8 Reasons Why Your BJJ Guard Retention Sucks (And How to Fix It)

Today's video is going to be a little bit longer, but it'll be worth it if you're struggling with your Guard Retention.
A message came in from a viewer named Collin who says his guard retention sucks, it gets shredded, and he wants some tips to get better at this area of his BJJ.
With that being said, as a guy who came to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from Wrestling, I'll give you a couple reason my guard retention sucked at first and then give you some of the solutions I've found in my Jiu-Jitsu journey.
I'll give you 8 different tips in this video, in no order of importance.
Hopefully, if you're struggling with your guard retention like Collin, then you found this video helpful.
Thanks for watching.
- Chewy
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[@anonoumos]

1:00 #1 Don't let people get head control 2:45 #2 Don't give up the underhook 5:10 #3 Use frames correctly 8:35 #4 Make a tactical retreat when losing the guard passing battle 10:50 #5 Know the time for defense 12:27 #6 Understand what your goal is with guard retention 15:23 #7 Get a grip on your opponent 17:40 #8 Be able to survive in bottom of side control

[@user-go2xi7zq5q]

Thanks

[@daveregan8488]

Hero

[@artemthetrain14]

That first tip upped my guard retention literally 1000%. Literally just hearing Gordon say "don't let them control your head and shoulders" and using that frame against a knee cut made it click for me

[@lorenzolonghi8697]

same thing for me, facts

[@jode94]

Same. The sheer number of times I have done this and had this happen haha. I just watched this, taking it to open mat tomorrow

[@markbaker1237]

Mine was going for the hip every time. That would leave the cross face open and every time I would kick myself for letting them get the head that easy. It's because I'm framing against the hip thinking that's the best way to keep distance. Thanks chewy

[@NollaGirl504]

​@@markbaker1237 Me too! The iron squirrel he taught in this video has been working like a charm for me. I'm coming up with the under hook ever time now😜

[@neilm6412]

Chewy this was one of your best (at least for me), videos.

[@codynelson3475]

All good stuff as usual, but the video qualit has really stepped up a level. Love it!

[@slord1512]

Given how informative this was and coming from someone who’s purchased a lot of videos on BJJFanatics, it feels criminal to not have paid for this. Appreciate the content as always! This one was next level

[@NHunter-Author]

Awesome video, Chewy! Thank you for such great content.

[@huskylord123]

Amazing compilation. Thank you for this!

[@letsusbreakitdown3222]

absolutely humbled by your phenomenal break down! dam dude!

[@ouzoshots9865]

Great Video, one of the best to take your jujitsu next level. Thank you Chewy

[@joshmiller6885]

Great video Chewy!

[@mateo9862]

As a guard player who struggles with guard retention, this is awesome! Thanks Chewy

[@david4475]

Este video en cuanto a la retencion de guardia es oro puro. Muchísimas gracias hermano 🤙

[@stevecolvin1234]

Good stuff. Looking forward to your seminar in Branson, MO!

[@Chewjitsu]

Looking forward to meeting you there!

[@patrickreagan7784]

Helpful stuff,Chwstr.Thanks!

[@user-gz1nw3mc7y]

Thank you so much. This is something I kind of know and have kind of worked out but, it’s never actually been explained and put into words. Super simple but totally fundamental and something you can’t not know and succeed. Excellent, thanks.

[@derekhailey6997]

I'm one month in and my guard retention is obviously trash. This was great, going to watch it six more times and go to open matt tomorrow.

[@R0FLINABROTHEL]

How'd it go man? You still going strong?

[@johnmitchell4124]

This is absolute gold. I'm still a no stripe white belt, and am messing around with half guard, but find myself so static in the position at times and it becomes a case of how long I can survive before I get passed, number 4 will absolutely give me less time getting flattened out on my back. Thank you for all your content Chewey!

[@docabj8097]

Fantastic content!!!!

[@carlburr852]

thanks for simplifying this stuf chewy

[@jvera718]

You’re a good teacher!

