Open guard work

**PointyShinyBurn** · Posted On: 6/27/2006 6:02am

How the hell would you do spider guard with no gi anyway?

**FictionPimp** · Posted On: 6/27/2006 7:01am

I just stated that I'm trying to learn to work more from open guard because I've been told closed guard isn't the best idea for MMA. I didn't mean for people to read that I was advocating using the de la riva or spider guard in MMA.

The first 4 months of my bjj training was all closed guard (we drilled open guard stuff, but I always just stuck with closed guard in sparing) I would open my guard just long enough to get a sweep. Its really only the last 2 months that I've started to open my guard and activly work submissions from the bottom (successfully). I'm starting to love spider guard, butterfly guard and half guard. Especially half guard as it used to be a 'I'm screwed' postition for me. I'd either get back to closed guard, or get passed. Now I've gotten used to half guard I'm nto so helpless anymore.

**GoldenJonas** · Posted On: 6/27/2006 7:11am

I'm probably 95% open guard. Keeping my guard closed extrememly limits my game from a sweep and submission perspective. I like to use the small mistakes a person makes when passing for setting up a sweep, reversal, or submission, i.e., omaplata and the multiple options from a failed or incomplete oma.

I usually only utilize the closed guard when I get into trouble and need to start over or if I am just replacing guard after countering a sweep or submisison attempt.

Otherwise, I'm always open. My school preaches against the "lay and pray" strategy that often goes hand in hand with a closed guard game.

**theraydiator** · Posted On: 6/27/2006 9:05am

Rubber guard. Is that "open"? When I do it properly, I feel like I have the control of a closed guard... when i'm fucking up maybe it's open?

Regardless, that's my primary offense from my back. Start w/ closed guard, sit up and break opponent's posture, and start to work Mission Control-->New York.

edit:: also, for the record, I do exclusively no-gi bjj at this point

**Meager** · Posted On: 6/27/2006 11:12am

Originally Posted by PointyShinyBurn

How the hell would you do spider guard with no gi anyway?

You can actually sort of play spider guard no gi if your opponent is wearing MMA gloves because the gloves allow you to control the wrists pretty well. It's still a horrible idea to play spider in MMA though.

**theraydiator** · Posted On: 6/27/2006 12:08pm

Originally Posted by The Villain

It can be either depending on the position.

Am I to understand that it's open if I'm in Mission Control or New York, and it's closed only if I lock up my other foot into a more traditional High Guard, or something like that?