Linked Attacks from Guard

Read it in acrobat format


Although MMA fighters tend to ignore guard in favor of top position ground-and-pound, bottom attacks can be very elegant and effective if done correctly.

Royce Gracie is one of the most scientific of the modern mixed martial arts ground fighters and is known for winning by using techniques rather than brute force and strength. Royce believes that in order for Jiu-jitsu submissions to work in MMA the techniques need to be linked together. If one doesn't work you can automatically go to the next one and so forth. The following techniques are examples of that and are favorites in Royce's arsenal. Use these linked sequences that Royce demonstrates to play around with different options and develop your own favorite combinations.



 

Kimura Guard Attack

Gui is inside Royce's closed guard with has his hands on the ground. Royce's fingers grab Gui's triceps with the palm of the hand blocking the biceps for control (1). Royce's left hand slides down Gui's right arm and grabs and secures his right wrist to prevent him from pulling it out (2). Royce opens the legs, plants the feet on the ground and sits up while looping the right arm over Gui's right arm (3). Royce wraps his arm around until he can grab his left wrist with the right hand (4). Notice Royce's figure-4 around Gui's arm. Royce's right forearm is above Gui's elbow and the forearm touches Gui's forearm. Royce's chest presses against Gui's arm. Royce's right forearm and elbow are on the ground with the left hand locked on to the right wrist (5). Pushing off his feet, Royce escapes the hips to the left and leans back. His lock on Gui's arm forces it around in a clockwise direction (6). Notice Royce's foot and legwork as he executes the move. His left foot steps over Gui's right leg to lock it in place. Royce's right leg presses on Gui's left side preventing him from stepping over it and moving to his left (7). Royce ends up on Gui's right side and locks his feet to hold Gui in place and prevent him from rolling over his shoulder to escape the lock. Royce continues torquing Gui's arm in a clockwise direction, almost as if he wants to touch his right hand on the right ear for the shoulder lock (8).

EXPERT TIP: "The Kimura is one of the main attacks from the closed guard. Any time your opponent has one or both of his hands on the mat he is open for this attack. Be alert to this situation and take advantage of it."

Guillotine Guard Attack

Royce attempts the Kimura on Gui's right arm, who counters by dropping his hips, straightening his back and raising his head, exposing his neck for the guillotine (1). Royce wraps his right arm around Gui's neck and slides his hips back. Royce reaches with his left hand and grabs his right wrist, then tightens the noose around Gui's neck to cinch the choke (2). Check out Royce's noose around Gui's neck: his left hand grabs the right wrist. The narrow blade of the forearm presses up on Gui's Adam's apple (3). Check out Royce's grip and arm position. Royce's forearm points straight up so the narrow blade aims towards the throat. Royce's left hand grabs over the wrist and hand allowing his forearm to press up and in at the same time. The direction of the guillotine pressure is up and in as if he wanted to make a '.V.. with his forearms. (4). Royce leans back until his back touches the mat (5). He then pulls the left arm up and extends his legs to apply the guillotine for the submission (6).

EXPERT TIP: "Avery common defense for the Kimura from the guard is for the opponent to posture up by dropping his hips down, straightening his back and raising his head to block your attack. In that case immediately go for the guillotine, the second of the three linked techniques."

Cross-Over Guard Sweep

Royce has Gui in his guard (1). Royce sits up and reaches with his right arm to get a Kimura on Gui's right arm. Gui counters by straightening his back and raising the head up, exposing it for the guillotine (2). Royce immediately wraps his right arm around Gui's neck (3). Gui forces his head back even more to prevent Royce from securing the guillotine wrap. Royce takes advantage of Gui's over-commitment and changes to the cross-over sweep. He lets go of the hold on Gui's head using the right arm to lasso Gui' s right arm instead (4). Royce turns his hips to his left and pushes off his feet to bump the hips up and force Gui to fall over (5). Notice how Royce's left leg trapped Gui's right leg prior to the bump and prevented him from opening it up to stop the reversal. It is very important for Royce to bump and turn Gui over to the left and not straight back (6). Also it is very important for Royce to use the pressure of his hips pushing against Gui s chest to turn him over. Royce ends up in the mount (7).

EXPERT TIP: "The cross-over sweep is the third part of this sequence from the closed guard. It is most effective when the opponent leans back to counter your Kimura and guillotine sequence or when he over postures by leaning back to avoid the choke. The key to this sweep is to take advantage of your opponent's lean and use your hip to bump him over."