[@LucasBedardbjjNorthernRonin]

Thank you ChewJitsu 😎

[@bigMCLR]

Thankyou Coach 🙏

[@thelastchimp8670]

brilliant video

[@anonoumos]

20 min video by chewy, hell yea

[@wadup606]

I love this iron squirrel, thanks!

[@tylerdurden7918]

Great video

[@jimmyshookog3509]

Damn, I still like the full guard option as a purple belt and when he said its for white belts I was hurt lol. Back to the lab I go. Great video.

[@RaveyDavey]

Roger Graice loved the closed guard and won world titles with it.

[@kingchief4038]

Essential Knowledge 🤠

[@markoniksic3630]

Excellent video, thanks coach. How would you manage a big guy in your guard that managed to get a hold of your neck and is pressing his shoulder into your face? Thank you

[@Chewjitsu]

Like, from full guard?

[@markoniksic3630]

@@Chewjitsu Yeah, full guard. He is just to heavy to get off once he grabs my neck and smashes his shoulder into my face

[@RaveyDavey]

@@markoniksic3630 By full guard, you mean closed guard? Closed guard against a very strong person can be exhausting. Maybe don't do it. Or get some good attacks going so he's worried about that and not just crushing you.

[@Glory_Jiujitsu]

My biggest hang up here with this advice is the iron squirrel thing you do. On a frame like that I would highly suggest your legs be involved, if they get passed you legs then big shrimp out create space get the legs back in. Guard retention is more on how you move your hips than it is how you frame. Frame is the last resort, with hip movement to get the legs and feet in as primary movement. I’m in the middle of teaching my students guard passing and guard retention. The thing I harp on the most is hip movement. We don’t want to rely upon frames. We follow that by connection. Constant connection with both sides of the coin. In general this is great video for white and blues, maybe even new purples. I personally just wouldn’t ever use that iron squirrel thing, it locks in your arm and good player will squash that arm and trap it with their chest then if you do come up with and under hook there you open yourself up to a darce attack.

[@Chewjitsu]

That’s cool bro! You definitely don’t have to use it. That said, it works great for me. Like anything else in BJJ there’s more than 1 way to do things. And as far as the darce, it’s possible, but what move in BJJ isn’t without its counters? Heck even guard retention that involves bringing the legs back in can make someone vulnerable to leg attacks or misdirection.

[@lamassu8479]

My favorite one is to bring my far side knee and far side arm to his hip and neck and extend my body to bring the near side knee inside or stand up.

[@xfit88]

Gold.

[@chrismcreed]

Appreciate the 300 pounder shout out 🦍😂🫡

[@damluar]

"Big Bubba fella" got me laughing 😂

[@RJG86X]

The shoulder of justice!! 😂 oh man

[@michaelabello6999]

A tree without limbs is much harder to move than a tree with many branches…. Very few people think and teach that. Great stuff 🤙🏼

[@pawelsz4825]

Thnx

[@jiujitsujunkee]

If my coach is out there, he ain't talking bout me, I promise 😂

[@DiaryOfaCell]

My guard needs a major overhaul

[@linksvexier9272]

Nice

[@SovannPenBJJChannel]

Before I watch I'm going to guess I check off four of the eight. 😂

[@OneStripeRyan]

“This is why your guard sucks”, Well I feel like you’re talking to me and I’m insulted as I watch the video and learn some valuable tips to improve my guard!

[@armymikeymike]

Iron Squirrel T shirt incoming?!

[@sleeplessdev7204]

How do I prevent my stiff arm frames from getting arm barred?

[@RaveyDavey]

Arm bars require more than just an arm sticking out. They need to get their hips to your shoulder and your arm to their chest etc. Framing with your arms out is a much earlier stage. If you're getting armbarred it probably means you're either leaving them out way past the point they are useful frames or doing it at the wrong time - such as when you guard has already been passed, e.g. in mount.

[@charleskeesee1426]

🙋🏻‍♂️I’m one of those 300#’s🙅🏻‍♂️

[@sanjuansteve]

@14:02 Yes, 4 limbs vs 2 is a clear advantage.