Spider Guard and X-Guard

Spider Guard

- feet in biceps
- spider man grip on sleeves

Sweep #1
- swing to get far leg
- should be between their legs
- extend and sweep
- kick em in the butt if needed

Take the back
- same as above, swing for far leg
- release grip and make sure both arms are free and between legs
- kick them out while grabbing tail to take back

Attack the leg
- swing as above
- opponent sits
- take knee

Other notes:

X-Guard
- remember to kick leg straight for entry
- when entering make sure knee is up into their bend of their knee

X-Guard

AM training:

Warm up:

3 x 2 min rounds of flow rolling
3 x 2 min rounds of guard passing (partner tries to sweep or submit)
3 x 2 min rounds of working from guard (partner tries to pass)

Technique: X-Guard

Basic sweep (leg pick)

- extend legs, baiting opponent to come back
- when they bring their leg back in grab opponent's ankle and extend legs
- be sure to get the inner leg (leg / foot closest to their groin) out
- be sure to drive knee in to pass
- look for double unders if knee through middle is not available

Entry vs kneeling opponent

- opponent has one leg up
- entangle upper body (lapel or sleeves)
- grab ankle of the leg up and pull opponent on top of you (must be a pulling / butt scoot action)
- footlock hold (overhook) be sure to KEEP KNEES TIGHT and foot on hip
- free hand peels knee inward and overhook switches to underhook w/ ankle in the bend of neck
- look to establish x-guard
- if opponent is running, push opponent's butt w/ free leg and extend with other

Entry vs standing opponent

- grab outside of knees and scoot underneath
- establish one leg in, while other kicks straight then in to establish x-guard
- use overhook to keep leg
- same as above, peel knee and go to underhook

Epiphanies

- knee manipulation. X-guard and the glover half guard is all about knee manipulation. This is something I've found myself get stuck on quite a bit where I can not move my opponent because I don't control their knee and manipulate it so I can get the sweep.

- rotation of hips / creating momentum. An aspect that I must get better at. Remember that this game is now becoming a game of inches. Momentum CAN NOT BE GENERATED WITHOUT POSTURE!

- pinching of knees. If I'm going to get better at the deep half guard and x-guard, pinching of the knees, balling up and rotating my hips to create momentum as stated above is key.

Taking the Back

Warmed up with two 5 minute rounds of rolling. Rules are no submissions, can not stay in one position for more than 2 seconds. This was a very tiring warm up especially when paired with Mike. The constant movement gets you winded, but probably the most interesting aspect of the drill was the fast paced chess game being played. Forcing you and your opponent to recognize certain positions and react.

Technique: Side mount escape

1. Replace Guard
2. Backdoor
3. Backdoor against keysa

Was able to ask Mike questions regarding the knee bar from the x-guard and taking the back.

Knee bar from x-guard:

• Available when opponent gets into sprint position (going away).
• Inside leg goes over.
• Don't go for knee bar when opponent is standing over you.

Taking the back:

Been having issues turning the corner to mount from the back.

• Instead of jumping on their back, pull them into you.
• Grab hip. Be sure to be deep. If gi, grab the belt.
• Hip out to create a landing space for opponent.
• Pull their hip and have them fall to you.

Other notes:

I suck at leg locks, but looks like I created my own rule for them. Outside leg goes over their leg for foot locks or heel hooks. Inside leg for knee bar.

Side Mount

Yesterday's class:

Side mount escape:

1. Replace guard
2. Back door
3. Back door versus keysa

Look for combinations. Replace guard to back door. Also look if the back door is not available, look to use the E.Honda.

Rolling:

• When setting up the x-guard, be sure to overhook w/ leg. Keep losing the set up and have to go to the knee bar.
• Fell into the Monson choke twice but couldn't finish it. Gonna look into it.

Elbow's feeling better

After my workout I rolled a bit with Craig. After a few minutes of working the x-guard and working some guard passes, Craig asked if we could work from side mount so he could work his escapes. Some notes from today:


X-Guard

• Was able to get the sweep, but one thing to consider is when they start moving their weight away right away. Consider standing up and putting leg on shoulder for a takedown.

Guard Pass

• Guard passing felt like doo doo. Z guard was giving me trouble. GOTTA REMEMBER WHERE MY HEAD PLACEMENT IS!

