Collar-and-Sleeve Guard

What it is

Collar-and-sleeve guard is a gi open guard built on two grips: one hand on the opponent's collar and the other on the sleeve of the opposite arm, with your foot on the biceps of that sleeve arm. Your other foot hooks behind their knee or pushes the hip. The collar pulls their head down, the sleeve and foot keep their arm out of the fight, and you can play it seated or on your back.

What you want from here

• They are kneeling or standing in front of your open guard and you have both grips.
• You want a simple sweep game: the tripod sweep or the scissor sweep.
• You want to keep a strong passer from closing distance while you set up an omoplata or a triangle.
• On top: break the collar grip first so you can posture up and pass.

Key details

• Collar grip deep, thumb inside, and pull their head down toward you.
• Sleeve grip on the opposite arm, with your foot on that biceps pushing it away from you.
• The other foot hooks behind their knee or sits on the hip, ready to pull the leg or push them back.
• Stay on your side toward the sleeve arm, so your hips can move for the sweep.

Common mistakes

• Mistake: a shallow collar grip. They posture up and the grip does nothing.
• Mistake: letting the foot slide off the biceps. They bend the arm, step in and pass.
• Mistake: lying flat on your back. Your legs fall away from them and they walk around your feet.

How it is escaped or passed

• Breaking the collar grip and standing tall in posture.
• Pulling the sleeve arm back and pinning your foot to the mat.
• Stepping back out of reach of the knee hook before passing.

Gi and no-gi

This guard is gi only. In no-gi the collar grip becomes a collar tie on the back of the neck and the sleeve grip becomes wrist control.