Open Guard
Open Guard is a fundamental guard position in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu where the bottom player does not have their legs closed around the opponent's body, as in Closed Guard. Instead, they use their legs, feet, and grips to control the opponent and create distance, angles, and opportunities for attacks. Open Guard provides access to a wide variety of sweeps, submissions, and transitions, making it one of the most versatile and dynamic positions in BJJ.
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Key Features of Open Guard
Leg Placement
- The legs and feet are used actively to maintain control, create space, and manage distance.
- Hooks (like in Butterfly Guard) or grips on the opponent’s pants, hips, or ankles often anchor the guard.
Grips
- Strong grip fighting is essential for controlling the opponent's arms, legs, or lapels.
- Common grips include Cross Collar Grip, Pant Grip, or Spider Guard Sleeve Grip.
Posture and Base
- Maintain an active posture by sitting up or lying back with engaged hips and frames to prevent the opponent from passing.
- Your weight should remain balanced and ready to adjust based on the opponent's movements.
Mobility
- Open Guard emphasizes dynamic movement, allowing transitions to other guards or positions as the opponent reacts.
Objectives of Open Guard
Control the Opponent
- Use grips, hooks, and framing to disrupt the opponent's posture and base.
Attack Opportunities
- Set up submissions like Triangle Choke, Armbar, or Omoplata from various open guard configurations.
Sweeps
- Exploit the opponent’s balance to sweep and transition to a dominant position like Mount or Side Control.
Defend Against Guard Passing
Variations of Open Guard
- Feet are hooked under the opponent's thighs for leverage and sweeps.
- One leg hooks the outside of the opponent’s leg while controlling with grips.
- Feet are placed on the opponent’s biceps while gripping their sleeves for control.
- Legs are placed under the opponent to control their base and off-balance them.
- A variation of X Guard focusing on one leg to isolate and attack.
Common Techniques from Open Guard
Sweeps
- Use a shin across their body to off-balance and topple them.
- Control their ankle and hip to sweep them backward.
- Combine grips and leg positioning to destabilize their base.
Submissions
- Isolate one arm and wrap your legs around their neck and shoulder.
- Use angles and grips to isolate and attack the arm.
- Control their arm and shoulder by using your legs to apply pressure.
Transitions
- Transition to Closed Guard if the opponent engages closely.
- Switch to Half Guard if control over one leg is lost.
- Advance to Butterfly Guard or De La Riva depending on the opponent’s posture and movement.
Defending Against Open Guard (for the top player)
Control Their Hips
- Prevent their mobility by pinning their hips with grips or frames.
Neutralize Grips
- Break grips on your sleeves, collar, or pants to reduce their control.
Pass the Guard
- Use techniques like Guard Passes/Knee Cut, Toreando, or Over-Under Pass to bypass their legs.
Tips for Effective Open Guard
- Always maintain strong grips and adjust them as necessary.
- Use your hip movement and angles to stay dynamic and unpredictable.
- Combine offensive sweeps and submissions with defensive measures to keep the opponent reacting.
Open Guard is a core aspect of BJJ strategy, offering endless options for offensive and defensive techniques. It relies on the principles of distance management, leverage, and connections to control and attack effectively.
Advancing Open Guard
Open Guard is a hub of activity in BJJ, allowing for dynamic movement, offensive attacks, and defensive transitions to control the pace of the match. Its adaptability ensures opportunities for success against a wide variety of opponents.
Transitions from Open Guard
To Closed Guard
- Pull the opponent forward while retracting your legs to close them around their waist, reestablishing Closed Guard.
- Insert your feet as hooks under their thighs, sitting up to engage in Butterfly Guard.
- Hook their leg with one of yours, establish grips, and adjust your hips to transition into De La Riva.
To Half Guard
- Trap one of their legs between yours, securing grips and angles for Half Guard.
To X Guard
- Elevate their leg using your feet and hands to transition into the X Guard position for sweeps or submissions.
Submissions from Open Guard
- Use grips to pull their arm across their body and wrap your legs around their neck and shoulder, locking the choke.
Armbar
- Isolate their arm by controlling their posture and transitioning your hips to lock their arm in place.
- Use grips and angles to trap their arm and rotate your hips to apply the shoulder lock.
Guillotine
- If they lower their head, wrap your arm around their neck and secure the choke with your legs.
- Transition to Single-Leg X Guard and isolate their leg for a leg lock attack.
Sweeps from Open Guard
- Use one leg as a shin across their torso and another as a hook, off-balancing them to sweep.
- Control their ankle and hip with grips, using your legs to push their base and sweep them backward.
- Hook their leg and combine pulling with pushing to topple them.
- Elevate their hips with your legs while pulling with your grips to flip them over.
- Elevate their body with hooks under their thighs while sweeping them to the side.
Passes from Open Guard (Top Player)
- Control their legs with grips, create an angle, and step around their guard into Side Control.
- Pin their shin with your knee, control their upper body, and slide your knee across their thigh to pass.
- Scoop one leg under your arm while applying chest pressure on the other, driving forward to secure the pass.
Leg Drag Pass
- Drag one of their legs across your body while pinning their hips to transition to Side Control.
- Use your balance to stay above their guard while transitioning around their defenses.
Escapes from Open Guard
Post and Stand-Up Escape
- Post your hands on their legs or hips, stand up, and disengage from their grips.
Grip Breaking Escape
- Focus on breaking their grips on your sleeves, collar, or pants to reduce their control.
Leg Pummeling Escape
- Circle your feet inside their hooks to free your legs and regain mobility.
Pressure Escape
- Drop your weight onto their legs, pinning them to disrupt their control and create space.
Takedowns from Open Guard
Guard Pull to Trip
- Engage grips, pull guard, and use their forward momentum to trip them during the transition.
- Grip their collar and ankle, push their base backward, and drive forward to take them down.
- If you isolate one of their legs, stand up while controlling it to execute a takedown.
Sweep to Stand-Up
- Use a sweep like the Tripod Sweep to destabilize them, then rise to your feet for a follow-up takedown.
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