Top 8 BJJ Attacks From The Closed Guard

Are you the BJJ grappler who wanted to uplift the give with the easy and technical moves of the closed guard? Then you are at the right place; the art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu focuses on taking various positions from the guard position.

Closed guard is one of the most important positions in BJJ, allowing the practitioner to execute many submission methods. In this article, we will perfect the eight most essential submission methods from the closed guard position. 

The martial art of jiu-jitsu is the finest art based on the fundamental positions of the guards. These guards are further divided into the different types that provide the best possibilities for an athlete. 

Closed guard is the most effective position in which the bottom player’s back is placed on the mat. The fighter takes the dominant position by placing the legs at the opponent's sides. The legs target the lower body to maintain control over the opponent.

The fighter will prevent the movement and find out the way to apply the submission method, it is the basic method that the beginner white belt BJJ practitioners use. The fighter can apply any submission method, which includes:

• Guillotine choke
• Triangle choke

The fighter can apply multiple submissions after completely gripping the opponent's lower back. This is the basic position that beginners learn at BJJ. The key is to get comfortable with the closed guard, which will help you apply the submissions properly. 

Close guard is a dynamic position that has been part of various martial arts centuries ago. It has a distinct origin, where it was performed by grapplers of various martial arts. It has recognized its origin in judo; the fighter Osvaldo Alves worked for its effective prominence.

Before it was recognized in BJJ, the closed guard was part of the Japanese martial arts. In the late nineteenth century, it became part of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The Gracie family started using closed guards, and later, they evolved into jiu-jitsu. The basic purpose of using the closed guard is to take control over a massive opponent by gripping their lower body. 

Closed guard is the primary method used by the BJJ white belts; this is the fundamental position used by the expert BJJ grapplers. The guard's positions allow the fighter to improve their skills.

Every position is specified with the related actions or targets. For instance, the closed guard is applied when:

• Keeping the legs wrapped around the opponent.
• Keep your hands in the X or cross shape that will block the path to target your torso.
• Pull the opponent close to you so there will be less or no space in between.
• You tend to break the posture of your opponent.
• Do not constantly put pressure on your legs; instead, hook them in place and focus on applying the submission.
• Make sure you are fully alert to the techniques used by the fighters.
• Breaking the posture of the opponent is the essential part.

Closed guard is used at all levels, starting from the white belt to the jiu-jitsu experts. It is an essential tool for every grappler, and it is used in both offensive and defensive positions. The top BJJ contenders and BJJ G.O.A.T are experts in closed guard.

The closed guard position allows the fighter to control the opponent from the bottom position. It is the most useful attacking position, and it restricts the opponent's motion after breaking its position. In this article, we are going to explore the various submission methods that can be applied from the closed guard position. 

Armbar is a method that typically targets the arm of the opponent. It is a joint lock that works against an opponent's arm and elbow joints. The tricky joint lock works against the joints and creates maximum pressure over the arm. Armbar is also a part of various martial arts.

The armbar is also known as the cross-arm lock or juji gatame. It targets the arm's joint, and pressure is applied to the hyperextended arm, creating immense pressure on the joint. It is a versatile move that can be applied from various positions, including the mount, side control, and closed guard.

• In the initial step, the fighter controls the opponent in the closed guard position.
• The fighter grips the opponent's lapel with the opposite hand and drags the opponent downward.
• The fighter uses the second hand and creates the choke by holding the opposite side of the collar or lapel with another hand.
• The opponent will place the hand on the opposite shoulder.to get out of the grip.
• At that point, the fighter will keep one leg behind the shoulder and the other leg over the shoulder.
• Make sure to grip the arm by moving it in the opposite direction. Otherwise, the armbar will be challenging to apply.
• The fighter spins the legs over the shoulder, creating torque, and the opponent goes for the tap.

The scissor sweep is the fundamental position used in Brazilain jiu-jitsu. The fighter uses the sweep to trap the opponent between the legs. This scissor sweep works in cross-motion, where you have to hold the left sleeve or arm with the right hand or vice versa. The spare hand is used to grip the collar of the opponent to drag them down towards you.

The fighter uses one foot as the base, which is placed on the ground or mat to apply the sweep. The other foot is unhooked and placed over the top or back of the opponent. Turn to one side after lifting the hip in an upward motion. Move the legs in a scissor-like motion and disbalance the opponent.

