closed guard

homie control

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There are a few extended videos at https://www.10thplanetjj.com/techniques-archive/ but there isn’t much from 10th Planet on Youtube.

This isn’t my favorite video from Coach Brian. It gets extended a bit by his coaching of the young camera operator. It’s probably the best I’ve found:

I found a second one:

Here is Giancarlo Bodoni showing it from full guard:

I don’t know what happened to part 3. I didn’t find it on Youtube.

Bonus: Pinch headlock into triangle (for DJ).

Here’s Eddie Bravo doing it at high speed, ending with the transition to spider web. He points out that he prefers the head control rather than the shoulder crunch. I do too. Gordon Ryan, the best in the world, prefers the shoulder crunch variant. It is not clear to me what Gordon gains from his approach compared to the head and arm. I’m sure there’s something there, but I don’t see it.

Since the other elements of the pinch headlock/homie control are covered in the other videos, here’s some help with the swim move:

I appreciate the comments at the end about not doing the move to the guy. It’s in line with the Rabbit Season Duck Season concept. Put yourself in position to help the move happen when your opponent asks for it.

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Omoplata 2

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We added some more spice to our omoplatas.

Can’t break ’em down? Go backward. As he says “Use the fleep to sweep”:

We also worked on log roll sweeps. The first video shows both the sideways roll as well as the backward roll if your opponent postures up:

Roll again!

Really though, everyone should just watch as many Clark Gracie highlights as you can find:

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Omoplata

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Day 1, we played with an overhook guard to get to an omoplata. I don’t have an exact replica of my approach, but it’s something like a combination of these next two videos. Lachlan has better details than I shared on getting to a triangle position from an overhook closed guard:

I don’t finish a ton of triangles. They always feel like more of a fight for me compared to omoplatas. People seem much more willing to let me have the shoulder. Even if I only get a sweep out of it, the exchange feels worth it. Stephan Kesting understands my struggle. It’s around 3:08 where he does the move that matches my departure from Lachlan’s triangle sequence above:

On NoGi Wednesday, we got to the omoplata from rubber guard. The first video below ends with a gogoplata rather than an omoplata, which is nice if you can get it. I find it hard to stop opponents from turning away very hard and again offering the shoulder rather than the choke.

Denny shows essentially the same rubber guard progression, but skips the gogoplata and goes right to the omoplata:

Day 3 added a couple of different ways to initiate omoplata attacks. First, my butterfly guard guru attached the omoplata to the hip bump sweep:

We also talked about going to an omoplata when someone attempts to stand up to pass your closed guard:

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Scissor Sweeps

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It’s one of the most basic sweeps that everyone learns. Even if you don’t prefer to use it, you at least need to know that every white belt is going to try to use it against you.

We’ve also been playing with triangles lately. Why not combine the two?

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Closed Guard Cross Choke

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We’ve previously worked this one from mount, but it’s also valuable to know from closed guard. I appreciate that it’s a pretty low-risk maneuver. Failed attempts at triangles or armbars can result in easier guard passes for the top guy. There’s less exposure in attempting this collar choke. Also, the threat of the collar choke can set up the other submissions when the top guy defends his neck. My finishing skills need work. Apparently, I’m not alone in that. Many of the videos on this submission acknowledge that many people move away from it after not finding success. However, even with the lack of choke finishes, I’ve caught many arms by first attacking with the collar grips.

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Triangle Chokes

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From guard, the arm bar, omoplata, and triangle choke all play nicely off of each other. Frequently, the defense of one will open opportunities for the others. We’ve done a little bit with arm bars and omoplatas, so it’s time to add triangles into the mix.

My approach will be based on Ryan Hall’s Triangle DVD series. His approach is different than traditional triangle instruction, but he makes a solid case for the mechanical advantages of his version. The video below covers the finishing sequence:

Legs too short?

Danaher shows how to cut an angle to remove your opponent’s shoulder from the triangle. The trapped shoulder what is blocking the legs from locking correctly. His movement emphasizes trapping the arm not the shoulder.

In the next video, option 1, switch to omoplata is honestly my standard solution. I don’t finish triangles often, but I hit omoplatas a lot. “Look at the triangle as a position” is consistent with what Danaher and Hall say about it, but might not be specific enough to be useful. “Say ‘to heck with form’ and use your meaty thighs to power through” isn’t necessarily what I hoped for either. I include the video since it illustrates a common dilemma. It’s not just you.

Lachlan Giles has an approach pretty similar to Ryan Hall’s but he suggests a different locking position with the leg. I appreciate the explanation about not pushing the opponent’s head away while turning to find the angle.

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Sao Paulo Pass

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I still feel uncomfortable standing up in closed guard. The bottom guy has too much potential to mess with my limbs and base. The Sao Paulo pass is attractive to me who doesn’t feel great about my balance with the standing openings.

A few risks should be immediately apparent: triangles, omoplatas, sweeps. Beyond the submissions, it’s worth considering the details of leverage that the bottom guy would use to resist the pass.

Moves always seem great during demos. Everything is so much more complicated during an actual roll. Does this even work!?

Here are some matches with Leonardo Noguiera using this pass:

He tries it repeatedly in this match with Xande Ribeiro. Nogueira repeatedly opens Xande’s guard, but Xande recovers.

He used the pass on Buchecha:

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Escape Closed Guard

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Getting out of closed guard is tough.

Yeah, but won’t you get swept doing that!? Not necessarily:

For funsies, here’s Keenan dismissing the utility of a commonly taught guard opening approach. He concludes that Kesting’s move is the way to go. I think Kesting’s details are more helpful, but if you need a reason to give up the traditional knee in the butt approach, Keenan’s here for you:

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