps distance; it does not press people away.

Where it shows up

• Under side control: a forearm on the neck and a hand on the hip stop their chest from settling, so you can shrimp.
• Under mount: elbows tight to the ribs and hands at your collar keep them from climbing.
• In half guard and knee shield: the shin across the hips is a frame made of the leg.
• In open guard: a foot on the hip or a hand on the shoulder keeps them at the distance you want.

Key details

• Bone, not muscle. Keep the elbow bent and the joint stacked, so the weight lands on your skeleton.
• Frame against the hard parts: the hip bone, the shoulder, the collarbone, not the soft belly.
• Frames make space; hips use it. Build the frame, then shrimp, bridge or turn into the space it makes.
• Keep the elbow close to your ribs. A frame with the elbow floating wide can be pushed flat or attacked.
• Rebuild straight away. When a frame collapses, replace it with the next one rather than pushing harder.

Common mistakes

• Mistake: extending the arm to push them off. The frame becomes a straight arm and they armbar or kimura it.
• Mistake: framing on the soft middle of the body. The frame sinks in and does nothing, and your arm tires.
• Mistake: holding the frame and waiting. Frames buy time, and the time must be spent on an escape.

What they will try

• The top player will clear the frame by moving around it (switching sides or going to north-south) or by pinning the elbow to the mat.
• Pushing the framing arm across the body and crossfacing to flatten the bottom player.