Getting kneed in the balls from open guard

**Spectral** · Posted On: 11/10/2012 11:17pm

Hi, I'm not sure if anybody else has had a problem with this, but lately I've been taking a knee to the nuts when I'm on the ground in open guard and the other person is on top. They don't even mean to do it on purpose, it just happens when they crash into me. What can I do to stop this? If somebody who didn't even intend to hurt me can smash my nuts on accident, how did the Gracies get away with it all those years in their no rules fights? I've seen videos of Royce on his back with his legs/nuts wide open against standing opponents.

***jnp*** · Posted On: 11/10/2012 11:32pm

1. Are they standing or on their knees at the start?

2. Are you lying flat on your back, or on your side?

**Spectral** · Posted On: 11/10/2012 11:36pm

1. More often standing.

2. Flat on my back.

**Spectral** · Posted On: 11/10/2012 11:37pm

Also, when they were trying to pass my guard, and instead of planting a knee on my tailbone/butt it ended up in my balls.

**goodlun** · Posted On: 11/10/2012 11:48pm

Sounds like your lying completely flat on your back. Typically you should be on one hip or the other ever so slightly.

***jnp*** · Posted On: 11/10/2012 11:58pm

Originally Posted by Spectral

1. More often standing.

2. Flat on my back.

The only time you should be flat on your back in guard is when you're there for the briefest moment as you switch from one side/hip to the other. Otherwise bad things happen to you. Like getting your guard passed, or getting kneed in the balls.

**gregaquaman** · Posted On: 11/11/2012 2:14pm

You do realise in the ten years or so the gracies have been butt flopping people have figured guard pretty much out.

You are increadably lucky whoever is trying to get to you is going though your guard rather than just stacking up and beating on you.

So to answer the question stand up.

***Plasma*** · Posted On: 11/11/2012 5:23pm

Originally Posted by gregaquaman

You do realise in the ten years or so the gracies have been butt flopping people have figured guard pretty much out.

You are increadably lucky whoever is trying to get to you is going though your guard rather than just stacking up and beating on you.

So to answer the question stand up.

You are assuming he is doing MMA and not straight Jiu Jitsu. I have pulled guard in every single Jiu Jitsu competition match I've had and my drawer of medals means not everyone has the guard "figured out."

***Plasma*** · Posted On: 11/11/2012 5:27pm

Originally Posted by Spectral

Hi, I'm not sure if anybody else has had a problem with this, but lately I've been taking a knee to the nuts when I'm on the ground in open guard and the other person is on top. They don't even mean to do it on purpose, it just happens when they crash into me. What can I do to stop this? If somebody who didn't even intend to hurt me can smash my nuts on accident, how did the Gracies get away with it all those years in their no rules fights? I've seen videos of Royce on his back with his legs/nuts wide open against standing opponents.

Sit on your butt, not your back. Go shin to shin as they come forward.