Guard
From OTMWiki
The guard (in Judo sometimes referred to colloquially as do-osaeTemplate:Fn, "trunk hold"[1]) is a ground grappling position where one combatant has his or her back to the ground, while holding the other combatant using the legs. In pure grappling combat sports, the guard is considered an advantagous position, since the bottom combatant can attack with various joint locks and chokeholds, while the top combatants priority is to transition into a more dominant position, a process known as passing the guard. In mixed martial arts competition or hand-to-hand combat in general, it is possible to effectively strike from the top in the guard, even though the bottom combatant exerts some control over the top one. There are various types of guard, with their own advantages and disadvantages.
The two revolutionary concepts that the guard introduced to Sports BJJ was that the fighter on the bottom can win the fight, and that the smaller, more skilled fighter can defeat a significantly larger and heavier opponent.
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Helio Gracie and the Guard
Within Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu circles it is acknowledged that BJJ founder Helio Gracie popularized and heavily refined the use of the guard. While true that the concept and techniques of the guard existed before in other grappling arts such as judo, Helio Gracie was the first to adapt it as a primary position rather than a transitional position. Furthermore Helio Gracie, being a physically small man, was forced to adapt an refine many of the techniquqes to be more leverage and pure technique based as opposed to strength based.
Helio Gracie would utilize the guard in many of his matches. Perhaps the most significant use was his rematch against Japanese Judo vice-champion Kato, in which Helio pulled guard almost immediately and was eventually able to win from a cross collar choke. (In the end Kato chose to go to sleep as opposed to tapping out).
Royce Gracie and the Guard
The guard was introduced to the world at large by Royce Gracie, son of Helio Gracie, who used it to successfully win three of the first four Ultimate Fighting Championships. At the time, most of the martial arts world at large had not seen anything like this and commentators frequently referred to the "riddle of the Gracie Guard" when describing Royce Gracie's matches. Perhaps the most dramatic example of Royce's guard work was when he weather a 14 minute match against a much heavier wrestler in the person of Dan Severn inside of his guard to apply a triangle choke for the submission victory.
The Strategy of the Guard
As the name would imply, the first purpose of the guard is self defense. The guard is designed to allow the fighter on the bottom a chance to protect themselves and nullify the offense of the fighter on the top. In time when the opportunity arises the fighter on the bottom utilizing the guard may be able to initiate an offensive position, such as a submission hold or sweep (an exchange of the bottom position to the top position).
The fighter utilizing the guard will often attempt to draw his or her opponent close in order weaken the base of the fighter on top, as well as nullify the possibility of being struck. Submissions are the most effective form of offense from the guard. Strikes mays also be initiated from the guard such as short strikes and heel kicks to the kidneys, but these are generally used to distract or soften up an opponent as opposed to looking to finish a fight.
Closed Guard vs Open Guard
Closed Guard simply refers to the position in which the fighter on the bottom has his or her legs wrapped and locked around their opponent.
The Open Guard refers to when the legs are open.
Variations of the Guard
Today there are a wide variety of variations on the guard. Some variations are sport jiu jitsu or submission grappling oriented only and not suitable for MMA competition.
- Butterfly Guard
- Cross Guard
- Closed Guard
- De la Riva Guard
- Half Guard
- Monk Guard
- Monkey Guard
- Octopus Guard
- Open Guard
- Quarter Guard
- Rubber Guard
- Spider Guard
- Turtle Guard
- Upsidedown Guard
- X-Guard
Pulling Guard
Pulling guard or Jumping to guard refers to the practice of going to the guard position right away by attempting to pull one's opponent to the ground to the guard position. Jumping guard is a bit more risky and involves leaping to a closed guard position while the opponent is still standing.
Because of some competitors preference of using the guard, they may continually attempt to pull guard on their opponent, who may attempt to keep the match standing. This may lead to the fighter on the bottom following their opponent around in a seated position, better know as "butt-scooting". Although more accepted in submission grappling and brazilian jiu jitsu competitions, this is a very unpopular and ridiculed move in MMA.
