Breaking closed guard

Brazilian jiu-jitsu / Popular

Open a locked closed guard before you can start passing.

What coaches agree on

  • Pin your opponent's hip down while you drive your knee into the center behind it, then sit your weight back to pop the guard open.
  • Keep your back straight and your head up, looking forward instead of down, as you set up and work the break.
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  • Keep your knees spread into a wide base as you drive through the break; a wide base is harder to off-balance or sweep.

Common mistakes

  • Leaning your chest and weight forward past your opponent's belt line, which puts you off balance and lets them pull you straight back down onto them.
Breaking the closed guard
Beginner

Breaking the closed guard

Coach's take: Correct basic mechanics, repeated for reinforcement, but not much explanation of the why.

2.8