I thought my closed guard was solid. I had seen high-level guys dominate from there, and I figured, “Just lock my legs, control the grips, and I’m good, right?”
Wrong!
That mindset got me passed, crushed, and tapped more times than I’d like to admit.
If you’re training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, be aware that a weak closed guard is a surefire way to lose.
A Confident Start!
The fight was highly paced, and after some scambling, I found myself in closed guard! It was most like a spontaneous reaction to prevent a pass.
Anyway! My legs wrapped around my opponent’s waist, and I thought, “Alright, I’m good here; let’s take a breath.”
I gripped my opponent’s collar and sleeves, feeling in control. I had seen this position work for so many top guys. Then something clicked: Oh yeah! I could do a scissors sweep from there.
But I hesitated!
The Posture Battle!
My opponent saw the threat coming. He wasted no time and postured up.
I lost my advantage. My grips? Broken. My control? Gone.
The situation got more sophisticated! My opponent planted his hands on my hips, kept his back straight, and shut down everything I was trying.
I panicked!
I yanked on his collar. I squeezed my legs tight. I tried to muscle him down. Nothing worked.
Then he stood up.
The Guard Pass Disaster!
Before I could react, he pushed my knee down, cut through, and smashed into side control.
Just like that—closed guard gone, survival mode activated.
I felt completely powerless. My arms burned from gripping so hard. My legs were tired from squeezing. And now, I had a 200-pound guy crushing me, making me regret every bad decision that led to this moment.
I tried to recover guard, but my opponent flattened me out and controlled my hips.
Then came the worst part—the mount position.
I barely lasted another 30 seconds before he set up a deep cross-collar choke. Oh no! I tapped.
Lesson Learned: Closed Guard Isn’t Just About Holding!
I thought I had a good closed guard. But I didn’t understand the fundamentals.
What I Learned (So You Don’t Make the Same Mistake!)
Instead of uselessly holding your opponent in your closed guard, do this:
- Break Their Posture! If your opponent has good posture, they’ll pass. Control their head, arms, and grips to keep them vulnerable
- Attack with a purpose! A passive closed guard is useless. Set up sweeps, submissions, or transitions — don’t just hold and hope.
- Protect your hips! If your opponent controls your hips, you’re stuck. Use angles, off-balances, and movement to stay out of your opponent’s threats.
Ever had your closed guard passed like this? Drop a comment — I’d love to hear your story!
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