General System of Guard Retention

• Guard position divided into offensive and defensive cycles
• Offensive if you have strong mechanical connection and control
• Defensive when opponent has broken connection and can create angle and distance
• Must be able to recognise when in offensive and defensive cycle
• Number 1 error, confusing offensive and defensive cycles
• This a heuristic system, not algorithmic one
• When connection to opponent is reduced, they can start passing you

Three Physical Sill Sets

1. Posture Skills Seated, Supine, Turtle

2. Movement Skills Pommelling, Scissoring, Hip Heisting, Back Heisting, Rolling, Sitting, Inverting, Shrimping, Scooting, Propping

3. Framing Skills Forehand, Forearm, Backhand

Three Tactical Skills

1. Threat Assessment Made via Demarcation Line Theory - toe line, knee line, hip line, shoulder line centre line, left side line, right side line Jeopardy line, hip line and side line

2. Appropriate Reaction Determined via 5 Requirements Theory Grip, Angle, Close Distance, Change Levels, Pin

3. Finish Every Sequence in Offensive Cycle You need to end defensive cycles with an offensive cycle Use a cross collar and sleeve grip, foot on hip and foot on bicep

Unforced Error Avoidance

Chest Exposure

Head Exposure

Four Steps For General Guard Retention

1. Identify the threat based on demaractaion lines and the five requirements of guard passing
2. React with appropriate level of response using frames & body movement
3. Recover centreline alignment and legs
4. Finish in an offensive cycle

Specific Guard Passing

1. Double Under Guard Pass
2. Over Under Guard Pass
3. Toreando Guard Pass
4. Leg Drag Pass
5. Knee Slice Pass
6. Long Step Guard Pass

Six Fundamental Conditions to Pass Guard

1. Break connection to guard player
2. Get a grip on guard players legs or hips
3. Get angle
4. Close distance
5. Level change
6. Pin

Demarcation Lines

• Toe Line If your opponent tries to come in without regard of your toe line the guard player can attack Easy establish four points of contact

• Knee Line (relation to Hip Line) You want your knee line above your hip line unless you have four points of contact

• Hip Line If the guard passer gets past this they have passed your legs

• Shoulder Line Represents an area where your opponent can go around to north south

• Centre Line General rule, guard player should try to stay centre line to centre line for retention

• Side Lines Side line intersects with hip line is single most important part of guard passing. Jeopardy point is right at side of belt, opponent is trying to control that space

Simple Body Movements to Retain Guard

• Pommeling legs Move hips and legs in circles Knees move back and forth and hips move side to side

• Shrimping Sliding shrimps you move out to an angle

• Reverse Shrimp Pulling yourself forward

• Hip heisting Like technical standup but only to knee

• Back heisting Come to side, scissor legs and come to knees

• Sitting Windshield legs out and spin out

Putting Movements Together

• Put all together like shadow boxing