Opening The Guard - Fundamentals <VIDEO>

I believe learning to properly pass the guard is the most difficult part of Jiu Jitsu, especially during the White and Blue Belt phases.

Even though this is a simple movement, I believe it is full of fundamental ideas and principles that will help to improve all areas of your Jiu Jitsu, particularly your passing, which will dramatically decrease your learning curve.

I don't mean to imply that this is the only way to open the guard, or even the best way to open the guard. It is, however, a very simple way to begin understanding what it is that makes the guard pop open. Once you understand this, you can use any number of techniques to open it and subsequently pass it.

Please let me know what you think. As always, all criticisms are welcome :)

http://youtu.be/UyF4ulPdphI

Thanks for the video Brandon. I like the details you put into your videos :)

Very detailed very nice



10wo

Thanks for that. Breaking guard and passing are definitely the things that are the most difficult for me and I usually just wait for opponents to open their guard for me because I mess up breaking attempts and get swept.

I like the hip opening detail. I'm not sure I understand why it makes it easier to stand (mechanically) but I can feel less resistance from my own body as I turn.

The more I roll, the more I feel that the simplest things are the most important and possibly most difficult to execute perfectly. I would appreciate more basic stuff if there's anything else you think is worth showing.

Thx man, I like it drill this tonite

Excellent instruction, Brandon.

FWIW...this needs a name. We, very appropriately, call this The Violator. You're welcome. :p

Very nice Brandon!

Scott lol we call it the Wood Splitter ;)

Great video!

Nice. I know you're only doing it super slow, but that feels like a long time standing on only one leg... I'm just thinking of potential counters here...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by brianspinaltap

Nice. I know you're only doing it super slow, but that feels like a long time standing on only one leg... I'm just thinking of potential counters here...

---

If do right, no can defend.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Brandon Mccaghren

If do right, no can defend.

---

Thanks Mr. Miyagi!
Great video

Thank you Brandon! Great details

Nunja showed us this at his seminar a couple months ago. Tyler aptly called it the nutcracker, due to the pain induced when trying to resist this guard break/pass :)

You showed a couple details I want to incorporate though. The twisting the hips when you stand especially.

Great video Brandon!! Thanks a lot!! :)

Ida just punched em

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Chris Herzog

Very nice Brandon!

Scott lol we call it the Wood Splitter ;)

---

Nice. I Like that, too. ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ross Davidson

Nunja showed us this at his seminar a couple months ago. Tyler aptly called it the nutcracker, due to the pain induced when trying to resist this guard break/pass :)

You showed a couple details I want to incorporate though. The twisting the hips when you stand especially.

---

Good name, for obvious reasons, but there is already a "nutcracker" in 10PJJ!

Drilling this next class. Probably my weakest point is passing closed guard.

Thanks a lot brotha, very nice!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Scott Elliott

Good name, for obvious reasons, but there is already a "nutcracker" in 10PJJ!

---

There's already a nutcracker?! What is it???

I know Einstein calls it the Boys Town Pass, and that's what we tend to call it. Brandon is an incredible instructor that I am extremely fortunate to train with him. His teaching is always enlightening and expanding, including details and principles that span all of jiu jitsu. In the two years I've trained with him, I've always been comfortable in class; especially in the last year, as I have become great friends with all my training partners. Brandon is full of wisdom, and is very Jean Jacque/ Rickson like in his teachings of principles that expand your jiu jitsu mind and greatly improve your game in all areas. Thank you Brandon. 10P4L

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ross Davidson

There's already a nutcracker?! What is it???

---

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57Mva-3n7TY

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dylan Ehrnreiter

Drilling this next class. Probably my weakest point is passing closed guard.

---

There is no passing closed guard. Guard break is an art within itself. As is passing.

You probably get it, but they're separate skills. Break. Pass.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bobby rivers

There is no passing closed guard. Guard break is an art within itself. As is passing.

You probably get it, but they're separate skills. Break. Pass.

