### BJJ Technique: Open Guard An open guard is a fundamental **position** in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that provides a base for several attacks and strategies when playing from the **Bottom** position. It is characterized by the **legs not being wrapped around the opponent's torso** but instead being used for distance control and sweeps. Here is a detailed breakdown of how to perform an effective open guard: --- #### Steps to Play Open Guard Effectively: 1. **Establish the Position:** - **Set up:** Start in a seated position with your knees slightly bent and feet off the ground, creating a dynamic base. - **Use hands:** Grasp your opponent’s sleeves, lapels, or wrists to establish grips, maintaining a connection that prevents them from closing the distance. 2. **Manage Distance:** - **Leg placement:** Use your shins and knees to maintain the space between you and your opponent. Your feet can be on their hips or thighs. - **Movement:** Stay mobile and ready to adjust your position by using your core; this makes it harder for the opponent to pass your guard. 3. **Create Angles:** - **Hip movements:** Rotate your hips to move around your opponent. This shifts your body position and opens up opportunities for submissions or sweeps. - **Footwork:** Use your feet and knees to create angles, providing leverage to off-balance your opponent. 4. **Transition and Attack:** - **Sweep options:** Perform sweeps like scissor sweep, shin on shin sweep, or hook sweep using the angle created by your legs. - **Submission setups:** Use opportunities for submissions like triangles, arm drags, or armbars by maintaining your grips and leveraging foot placement on the opponent’s body. - **Stand-up possibilities:** Stay ready to switch to a standing position if needed by base posting with one hand/foot to stand swiftly. 5. **Recovery and Defense:** - **Counter pass attempts:** It is critical to recover the guard if passed or prevent passes by repositioning your legs to hooks, adjusting grips, and using frames. - **Stay composed:** Keep seeing gaps and anticipate their movements to maintain open guard control effectively. --- ### Applications of Open Guard: - Transitioning between variations of guards, like De la Riva or Spider Guard. - Setting up sweeps and submissions by playing a versatile, fluid game. ### Tips & Considerations: - **Body Awareness:** Stay aware of your center of gravity, maintaining balance and readiness to transition. - **Grip Strategy:** Having strong, strategic grips disrupts the opponent’s posture and aids in maintaining the guard. - **Foot Movement:** Essential to keep your feet in positions to push, pull, or elevate your opponent as needed. ---