Guard retention – the ability to keep your legs and feet between you and your opponent – is one of the most important skills to master in Jiu-Jitsu.

If your opponent can’t pass your guard, they won’t be able to get a dominant position.

And if your guard is effective enough, you’ll be able to sweep and submit anyone who tries to pass.

Below are 4 reasons why you should always be focusing on guard retention:

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Defense 🛡️

If you can stop your opponent from passing your guard, it makes it almost impossible for them to submit you. You can then control the pace of the round/match and not have to worry about your opponent’s attacks.
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Offense ⚔️

When you stop worrying about your guard being passed, you can focus instead on sweeping and submitting the person trying to pass… This allows you to be more aggressive from a bottom position, helping you create more offensive opportunities.

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Control 💪🏽

When your guard retention is on point, it’s easier to control the distance between yourself and your opponent.

This makes it harder for them to strike or pass your guard, depending on the scenario. And you can dictate the pace better, as well as the flow of the fight.​
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Transitioning 🎬

The more effective your guard retention, the easier it is to transition from a defensive position to an offensive position, or vice-versa.

You become a more adaptable fighter, better able to flow with your opponent’s movements.​
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I hope that some of these ideas help you going forward. If you’re looking for specific resources to help to develop your guard, I’ve got you covered…

​>> Click here to see how I can help you <<​

Oss
Andre

Andre Galvao
Atos Jiu-Jitsu Head Coach
Jiu-Jitsu Hall Of Fame Member​
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