How to improve ones guard?

One of my problem in the guard with striking being allowed is that my opponent tries to sit or stand up to strike. Although striking from inside someone's guard is far from being as effective as striking from the mount it can still hurt you a lot, IMO at least. I do my best to pull him down close to me to avoid his strikes or at least minimize their effectivness and then try to go for a sweep. But this isn't always as easy - especially if I am exhausted.

So my questions are: * What are some methods to improve one's guard? * What is/are the best grip(s) to keep someone down in one's guard? Waist grip (double underhooks)? Double overhooks? Triceps + neck grip? * What is the BEST thing to do when someone sits or stands up in your guard to strike you?

Gi, any suggestions regarding being on the bottom of the guard with a guy who outweighs you by at least 60 lbs and you can only use technique, no punches or strikes? Judo rules only. Ideas?

GOU RONIN® - The Unforgiven... ICQ# - 49024165 AOL IM - GouRonin mIRC - #americankenpo - On Dal.net

Thanks a lot for your detailed answer! I'll try the things out as soon as I can.

I wouldn't pull him down because then he can wedge his wrist into the back of your elbow and sit up into an armlock, the harder you pull down on his head the more it locks you into this situation without hope of escape. The smarter thing to do is to elevate your torso up to him or to set your forearm on his thigh and reverse into a kneelock, provided that you can't scissor sweep or half bridge to reversal. The kneelock gives him your back but if you do it right he's not likely to argue with you much physically about whos got who.

You go for an elevator sweep or the superman one (both legs on his hips and pull him)

This sounds good, but I find it hard to alawys get my head under his left arm.

And adding on to this, no strikes, what is the best sweep to do. I usually just go for an elevator witht he tricep + neck grip.

I am working on the flower, but am not great with it yet...what do you usually go for? I like the elevator, but if i get predictable with it I get my guard passed when i insert a leg hook.

Also, whats your favorite guard pass when the person is on one knee (other leg up)?

'guard' has more to do with distancing, and footwork.

hip away and try a variant of the open guard. either dtandard runothemill open, or hook inside his thighs and play butterfly or situp guard. Judo guys are generally clueless about situp guard, and if you don't know specifically how to pass, you pretty much can't. Also, many subs and sweeps from here.

I know several good open guard drills if you want to practice it.

later,

What am I the friggin answer man?

Yeah. Armbar him!

Jeez, that was easy. Give me a tough one.

But seriously, use open guard, not closed. Feet on hips, one hand inside collar, other on sleeve,feet push him away. Dont let him keep his weight on you, and once you get him back, sit up. Get a foot inside his thigh, hooking it for a half butterfly guard. Now you got tons of options, far more than him.

their crayola:

I have been using the open guard and it's ok, better than using my feet to hook inside the groin to try and flip him. It's just a lot of weight to be dealing with either way. I agree that when I stay out further I get better results. Like I said, my problem is these guys outweigh me by at least 60 lbs and are a lot stronger and usually power their way through. I like to go for the choke but they are getting wise to that and I need to stay on top of this. Thanx.

GOU RONIN® - The Unforgiven... ICQ# - 49024165 AOL IM - GouRonin mIRC - #americankenpo - On Dal.net

Don't go to the bottom?

nuts) scribbled with their crayola:

Love to avoid it. It's a weight and size issue.

GOU RONIN® - The Unforgiven... ICQ# - 49024165 AOL IM - GouRonin mIRC - #americankenpo - On Dal.net