What does your personal game evolution look like.

[Brent Smith]

I used to be a strict full guard player. I was nervous about anybody being in my halfguard because in my mind it was just one more step to losing it all and having my guard passed. Since putting in the reps in 1/2 guard and learning to be more offensive in turtle/monk guard now I have no fear of my guard being passed.
I still prefer to play guard over being on top but if someone pulls guard Im perfectly fine working those top game reps.

[Chris Garry]

I actually made a conscious game change when I hit purple belt. I was having some major back pain and I figured out it was from my full guard bottom game. I was getting stacked multiple times during every roll. After a few years of this my lower back was killing me. I thought I was going to have to quit JJ. But then one night it dawned on me that if I started using a top game then my back will not get so jacked...

So I consciously changed from a bottom to top game. Which is not the best strategy for a 135# guy but hey at least I can still train..

~Cade

Great post Cade, thanks.

I'm 150 and always felt like the bigger my opponent (in absolute) the more I wanted to take top position.