Side mount

• Kept getting replaced into half guard. STAY ACTIVE. DON'T JUST SIT AND HAVE ACTIVE HIPS
• Look to work harness from side mount.
• Head placement was bad. Keep head in their chin.
• Gotta work on getting better control of my opponent

Overall

I thought I did well. Was trying not to go too hard in fear of my elbow popping, but I felt for trying to feel my way around it was a good start to getting back into it. Still very nervous about my elbow...best thing to do is just not get caught in a bad spot.

Road map

Last week I was talking to my brother and he made one of the most interesting comments. He said that this should be the best time for me in jiu jitsu since I'm a blue belt. What he meant by it, is that I have a great foundation built and now it's time to play. Now is the time to figure out what works and what doesn't work for me and in essence mold my game.

With that in mind I've tried to create a game plan of sorts for my guard game. With this game plan I hope to focus on certain moves only to see if I like it or don't like it. From each position I want to achieve certain things and if I fail, I go to this and if I achieve it it opens up this. It'll look a lot like a choose your own adventure book, but I think this is exactly what I need. I need a structure of specific moves I want to work on and only work on those moves. Often times I've found myself rolling with no road map of what to work on or that I'm too scatter brained because that week I read this book or watched this video and have TOO many moves that are running through my brain.

Now this is the easy part, putting the game plan together, the hard part will be to see if I can stay focused for the next couple of months and continually work on these specific moves. Hopefully after a few months I can change certain areas of the road map for what I have discovered to work and not work.

One thing to note on my first go around of this road map is that I have not thrown in any submissions. My primary goal is to sweep.

1. Establish Butterfly Guard

Goal - control opponent by dominating limbs and create a reaction to achieve one of the following:

A.) Double underhooks
B.) Arm drag
C.) Head and arm control
D.) Guillotine

Combinations are key to achieving control. Don't expect to just jump into double underhooks or head and arm control. It will take a combination of multiple set ups to achieve one.

If unable to achieve goal:

- Half guard (see #2)
- Z-Guard (see #3)
- Escape or go to knees

1A. Double Underhooks

Goal - sweep or establish X-Guard

Sweeps (50)

- Often end up with over / under, so look for the Jean Jacque Sweep.
- Look for posted legs to be up to kick out.

Establish X-Guard (146)

- Hands in pit to set up.
- Remember to kick leg out to set up.
- Look for overhook (Sim Go Seminar)

Other considerations:

- Half guard (see #2)
- Z-Guard (see #3)

1B. Arm Drag

Goal - sweep, establish X-Guard, or take the back

Sweep

- Look for reverse sweep if posted leg (70)
- Utilize half butterfly sweeps
- Look for guillotine opportunities and use overhook

X-Guard (132, 137)

- Look to make opponent post leg to pull x-guard.

Take back

- Keep arm tight to body

Other considerations:

- Half guard (see #2)
- Z-Guard (see #3)
- Guillotine to set up arm drag

1C. Head and Arm Control

Goal - sweep, establish X-Guard, or guillotine

Sweep

- Jean Jacque sweep.
- One foot goes on thigh (same side of grip on arm)
- Look for kick out

X-Guard (125)

- Fall to side of head control pulling arm w/ you.
- Make sure leg is posted and use both legs to kick up.

Other considerations:

- Half guard (see #2)
- Z-Guard (see #3)
- Guillotine seems as like a good transitional move from here as well as arm drag.

1D. Guillotine

Goal - create a reaction or finish

Reaction - can work for head and arm control (see # 1C) or arm drag (see #1B)

2. Half Guard

Sweeps (79)

- Utilize half butterfly and z-guard
- Look for sweeping by grabbing leg

X-Guard (162)

- Need both hands past armpit

Other considerations:

- Go to knees or pull full guard

3. Z-Guard

- Look to take back.
- Utilize overhook for arm drag or take back
- Get into half butterfly to work sweeps
- Work to establish x-guard (Baret #79)

4. X-Guard

Opponent standing sweeps

- Push sweep (Ankle pick) (221, 225)
- Pull sweep (Attack knee) (241)
- Attack near sleeve and far sleeve (198)

Opponent kneeling sweeps

- Takedown (204)
- Far wrist attack (180)
- Back door

Recognition

I'm coming to the realization that I'm not recognizing things as fast as I should. There have been openings that have been there for me when rolling and I'm not capitalizing on them or recognizing that they're there. I've found myself doing this with Mike too, where he'll look at me and be like "why'd you stop?" and my only response really is that I had a brain fart. Need to recognize situations that are presenting themselves and act open them...be defensive, be offensive, don't leave my arm out, etc...