---

Yea, guard breaking is an art for sure

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Manny Rocha

I know Einstein calls it the Boys Town Pass, and that's what we tend to call it. Brandon is an incredible instructor that I am extremely fortunate to train with him. His teaching is always enlightening and expanding, including details and principles that span all of jiu jitsu. In the two years I've trained with him, I've always been comfortable in class; especially in the last year, as I have become great friends with all my training partners. Brandon is full of wisdom, and is very Jean Jacque/ Rickson like in his teachings of principles that expand your jiu jitsu mind and greatly improve your game in all areas. Thank you Brandon. 10P4L

---

One of the greatest compliments ever. Thank you, Manny!

You're gonna be a legend :)

This is why I love my man Brandon! Thanks for making this especially for the jiu jitsu mentally challenged like myself. Solid man SOLID!

Hey Coach, I've got a question. You know I've been pimp slapping this 30 day challenge (5,000 squats/1,000 pushups). Well it's almost over and I want something more. It's not just squats and pushups, I did deep squats to to stance almost like Dennys. The pushups were an explosion like your knee on belly. The question is, do you think keeping the same schedule but changing the challenge to this guard break would work? Say 5,000 of this break and 1,000 shrimp to knees or something.

fuckin wicked details brandon. nice

Seriously good instruction. Wonderful teaching of concepts. This forum has leveled up in quality since the moon heads have started putting out vids. I honestly would like to see more of these basics like this. Keep that shit coming Bmac!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tony "The Goods" Garcia

Hey Coach, I've got a question. You know I've been pimp slapping this 30 day challenge (5,000 squats/1,000 pushups). Well it's almost over and I want something more. It's not just squats and pushups, I did deep squats to to stance almost like Dennys. The pushups were an explosion like your knee on belly. The question is, do you think keeping the same schedule but changing the challenge to this guard break would work? Say 5,000 of this break and 1,000 shrimp to knees or something.

---

I would say 5,000 of anything is gonna make you level up dramatically. I would say make sure you get it right pretty quick, though. You don't wanna put in 5,000 sucky reps.

Remember: practice doesn't make perfect. Practice makes permanent.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Scott Ray

Seriously good instruction. Wonderful teaching of concepts. This forum has leveled up in quality since the moon heads have started putting out vids. I honestly would like to see more of these basics like this. Keep that shit coming Bmac!

---

Thank you, Scott. I want to release a video each week covering ideas and principles related to basic concepts, rather than just cool submissions and what not. I think my next one is gonna be how to shrimp. Seriously.

Thanks B Mac for the (as always) great video. I'm going to try this next class.

I have tried something similar in the past and find that my opponent follows me (by keeping the guard clinched tight)when I bring my leg back. I think (without drilling yet) that maybe I wasn't bringing my leg back far enough?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Marty McLaren

Thanks B Mac for the (as always) great video. I'm going to try this next class.

I have tried something similar in the past and find that my opponent follows me (by keeping the guard clinched tight)when I bring my leg back. I think (without drilling yet) that maybe I wasn't bringing my leg back far enough?

---

Yep, that was likely your issue. Guard players with really long legs can give you problems if you don't operate with sharp technique here. Try to drill this in a very exaggerated way. Step back as far as you can, trying to put your knee on the mat first. As soon as those legs pop open you are looking to pass.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Brandon Mccaghren

I believe learning to properly pass the guard is the most difficult part of Jiu Jitsu, especially during the White and Blue Belt phases.

Even though this is a simple movement, I believe it is full of fundamental ideas and principles that will help to improve all areas of your Jiu Jitsu, particularly your passing, which will dramatically decrease your learning curve.

I don't mean to imply that this is the only way to open the guard, or even the best way to open the guard. It is, however, a very simple way to begin understanding what it is that makes the guard pop open. Once you understand this, you can use any number of techniques to open it and subsequently pass it.

Please let me know what you think. As always, all criticisms are welcome :)

http://youtu.be/UyF4ulPdphI

---

Thank you so much. Your quality of instruction is superior man.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Brandon Mccaghren

Thank you, Scott. I want to release a video each week covering ideas and principles related to basic concepts, rather than just cool submissions and what not. I think my next one is gonna be how to shrimp. Seriously.

---

There are a lot of Ronin out there who want to learn. May not seem like much to some, but what you want to cover, and HOW you cover it, it's gonna be a huge help to many.