Closed guard cross grip series (arm drags, sweeps, etc)

[goatfury]

Here's a high percentage sweep series I've been using for about 15 years now. It's easy to start using right away:

http://hubpages.com/sports/Closed-Guard-Arm-Drag-Sweep-Series-a-Goatfury-BJJ-Tutorial

Check it out and let me know what you think!

 

[anaconda]

I like this series a lot. One detail I found which helps me, especially when going to the back, is passing his hand under my gripping hand so I am punching his hand away, so to speak.

Doing the grip that way makes it easier to come up on the elbow without letting go of the grip.

 

[goatfury]

passing his hand under my gripping hand so I am punching his hand away

Had to read this like 3 times, but I think I do this as well. Definitely helps a lot!

 

[Kaffe]

My favorite sweep setup from closed guard. So simple, yet so effective.

 

[kpoz12]

Great stuff as always. Been focusing a lot on good ol' closed guard a lot lately.

 

[goatfury]

My favorite sweep setup from closed guard. So simple, yet so effective.

It's really impressive (to me) how easy this is when I get the position, even on a much bigger, stronger partner.

Great stuff as always. Been focusing a lot on good ol' closed guard a lot lately.

Thanks, Kpoz! My gym does monthly themes, and we have closed guard month coming up here pretty soon. Really looking forward to this one.

 

[Vitamin C]

Classic series.
Have been really inconsistent to the point of it being more of a break in training. Starting to come back I've decided to go back to closed guard and work on some basics, and this seems to be like, a natural reaction I go to.

I like that move to the s-mount. Normally I'd try for a back mount from there but that seems like it might be a more powerful and higher percentage option. Guys are thinking you want the back and are highly defensive.

Thanks for the insight.

 

[goatfury]

Classic series.
Have been really inconsistent to the point of it being more of a break in training. Starting to come back I've decided to go back to closed guard and work on some basics, and this seems to be like, a natural reaction I go to.

I like that move to the s-mount. Normally I'd try for a back mount from there but that seems like it might be a more powerful and higher percentage option. Guys are thinking you want the back and are highly defensive.

Thanks for the insight.

First off, welcome back to consistent training. You're absolutely right about going to S-mount often being easier than getting the back. People are so ingrained to fight giving up the back that they'll often not see what's right in front of them (a sweep into S-mount) for fear of you creeping in that direction. Let me know how this works for you!

 

[Russky]

Great! Simple and effective, as always.

For the cross grip I grab with judo grip at the elbow, getting slack out, twisting and immobilizing elbow joint; then pushing that elbow inside thus breaking posture. This small thing gives me huge advantage in control.

I usually go for an armbar or high guard from there, but your back take looks very interesting, I'll try it, thanks.

 

[goatfury]

Great! Simple and effective, as always.

For the cross grip I grab with judo grip at the elbow, getting slack out, twisting and immobilizing elbow joint; then pushing that elbow inside thus breaking posture. This small thing gives me huge advantage in control.

I usually go for an armbar or high guard from there, but your back take looks very interesting, I'll try it, thanks.

Good stuff! Sounds a lot like the way Roger Gracie does this in competition. Ever seen him do that?

 

[Russky]

Good stuff! Sounds a lot like the way Roger Gracie does this in competition. Ever seen him do that?

No, but I'd appreciate if you have link to that video. I find bjj fights a bit boring, and prefer watching judo.

Since I train bjj/judo in parallel all these tricks are coming naturally. BJJ and judo are extremely complimentary. I took half a year break from bjj recently, concentrating on judo. When I returned I found that passing open guard is just walking around with judo grip breaking skills. In judo I am ending up on top when I get thrown sweeping opponent on reflexes, without even thinking about it.

 

[HtomSirveaux]

nice, I completely forgot about that second option you show. Hit it yesterday, so thanks!

Revamping my closed guard right now and trying to build everything off this cross grip. I've always liked dragging the arm for pendulums and back attacks, and when I can't get that arm across, I'm using the cross grip to either set up the arm wrap or do a modified hip bump. It's all working together pretty well so far and lets me be constantly offensive.

 

[goatfury]

No, but I'd appreciate if you have link to that video. I find bjj fights a bit boring, and prefer watching judo.

Since I train bjj/judo in parallel all these tricks are coming naturally. BJJ and judo are extremely complimentary. I took half a year break from bjj recently, concentrating on judo. When I returned I found that passing open guard is just walking around with judo grip breaking skills. In judo I am ending up on top when I get thrown sweeping opponent on reflexes, without even thinking about it.

Let me see if I can't find a good example of Roger using this grip. I know what you mean about judo and BJJ being 100% complimentary (I actually started judo first, thankfully).

 

[goatfury]

@Russky - this is damned good:

 

[goatfury]

nice, I completely forgot about that second option you show. Hit it yesterday, so thanks!

Revamping my closed guard right now and trying to build everything off this cross grip. I've always liked dragging the arm for pendulums and back attacks, and when I can't get that arm across, I'm using the cross grip to either set up the arm wrap or do a modified hip bump. It's all working together pretty well so far and lets me be constantly offensive.

This is a fantastic way to think about things. I would add (if you're comfortable doing so) a basic posture control to overhook series, in case you can't get the initial cross grip, and I think you'll have a very dangerous closed guard.

 

[Russky]

@Russky - this is damned good:

Thank you very much spending for your time on this. I enjoyed watching it.

It would be quite presumptuous of me to give an advice to Roger Gracie, and I only trying to illustrate the way I am making the grip.

I noticed that he is holding the sleeve in the middle between elbow and shoulder. I hold it right at the elbow joint to have more leverage. At the same time I take all slack out, so elbow joint cannot be bent. It helps limiting grips on my gi. This also cut blood supplies to the forearm, it becomes "choked" and gets weaker.

 

[kjg1672]

I rarely try the pendulum unless I get the arm drag like shown in the video. Getting a pendulum without this setup seems to work only on white belts for me, and even then not always.

 

[Codger]

XDan Lukeharts science the closed guard app is IMO pure gold for this stuff. Great details that I've added to my game immediately.

 

[anaconda]

Thank you very much spending for your time on this. I enjoyed watching it.

It would be quite presumptuous of me to give an advice to Roger Gracie, and I only trying to illustrate the way I am making the grip.

I noticed that he is holding the sleeve in the middle between elbow and shoulder. I hold it right at the elbow joint to have more leverage. At the same time I take all slack out, so elbow joint cannot be bent. It helps limiting grips on my gi. This also cut blood supplies to the forearm, it becomes "choked" and gets weaker.

I hold it like Roger does, but not quite as high. The reasoning is that the grip allows you to push their arm in/across their body much easier. Moreover, the grip is a powerful way to stop them from moving their arm back. And since it is higher up than the elbow, they can't rotate their arm out of it.

I do it right above the elbow. Roger is almost in the armpit. I've never noticed that - thanks for pointing it out.

 

[goatfury]

I think I see what @anaconda and @Russky are saying, and where you guys differ. The elbow grip allows a better flaring out of the elbow, kind of like a Russian grip in wrestling or judo. The triceps grip allows better push across for the drag. IMO, both have merits.