• The fighter uses one hand at the shoulder of the opposite side.
• The other hand is used to hold the knee on the same side.
• The fighter places one leg over the floor in the standing position, with the knee facing upward.
• The next step is to raise the hips above the mat and turn to the opposite side by applying pressure.
• If your opponent is placing the leg on the floor to create the base, use the same side hand to move it under the shin and pull it outwards.
• Move the hips upward and turn the hand towards your head, creating a way to turn the opponent to the other side.

The triangle choke is the most effective submission method used in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. It is an effective choke that provides the highest percentage; it is part of the various martial arts, including judo, and it is the method executed in mixed martial arts (MMA).

It is applied in BJJ Gi and No Gi tournaments. It is a versatile move that involves placing the legs around the neck. It takes the shape of a triangle and applies pressure to the neck, shoulder, and backbone. The triangle choke is a blood choke that restrains the blood flow from moving upward or downward.

If the triangle choke is applied more than the required limit, then it can make the targeted person unconscious due to the lack of blood flow.

• The first step is to get into the closed guard position. If a fellow fighter is blocking the movement by placing a hand on the torso, you need to fix it first.
• Move the hands in between both arms and slide them with force. Or you can move the hands inwards to drag the arms of the opponent in the outward direction.
• Bring the knees in the upward direction and pull the opponent towards you. (this step will help to pin the opponent)
• Get his head close to his torso while dragging it with your hand; try to keep it as close to the chest as possible to restrict the motion.
• Keep one arm of the opponent under your shoulder to apply the remaining steps.
• The next step includes the quick hip escape, in which you slide your hip upward to execute the triangle choke.
• Unlock the hook and slide the hips in the upward direction.
• Keep one leg over the back of the shoulder.
• With the free hand, hold the tricep and slide the knee under the opponent’s arm.
• The final step is to put the leg over the shoulder and lock it with the foot hook.

Kimura lock is a powerful submission method that can be applied from the closed guard position. It is a four-figure lock that is kept on one arm of the opponent. It works in two ratios, in which the fighter keeps two hands gripping one arm of the opponent.

It is the joint lock that works on the leverage or the torque; it targets the shoulder joints with the backward movement of the hand. It creates an extremely painful effect that makes your opponent submit immediately after tapping. Let us explore a step-by-step guide for executing the kimura lock by a closed guard.

• The first step is to get into the closed guard position after keeping the legs at the opponent's lower body and making a hook at the back.
• Protect the torso so that they will not be able to attack you.
• The crucial step is to take control over the wrist of the fellow fighter.
• Take the knee of the same side and lift it upwards in the direction of their tricep.
• The opponent will bend downwards; now, use the other arm and put it over the tricep that will reach your wrist.
• Hold the wrist with the four-finger grip and then put the same side leg over the opponent’s back.
• Finish the submission by applying the pressure over the arm that will make your opponent go for a tap.

Omoplata is a shoulder joint lock technique used in multiple martial arts, including judo and catch wrestling. It is applied with the help of the legs and targets an opponent's shoulder.

It is the submission that provides the maximum advantage, it is the popular method that is used in Brazilian jiu-jitsu to pin the opponent. It is famous for the name of ashi sankaku garami in which the fighter uses the leg and hips to target the opponent. It is the joint lock that creates the leverage with the rotation of the armpit at almost 180 degrees.

Omoplata's submission can be easily performed with the closed guard position after breaking the angle or posture of the fellow fighter.

• The first step is to get into the position of the closed guard.
• If the opponent grappler wanted to take the dominant position after gripping the lapel, then react with the grip of the sleeve using the opposite hand.
• Slide to one side and move the other hand under the leg of the opponent.
• In the next step, the fighter puts the right foot over an opponent's shoulder.
• Lift the opposite side hip as much as possible ( do not leave the leg holding with your hand).
• The face of the opponent will move toward the downward side.
• Put the leg over the tricep of the entangled arm.
• The fighter holds the arm with one hand and the upper part of the shin area with the other.
• To finish the submission, bend the arm downward towards the opponent’s leg and hold the opponent's belt with the other hand.
• Pull the belt and sit along with the opponent’s grabbed arm, and with the outside arm, go under the armpit of the opponent.
• Do the hip escapes to finish the omoplata submission.

The cross choke is a strangle choke used in BJJ to submit the opponent. It is a classic choke that works from the mount or closed guard position. As the name signifies, the cross choke is applied by making the ‘’X” or cross with the hands that target the lapel.

The fighter targets the collar or lapel of an opponent with both hands and then pressure is applied to choke the neck. A cross choke works on the grip of the hand instead of the pressure of the arm.

