Some jiu-jitsu aficionados say that the closed guard has fallen a little out of popularity in favor of the modern open guard games. But ask any old school instructor and they will tell you they love the control and attack options from the closed guard.

This week on Gracie Barra blog several GB black belt instructors will show us some techniques from the closed guard that you can experiment with in your own training.

1) Getting Into Closed Guard From Half Guard
Let’s begin with the question: How do we get to the closed guard position? Prof. Flavio Almeida shows a solid technique to improve your position from half guard to full, closed guard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWW0ihwC1pM

2) Closed guard sweep to mount
You have a great many offensive options from your closed guard while your opponent has few options. Note the over hook grip that leads to a sweep ending in mount. 6 points!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ecDR8M83wA&t=51s

3) Grip break to attack combination / Ataque duplo da guarda fechada
Prof Diogo “Tutuba” Almeida shows a key grip break to over hook grip with some great attack sequences.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxL7-G8c9uQ

4) Attack sequence from closed guard / Sequência de ataques da guarda fechada
Prof. Joelson teaches several options to attack from closed guard. Each option is connected to the other attacks and this makes it very difficult for the opponent to defend.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0f-Qa3BR-3k

5) Take the back from closed guard / Pegando as costas á partir da Guarda fechada
Fans of Roger Gracie will recognize this strategy as one of Roger Gracie’s most successful techniques at the World Championships.
Prof. Carlos Liberi shows how to break the grip (similar to some of the earlier techniques) and advance to the opponent’s back.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SaCHdl48Zo

See also on Gracie Barra : Learning From Tapping? Yes!
https://graciebarra.com/gb-news/learning-tapping-yes/

Credits: Mark Mullen
Gracie Barra Black belt based in Saigon, Vietnam
Instagram: @markmullen.bjj