06/17/2026
Yesterday we hit the reset button on the curriculum and went all the way back to a fundamental position: closed guard.
From a self-defense perspective, the goal is to break down your partner’s posture. If someone is in your guard and able to sit up tall, they’re in a much better position to generate force. Controlling posture helps keep you safe and gives you opportunities to attack or escape.
The same position takes on a slightly different purpose in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Closed guard is one of the strongest attachments in the game. It slows things down, limits movement, and creates opportunities to work.
We spent time exploring the constant battle that exists in closed guard: the person on top is trying to open and pass, while the person on bottom is trying to keep the guard closed and maintain control.
We also played a game where the bottom person’s objective was to get to the back. One option was using a two-on-one grip to pull and angle out to the side. Another was forcing the top player to post and using that moment to secure an underhook. Sometimes you may need to open your guard briefly to make it happen, but the goal is to stay connected and re-close whenever possible.