When I read this article, I felt as if he was speaking to me.
Tim, did you put him up to this while you were in Texas last weekend?
Anyway, if I were to sum up what I learned about the strategic game of Jiu-Jitsu in 2004, it would sound a lot like this article.
Top Game/Guard Game:
I am a Blue Belt who tends to favor the Top Game.
I'm one of the lighter guys in our gym, so I may not able to show my true potential until my basic guard game fully develops.
In the last tournament I did, I kind of followed a strategy that Mario Sperry used when he competed in the 90's. I was able to get the top game in all my matches and not get scored upon. Much like William Vandry's example when he mentioned Sperry vs Roletta at Mundials '98.
Improving my guard:
So what I did was; a week ago I took out out a notepad and divided the guard into different positions and kind of drew up a map. This was before I read Vandry's article.
Saturday(when Tim was in Texas) I came into the room and saw Tom and Pat both drilling their guards. These are probably the two guys that would be the best to train this position with, because they are big, strong, and they are getting good at doing guard themselves. After watching them for a little while I got in there and drilled my guard with both of them.
Because I had divided up the guard into different parts, and that I now know how to react and readjust to different posturing and resistance, I was able to use my guard a little bit better.
This was my chart from last week:
Closed Guard: Works best I think with an overhook or grip on the collar. If opponent is in a hurry to break out, their energy maybe could be used against them. When the guy postures up, the closed guard seems less effective. Never use this in a competition if I am behind on points.
De la Riva Guard: This is the guard to transition to when opponent stands up. There are a lot of sweeps. Submissions become possible when opponent kneels back down to defend being swept.
X-Guard: This must of came from the De la Riva guard. I have no idea how to use this at this time. Marcello Garcia uses this.
Spider Guard: This seems more like a temporary position kind of the way knee-on-stomach is for the top game. Still some sweeps(foot in bicep) or maybe triangles can come from here. I found that this is good when someone stands up, and guards their hip by blocking my foot to avoid De la Riva guard.
Butterfly Guard: I probably never would of wrote this one down, but my Jiu-Jitsu instructor (Tim) seems to be known for doing this type of guard.
After examining Tim's DVD, I realized that this is the smartest guard to do in a competition or even in training. The probability of sweeping my opponent seems really high if the guard is done right. It does not require my opponent to stand up. Not all people stand up inside the guard. Unlike all the other guard positions it seems like the guy doing the butterfly guard initiates the energy. If the guy postures good, or does not move(stalling), I may be able to go to his back.
William Vandry, a black belt actually divided the guard into 10 positions. William Bettencourt, a black belt under Ricardo De la Riva divides the De la Riva guard into 10 different positions. When Carlos was over here last time, he started showing us ways to overcome Tim's Butterfly guy. Then Tim's legs got crossed and it started to like the X - Guard!
I think the best thing for me to work on as a blue belt; is keeping my guard working 'consistent' while my opponent reacts to my movements. Being familiar with the different guard types will serve as different reference points and starting positions. Submissions and Sweeps, the icing on the cake(or my driveway), will come after I get the foundation laid down.
I guess in a few years the Jiu-Jitsu world will have, Salamander Guard, Alligator Guard, the Q- Guard, and the Seth Price Guard.
Steve
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BJJ in my eyes
Posted - 11/18/2004 : 07:48:18
