If you could only play 1 guard... Which would it be?

[Jason Goossen]

Lock down

[John Hickman]

Open guard

[TaylorWolf]

Lockdown!

[Michael J Hewson]

I would say open guard might be the most popular.

I am not sure about the definitions but I believe open guard encompases Butterfly, Spider, Z Guard, X Guard and many others.

No reason to pick one guard though.

https://www.bjjheroes.com/featured/the-open-guard

[Arman Fathi]

I am not sure about the definitions but I believe open guard encompases Butterfly, Spider, Z Guard, X Guard and many others.

No reason to pick one guard though.

I concur. We can argue semantics all day with this one. Reason I prefer butterfly over any other type of open guard is the ability to setup submissions, sweeps, transitions, and punch protection from the clinch. If you've ever seen some of Royler's mma fights you'll know what I mean. It can be a punch-safe open guard if learned the right way. Having said all that, everything is connected so debating about which guard is best is like debating which jiu jitsu school is best. Depends what you're looking to accomplish. Very open ended question, fun to talk about no doubt

Another point; does butterfly guard encompass the ministomp as well? Because technically that's a butterfly hook on the shin instead of the thigh.

[Nasian]

Single-Leg X Guard would be my guard of choice. There are numerous entries into single-leg x including a couple entries that involve escaping bottom mount and side control into the guard. The guard is designed to keep your opponents body weight off of you. And after you use it to sweep, you're in the perfect position to hit leg locks. I can't think of another guard system, except for maybe the k guard that grants you those options.

[SVP]

Eddie,

After i saw your flat earth documentary and the nasa earth photo with the sex cloud in it.
I found out there was a link with disney. How do you think about having the exact same cloud in the lion king??

Please reply if you read this, it is important.

https://www.google.ie/search?q=lion+...esUQLAYHbTtBM:

[Brian Debes]

.... A technical stand up I guess.... Because multiple guards in conjunction is the only way to get a guard game to work on a good opponent. Other guards set up the guards your going to finish with usually at a higher level. Watch eddie vs Royler 1: quarter guard to lock down, butterflys to recover and then butterflys with the cocoon set up pyramid for the finish. And that's without saying quarter guard with a mini stomp in is a different guard, it probably is because half butterfly aka butter half is seen as different than a traditional half guard with the legs triangled so why wouldn't a quarter guard with a butterfly in be different too? So if I can only play one, I shouldn't be playing one at all.. So technical stand up from open guard with framing, which ever guard that is, and make sure you don't stay on bottom for any length of time and hope that works...

[Keith D]

For me personally, I feel like the answer to this question would be half guard/lockdown, for the sole reason that it is the most common guard that I find myself in.

Having a good open guard is also very beneficial, although that encompasses more than 1 guard. X-Guard, Butterfly Guard, Delariva Guard, Spiral Guard, are all types of an open guard.. Hence the reason for Open Guard not being the answer to this question.

So to answer the question, the one guard I would play if I could only play one, would be the guard that I most commonly find myself in.