No-Gi Closed Guard System

Free resource

Overview

I wasted way too much time scrolling through random YouTube and Instagram videos, trying to figure out what closed guard – just drowning in random techniques.

Eventually, after watching hours of Youtube and instructionals, I came to the conclusion that these are the 5 primary types of offensive options you have as a closed guard player:

[+] Back Takes
[+] Armbars
[+] Triangles
[+] Omoplatas
[+] Sweeps

Bottom player - Start Here

Fundamentals

Must watch 👇

Optional

• Roger Gracie on Closed Guard Fundamentals

• How Adele Fornarino is Changing BJJ Forever

• Roger Gracie's Closed Guard is Extremely Complex - BJJ Study

• Elevated Basics: The Ultimate No-Gi Closed Guard Guide

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Entering the Closed Guard

• Chopstick Guard (Adele Fornarino)

• Getting to closed guard against an advanced opponent (Lachlan Giles)

• Getting to closed guard from half guard (Lachlan Giles)

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Attacking from the Closed Guard

There’s dozens of different types of attacks from the closed guard. The reason I mention only these 5 is that the reactions they elicit from defenders creates off balances that allow you to transition into another one of these moves.

For example, if you create angles and begin trying to get outside your opponents arms to take the back, they might over-correct and create an opportunity for you to fire up an arm bar or attempt a sweep. If they defend the arm bar, they might create an opportunity for you to attack a triangle or omoplata, and so on.

Craig Jones talks about this offensive trilemma in the first volume of his closed guard instructional.

Let’s begin -

Cutting to the back

• Closed guard to the back (Lachlan Giles)

• The Side Closed Guard: Xande Ribeiro

• The Unstoppable Way To Take The Back From Closed Guard by Mica Galvao

Arm bar

• Armbar from Closed Guard

• Wrist Control to Arm Bar (Gordon Ryan)

• Arm Bar From Guard (John Danaher)

• Twisted Armbar (Ffion Davies)

Triangle

• Wrist Controls To Triangles by John Danaher

• Triangle from Closed Guard w/ Over-hook (Lachlan Giles)

• How To Do The Perfect Triangle Choke Even If You Have Short Legs by John Danaher

• I did this wrong for so long. Finishing mechanics of the triangle

• Jiu Jitsu Moves: Scissor Sweep Triangle Combo by Tom DeBlass

Omoplata

• OMOPLATA 101 - Understanding the Omoplata for Nogi Jiu Jitsu

• BJJ: How to OMOPLATA Shoulder Lock from Closed Guard - NO GI

• BJJ Flow Drill: Armbar Triangle Omoplata From Closed Guard

Sweeps

• Hip Bump Entry From Closed Guard by Craig Jones

• 4 Full Guard Sweeps Every BJJ White Belt Should Learn

• Roger Gracie: sweep from closed guard

• 3 Scissor Sweeps From Closed Guard | Cobrinha BJJ

• Kimura Sweep From Closed Guard - Ffion Davies

• Flower Sweep by Ffion Davies

• Foot placement for a good hip bump sweep

• No Gi Pendulum Sweep and Arm Bar from Closed Guard (Lachlan Giles)

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Top Player

According to Gordon Ryan, the only way to escape the closed guard is to stand up. These videos show how to stand up and how to deal with common retention strategies from the guard player.

Escaping the closed guard

• Escaping Closed Guard with Gordon Ryan

• 2.1 The logsplitter open

• 2.2 The standing guard open

• 3.1 Dealing with when they grab your legs when standing

• Opening the Closed Guard - My Favorite Method for No Gi BJJ

• Opening Closed Guard Knee Post Method by John Danaher

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Comp Footage

These are some interesting compilations I found of closed guard being used at the highest level. Enjoy!

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