Closed Guard Concept – Squaring Up the Hips

This is the last Closed Guard concept when it comes to Postural Control. It’s a rather simple idea, but it can really pay dividends when your opponent is trying to open your legs to pass. The most common method is when the opponent places their knee at your tailbone and sets their opposite leg back while posted on the foot.

So the opponent gets their knee under your butt to begin breaking open your Guard. This movement will normally align their position more sideways in relation to your hips. When this begins to happen you should re-center your hips in between your opponent’s legs, as they were before the opponent’s initial Guard break movement.

Obviously, it would be a good idea to utilize your hands while doing this, grabbing the opponent’s head to break their posture. This should all be done while your feet are still closed. Once your feet are open it’s really too late to implement this concept. Note: This can be done as a drill as well.

Remember, when it comes to most submissions, or even sweeps, from our Guard we look to change our angle. However, from a control standpoint, we want our hip aligned straight with our opponent’s hips.

Learn. Drill. Roll. TRANSFORM!