Best games for injured neck?

[JustTheTip]

Hey Sherdoggers, im recovering from spine/neck surgery and eying a return to BJJ and hopefully competition. In the past I played distance guards and Triangles were my #1 competition submission. Due to my injury, i'm looking to completely change my game. Obviously I want positions in which crossfaces or face and neck pressure is reduced.I also want something I can play gi and nogi. So far i'm thinking X guard/1LX guard and butterfly guard. What are some of your thoughts?

 

[Solidus Snake]

I don't think you can find guards better than the 1 leg X/ X guard/butterfly family as you already said, especially because you want guards that you could play with gi and nogi, otherwise de la riva in the gi would have been fine too

 

[TheMood]

You can try to play a top passing game too. There is certainly less neck pressure if you are on top of the person.

 

[Zankou]

I suffered a herniated disk from jumping closed guard like a retard.

Butterfly to single leg x has been the answer.

No neck pressure, no stacking.

 

[JagRoss]

I suffered a herniated disk from jumping closed guard like a retard.

Butterfly to single leg x has been the answer.

No neck pressure, no stacking.

DId the guy lose balance and fall on you?

 

[Zankou]

I don't even remember very well. I honestly think I blacked out for a second I hit the mat so hard.

Ironically I went on to win the match on points, and then scored months of agonizing neck pain afterwards.

 

[jr jr]

Get on top......Stay on top.......

Get on bottom, tap. Neck and back injures are no joke.

 

[Clippy]

Connect four might not be too bad

 

[Solidus Snake]

Well if it's bad to the point that he can't even stay bot or be crossfaced at all I think competition and any kind of hard training would be out of question.. hopefully it's not the case right?

 

[DVD review guy]

Hey Sherdoggers, im recovering from spine/neck surgery and eying a return to BJJ and hopefully competition. In the past I played distance guards and Triangles were my #1 competition submission. Due to my injury, i'm looking to completely change my game. Obviously I want positions in which crossfaces or face and neck pressure is reduced.I also want something I can play gi and nogi. So far i'm thinking X guard/1LX guard and butterfly guard. What are some of your thoughts?

 

[anhedonia]

There is a black belt at my gym that had neck surgery and changed his game completely. He actually doesn't use butterfly because he doesn't like anybody pushing on his face at all. He is very diligent about blocking any sort of cross face.. he is also excellent at stiff arm escapes on the bottom (the kind that MG uses).

As far as a guard he sort of does kind of a scissor sweep structure/knee shield stuff and has some good sweeps from that position. He by far prefers to be on top of course and is very good at surfing people and staying on top when he gets there.

 

[esteven]

Hopscotch

 

[JustTheTip]

There is a black belt at my gym that had neck surgery and changed his game completely. He actually doesn't use butterfly because he doesn't like anybody pushing on his face at all. He is very diligent about blocking any sort of cross face.. he is also excellent at stiff arm escapes on the bottom (the kind that MG uses).

As far as a guard he sort of does kind of a scissor sweep structure/knee shield stuff and has some good sweeps from that position. He by far prefers to be on top of course and is very good at surfing people and staying on top when he gets there.

Knee Shield half guard? Does he compete? If so, what is his name?

 

[Dirty Holt]

I have a broken C7 and a broken L5, with disc degeneration in both. I compete and train on them. Im just way stingier with letting them get to neck attacks to trade for sweeps or passes. I play half guard and butterfly, but I have no problems inverting. I never let anyone get their weight axial loaded though, which makes a huge difference. I use my hands as active posts instead of my head as much as I can to negate risk.

 

[Uchi Mata]

Hey Sherdoggers, im recovering from spine/neck surgery and eying a return to BJJ and hopefully competition. In the past I played distance guards and Triangles were my #1 competition submission. Due to my injury, i'm looking to completely change my game. Obviously I want positions in which crossfaces or face and neck pressure is reduced.I also want something I can play gi and nogi. So far i'm thinking X guard/1LX guard and butterfly guard. What are some of your thoughts?

You should go with your instincts. I've never experienced any injuries playing guard since I went to playing BF/X pretty much exclusively. Especially since playing them right involves spending a lot more time sitting up than being on your back where you might get stacked. The rare times I do invert it's always to defend the pass at a distance, I rely on controlling inside space to prevent heavy passes.

 

[anhedonia]

Knee Shield half guard? Does he compete? If so, what is his name?

No he is not a competition guy. He is kind of older now and I don't think he is into that. I guess you could say knee shield half guard but its not really a super tight leg hugging style.. he does a lot of his control with 2 on 1's on his opponent's arms which again is all about stopping anyone getting to his head.

He also has a really good omoplata from that sort of structure that he can lead you into with his arm controls. Not sure if any of this stuff is of much use to you without seeing it I guess. Hopefully some useful ideas at least.

 

[JustTheTip]

You should go with your instincts. I've never experienced any injuries playing guard since I went to playing BF/X pretty much exclusively. Especially since playing them right involves spending a lot more time sitting up than being on your back where you might get stacked. The rare times I do invert it's always to defend the pass at a distance, I rely on controlling inside space to prevent heavy passes.

I'm just concerned about the handfighting in butterfly. Alot of passers like to set it up but pushing the head. No issues with that though?

 

[Zankou]

Pushing the head isn't usually that big of a deal because guys don't push that hard ... they would be vulnerable to arm drags and 2 on 1 if they did ... and even if they did push hard your upper body would just rock back.

Mostly people do it to fuck with you and get you to open up, not to create pressure. Much more worrisome are guys who attempt to jump guillotines or cradles and such, since that puts a lot of torque on the neck.

 

[Uchi Mata]

I'm just concerned about the handfighting in butterfly. Alot of passers like to set it up but pushing the head. No issues with that though?

If your posture is good it shouldn't be. The only thing I'd worry about in that respect are guys jumping on guillotines or other front head locks, because that could put some pressure on your neck. Though even then, if your posture is good those are rarely dangerous (or even get fully locked in). I'd say too that if you're more gi focused you can play more of a distance butterfly like Wardnizski where you're relying more on sleeve + collar or double sleeve such that you don't get quite as close in and clinched. That would probably be safer for your neck.

 

[Hit-N-Run]

Hey Sherdoggers, im recovering from spine/neck surgery and eying a return to BJJ and hopefully competition. In the past I played distance guards and Triangles were my #1 competition submission. Due to my injury, i'm looking to completely change my game. Obviously I want positions in which crossfaces or face and neck pressure is reduced.I also want something I can play gi and nogi. So far i'm thinking X guard/1LX guard and butterfly guard. What are some of your thoughts?

Best thing is to not train. Neck/Back injuries are not to be trifled with. You don't want to spend your adult life in pain. I would wait it out until fully healed. Read, study videos......