Do you struggle playing the Closed Guard game? As in, no matter what you try, you just can’t get the Armbar from there?
One of the primary culprits behind this problem is that you’re not breaking the opponent’s posture… And that you’re not timing their defense properly.
Matt Thornton explains what this means below.
BREAK THE POSTURE & TIME THEIR RETREAT – AND GET AN ARMBAR
Professor Thornton begins by saying that you shouldn’t be trying to attack your opponent from Closed Guard when their posture is good, nor when they’ve already regained it. Rather, the best opening for a submission – in this case, an Armbar – when attacking from Closed Guard is when the opponent starts to regain their posture.
Here’s a great way to use this principle in practice. First, break the opponent’s posture down and climb up your legs higher, just underneath their armpits. Once you’ve done that, clasp the back of their head with both of your hands.
What they’ll try to do from here is, naturally, try to regain their posture. And the only way to do that will be by pushing against you.
So, as they’re pushing against you, they’ll extend their arms. In doing so, you’ll get a phenomenal Armbar opportunity! Just make sure to go for it before they’re upright yet again.
Professor Thornton explains in much more detail below:
