This week on GB Blog we are talking about the open guard as taught by one of the top Gracie Barra black belt instructors – Prof. Lucio “Lagarto” Rodrigues.

IG: @lagartobjj

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Notably, in addition to having been a top international level competitor for  GB, a few years ago, Prof. “Lagarto” successfully overcame cancer and returned to training and competition.

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Prof. Lucio said of his experience and philosophy in an interview with Gracie Barra:

“That cancer just knocked on the wrong door ;))

I didn’t change anything in the lifestyle Carlos Gracie Jr taught me. I looked at it as a challenge I had to overcome.

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It’s funny to say it, but it was a very good experience, I learned things I would not have learned in any other circumstances.

Appreciate every second as your last in every little detail, life becomes so beautiful.”

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Let’s take a look at some open guard techniques with one of the top Gracie Barra instructors – Prof. Lucio “Lagarto” Rodrigues.

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Want to Up Your Takedown Game? Check out: GB2 Online Takedowns – by Henrique Machado

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A good to place to start is how to enter into open guard and get the grips that you want.

When we think of guard attacks, the straight armlock and the triangle choke are likely what we think of first. Prof. ‘lagarto” gives some tips on how to attack.

The triangle and the omoplata work very well as an attack combination when your opponent defends one of the attacks.

Go or No-gi the triangle is possibly the most powerful attack from your guard. Especially with those students who have the advantage of longer legs.

You can use the lapel to create angles and transition to catch the opponet’s back.

What is YOUR favorite Open Guard Style to play?

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See also on Gracie Barra : Drilling : How To Do It Right

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Credits: Mark Mullen

Gracie Barra Black belt based in Asia