• The initial step is to create the right hook of the foot at the back of the opponent.
• Use the opposite hand and grip the lapel of the opposite side.
• Pull down the opponent close to the torso.
• The next step is to use the other hand to grip the lapel, either from the front or from the back of the neck.
• The final step is to switch the position of the hip, move the opponent's head upward, and place your hands close to each other.

The guillotine choke is a dynamic move and chokehold used in judo and BJJ. Because it is executed from the front side, it is also regarded as the front naked choke.

It is the chokehold that resembles the rear naked choke (RNC). The only difference is in the execution of the strangle. A rear naked choke is applied from the back, while a guillotine choke is applied from the front. It can be applied even in a standing position.

The Guillotine Choke is a headlock that restricts the blood flow from moving in an upward motion. This technique was used over three thousand years ago, and over time, it was modified and executed.

• The fighter takes the closed guard position, which targets an opponent's lower body.
• Pull down your opponent so that he keeps the elbow on the mat. This is the best angle to apply the guillotine choke.
• Use the opposite arm and move it over the shoulder.
• The fighter has to create the base while he comes in the sitting position.
• Move the hand in a backward motion so that the hand comes in front of the opponent’s neck.
• The legs of the fighter come in the upward direction; this angle is taken to maintain the position for the proper angle.
• The upper side of the hand is placed at the front of the neck.
• Make sure there will be less and no space between the opponent’s head and the fighter's ribs.
• Use the other hand to tighten the grip. Place your back on the mat. Lock your arm by keeping the hand on your hand for the finish.

Americana lock is a technique also used in various martial arts. In it, the attacker uses the four-finger lock to submit the opponent. It is applied by locking one arm in place with two arms.

This arm lock is also known as a wrist lock, keylock, or even joint lock. The fighter controls the arm by making an angle of L using leverage. It is similar to the kimura lock, but the difference is in the direction of the hand, which points upward instead of downward.

• The first step is to tighten the legs' grip around the opponent's ribs.
• Change the angle of the opponent by bending him to one side.
• Keep the face of the opponent on the knee and grip the armpit with the leg grip.
• In this way, the arm of the opponent will come at a straight angle.
• Make sure the lock of the legs is very firm.
• Hold the wrist of the inside arm and keep the other hand over your hand to secure the grip.
• For the finish, push the arm in the outer direction.

• Maintain the grip of the legs to stay in the dominant position.
• Do not let your opponent to target your upper body.
• Lift your hips upward, which will allow you to get the space for trapping your opponent.
• You will get better control by keeping the legs over the opponent it will also increase the mobility.
• The primary goal in the closed guard is to keep your legs wrapped around the opponent's body.
• Maintain the closed guard and prevent the open guard position.
• Keep the hands in the upward direction to block and apply the grips for the submission.
• Put the concentration to break the posture of your opponent.
• You need to disrupt the balance of your fellow fighters.
• To finish the submission, pull the opponent in a downward direction, and then he will go for a tap.

The closed guard method provides the maximum advantage in targeting the opponent after getting close to them. It works as a protection shield against the opponent, as the fighter creates the hook at the back of the opponent and provides the benefit of putting the opponent in place.

The fighter will have the advantage of staying in the dominant position to make the offensive moves. There will be little or no space, and the fighter can easily apply any of the submission techniques.

After maintaining the limited space, the fighters have the opportunity to apply the sweeps, which can easily break the opponent's posture. 

The closed guard position evolved with the passage of time and is now the fundamental position used in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The fighter keeps the back over the mat and wraps the legs over the opponent's sides. With the foot, he creates the hook. The BJJ fighter uses this closed guard position to execute multiple submissions, including an armbar, kimura lock, and guillotine choke. 

The upside-down mount position closed guard provides the fighter with the maximum advantage in applying sweeps, takedowns, and submissions. The fighter in the closed guard position can control the opponent with both hands and legs. 

The first step is to break an opponent's posture and have a controlled grip when applying the submission method. The next step is to isolate the targeted area, create the perfect angle with the leverage, and apply the pressure to submit. 

The closed guard is the versatile position that allows the BJJ fighter to submit the opponent with effective attacks. It is the perfect position for doing the sweeps and transitions. Closed guard is the most effective position in which the bottom player’s back is placed on the mat. The fighter takes the dominant position by placing the legs at the opponent's sides. The legs target the lower body to maintain control over the opponent.