The Lapel Guard is one of the strongest guards in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu… Especially when the person knows what they’re doing.
What’s more, sometimes it’s so effective that it can make the athlete on the receiving end frustrated; as they practically have no way of escaping it.
That’s why Nicholas Meregali has recently called for Lapel Guard to be banned from Jiu-Jitsu tournaments (in the gi):
I can’t understand why Lapel Guard is still allowed in gi Jiu-Jitsu.
It’s an impossible guard to deal with, the grip on the lapel is so strong and comfortable that no matter what we do, we will never break it or progress.
Meregali compares the Lapel Guard with inside bottom pants control:
If inside bottom pants control is an illegal grip because it’s impossible to deal with, why is Lapel Guard taking a different approach?
Hard to understand that.
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One of the comments mentioned that the “no inside bottom pants control” rule was made for the sake of fingers safety:
Inside bottom pants is illegal because it’s dangerous for the player’s fingers.
Judo has the same rule about grabbing inside the Gi.
So what do you think? Should the Lapel Guard be rendered illegal in gi BJJ tournaments?
