MMA question for blues and above - Page 3

**Zankou** · 05-15-2008, 12:43 PM

The problem is that most people play full guard badly.

If you want to play guard, you need to play a very high guard (rubber guard being one type), or a butterfly guard. Those are the two that are relatively safe from strikes. Unless you are very flexible, you won't be able to play a really good high guard.

I think there may be room for development of an "under" your opponent game in MMA -- x guard, deep half guard. But so far it hasn't really been put in place yet. Somebody will get there I bet!

We've recently seen DLR guard used in MMA to great effect by Aoki. You never know how people are going to innovate.

Delbjj · 05-15-2008, 12:50 PM

The guys you are listing as using it in mma are top tier BJJ guys who are using it against people notr on thier level

wildcard_seven · 05-15-2008, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delbjj

The guys you are listing as using it in mma are top tier BJJ guys who are using it against people notr on thier level

NOGUEIRA/WERDUM? To a lesser extent, Nog/Barnett.

I think those are top grapplers.

blanko · 05-15-2008, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dedicado

BJJ question for MMA fighting. I play the half guard when I am forced to my back in Gi and No Gi, but in MMA I noticed that that my old-school sweep set up leaves me open to strikes on my ribs and head from the guy on top. I ended up abandonding my sweep game and scrambled to my feet. My question is this, can anyone here recommend a way to control the underhook, while not getting hit to badly from the guy on top?

in mma you have to accept the fact that you are gonna get hit and you are gonna feel pain. The question is: how hard is he punching you? Is he giving you pain or is he injuring you or damaging you to the extent that impairs your abiltity to continue fighting.

damit2hell · 05-15-2008, 01:43 PM

i like to get a high underhook on the same side the leg is trapped and then insert a butterfly

hayliks · 05-15-2008, 02:40 PM

There is no bottom half guard in mma. It is just as bad as being in side control when it comes to GnP. You're better off working on regaining full guard from half, rather than try and work sweeps because 9/10 times you're going to get punished down there.

_Glorfindel_ · 05-15-2008, 03:22 PM

From my experience, half guard is not well suited for mma, for the very same reason that other guys told you : You will get hit, and probably hit hard with punchs and elbows.

You should concentrate on closed guard and butterfly. there is an intersting fact when you're doing those in mma context, guys are easier to sweep than in pure grappling or bjj 'cause they will commit themself too munch when punching and get a little bit out balance, then will be easier to sweep.

Half guard is better than be fully mounted, but get out of there as fast as you can.

Look what GSP did to Serra in the half guard. Serra is surrely not a dick in bjj and GSP was very comftable in the half guard and Serra was trying as hard as he can to put him back in full guard.

beeble · 05-15-2008, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dedicado

BJJ question for MMA fighting. I play the half guard when I am forced to my back in Gi and No Gi, but in MMA I noticed that that my old-school sweep set up leaves me open to strikes on my ribs and head from the guy on top. I ended up abandonding my sweep game and scrambled to my feet. My question is this, can anyone here recommend a way to control the underhook, while not getting hit to badly from the guy on top?

use wats called a lockdown, switch your triangle in half guard from the traditional way, say if your on your right side, your left leg will come across his right leg, hooking your right leg while your right foot hooks under his right foot, keep the pressure on his leg/foot which neutralizes his right hip, keep the underhook on the left side, and you can pretty much throw your opponent above you in a pendulum like motion, duck in with your chest to his hip, and you can either take him town, stand up, or try to take his back

taking the motion from his hip stops him from posturing and pounding you, he may be able to throw little punches but if he does the bump up to get to his hip will only be that much easier... hope this helps

thehamma711 · 05-15-2008, 09:05 PM

vitor belfort swept dan henderson 4 times from half guard.

wOg · 05-15-2008, 09:30 PM

I play a lot of half guard (jiu jitsu, not MMA) and the point really is the same. Half guard is an offensive position, not a defensive one.

The more you attack with your half guard, going right after his base, the better your half guard will be - jiu jitsu or MMA.

Nog and Monson are both good examples. You can't "hang out" in half guard in MMA, but it is a position that more fighters could probably take advantage of--especially when combined with the butterfly guard.