Rickson Gracie shows some game changing concepts on the importance of proper posture when in your opponent’s guard. He emphasises the use of hips much more than arms. For him, proper posture will keep you safe from submissions and sweeps.

From Henry Akins, a Rickson Gracie black belt:

In order to open the guard from the knees you must first develop the ability to maintain posture without using your hands. If you’re relying on your hands to help maintain your posture you can’t use them to help you break, therefore you’re forced to stand to open. This is the first drill all students should be taught from inside the guard because it’s the foundation for helping you open the guard, whether from the knees or standing and also your first line of defense. Every attack from the guard requires the person to first break your posture. Kimura, Cross Collar Choke, Triangle, Arm Bar, Guillotine are all neutralized with this one skill.

In this video, which is part of Rickson Gracie’s course, Self.Defense.Unit

Check out the video:

Use your guard skills to attack and catch your opponent on the blind side.

• World black belt absolute champion Xande Ribeiro shows you the closed guard system that made his guard one of the best
• The side closed guard is a closed guard variation that gives you a dominant angle to attack from off your back.