### Leg Neutralization Technique Leg Neutralization is a defensive strategy to control and restrict your opponent's leg movements, aiming to limit their ability to sweep, reposition or submit while helping you control the encounter, usually preparing a pass or improving your positional advantage. There isn't a specific Japanese name for this technique. #### Possible Position(s): - **Closed Guard** - **Open Guard** - **Butterfly Guard** - **Half Guard** #### Detailed Instructions **From the Closed Guard:** 1. **Posture Up:** - Begin with good posture inside your opponent's closed guard. Maintain your head up and a straight spine. - Place your hands on their chest or hips, avoiding their arm grip. 2. **Secure One Leg:** - Stand up on a staggered stance, keeping one knee between your opponent's legs. - Use your nearest hand to push against their knee on the side you have assumed a standing position. 3. **Break the Guard:** - With the knee pushing against the thigh, start applying downward pressure. - Use the standing leg’s hip movement to apply additional pressure to open their guard. 4. **Control the Hips:** - As the guard breaks, hold their leg just above the knee with your forearm. - Use your other hand to trace the leg inward ensuring their knee points away from your center line. 5. **Neutralize and Enter Pass:** - Drive forward to pin the leg to the mat, and pivot away to pursue a classic guard pass. - Keep weight on your opponent's leg by leaning your weight on it. - Alternatively, initiate transitioning into half-guard control. **From the Open Guard:** 1. **Establish Tension:** - Catch your opponent's ankles with a firm grip immediately upon entering their guard. 2. **Drive — Neutralize:** - Push one of their legs outward using both of your arms to direct their shin toward the mat. - Maintain considerable pressure with your upper body as you settle into side control preparation. 3. **Reduce Mobility:** - Keep the ankle fixed in place with your weight on top of it as you proceed towards a pass. 4. **Counter Hooks:** - Address any De La Riva hooks by stepping back with the trapped leg and immediately transitioning back to pin their knee to the floor. #### Notes - Leg Neutralization can be applied effectively if you maintain pressure throughout the transition to not allow recovery. - Focus on consistent control and ensure your own hips remain active, which helps to break down the opponent’s potential defense.