I've also found myself working too methodically when setting things up. Step 1, next step 2 and finally step 3. I know I need to get to a point where there is no step 2, but rather step 1 to step 3. Watching Roy's BJJ 201 he says, "every move has a beginning, middle and end." What needs to happen when you start growing in jiu jitsu is that there is no longer a middle as you just go from beginning to end.

After rolling with my brother today he's telling me, I need to go do something when working my x-guard. I'll get into the position but end up just rocking him and he just smashes me. Just another example of me being too methodical. I'm gonna blame this on learning the x-guard, but really that's not a good excuse. I need to recognize that I have something and go for it. Recognize you're being put in danger and defend.

Things need to flow better...and not be so robotic!

Other notes:

• I'm getting guillotined to death! My neck is out there and people are taking it! Once again, recognize where my head is, arms, etc...
• On the flipside to getting guillotined like crazy...I have to say once again, the guillotine and kimura are always there and are great transitional positions. If you get it, great! If you don't, you'll force them to move.
• I'm getting stuffed when trying to set up my butterfly. Once again, it's because I'm trying to be methodical. Step 1. Bring legs in. Step 2. Secure gable grip. Step 3. Head under their chin. Step 4. Swing them up on top of you. I need to go legs grab and swing. I can secure my gable grip when they're on top of me. Classic example of going to methodical when steps can be blended.
• Overall I feel like I'm getting more and more comfortable from my guard and working my x-guard.

More rolling

Went to the gym to roll some more. Got some good rolls in.

Notes:

• Feel better when trying to get into x-guard. Need to know when to look for butterfly sweep versus going into x-guard. I think I've locked into my head that I need to get into x-guard to work it, but I think I need to work what's being given.
• Guard passing tactics seem to be back in my head. Was able to create pressure with my legs.
• Don't leave my arms out so much when trying to pass the guard. Finding myself getting stretched out because people are controlling my arms so easily.
• Guillotine choke is this shiet! Great move to go to when trying to pass the guard. Seems to be a good transitional move. If you get it, great but if you don't you can get a reaction from your opponent.
• Been able to work the brabo choke the last two times I've rolled. Remeber to uppercut to get the arm deep.
• Overall feel better about working open and butterfly. Told Roger how back when we first started that's all I used to do, sit on my butt and try and get a butterfly sweep. Feels good to be working off my butt again since I've been working guard pass as of late.

Guard Pass and X-Guard

Went to the gym today at lunch and rolled with a bunch of guys.

Notes from rolling:

X-Guard

• My foot placement is off. My inner leg is not high enough. Should be almost in the crouch.
• Be sure to rock them back and forth.
• Work and scissoring to off balance them.
• Work off of 3 sweeps only. 1. Pull the knee, 2. Ankle pick, 3. Grab the wrist and 4. Stand up
• Need to stop being so hesitant when going to it. Shoot in and go for it. Work the heel hook to start the x-guard.

Guard Passing

• Not creating enough forward pressure when passing.
• My head is being bounced around.
• Need to review my stuff on guard passing.

Half guard and X-guard

Went to the gym and rolled with Mike. Tried to work off my back towards the end, working half guard and x-guard.

Picked his brain on the half guard and x-guard.

Half Butterfly Sweep #1 (X-Guard transition)

• Opponent goes for underhook, you grab the overhook and pin their arm to their body
• Swing towards leg. Keep leg near head
• Rock them over for the sweep
• IF you just play the overhook they can post. If they post you can go to x-guard or a straight leg lock to get the sweep.

Half Butterfly Sweep #2 (Taking the back)

• Swing towards leg and secure with gable grip.
• Bring leg over head and to the other shoulder.
• Grab their belt (make sure both arms are out from under them)
• Flip feet to take back

X-Guard

• Overhook to attack legs. Limited on sweeps, but can attack legs to create the sweep.
• Underhook leg better for sweeps. Keep leg locked between shoulder and neck to stop them from pulling their leg out.

Other Notes:

• Work on getting 2 sweeps from butterfly, half and x-guard since all 3 guards are so intertwined.
• Focus on controlling the head and using the chin strap.
• Work on 2 on 1, arm drag, overhook and underhook and transitioning from one to the other