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

[@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

[@batdorfvideo]

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😜

[@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

[@neilm6412]

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

[@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.

[@BH-ix7nq]

​@@R0FLINABROTHEL his guard is so good, not even the coach could pass. He now owns the gym and is too busy for KZbin. ✊️

[@MatthewRichter-xc6eo]

been training forever, this is the best into to lower levels. covers all the basics. love your videos mate

[@LeeZamArt]

Incredible video. As a 2 stripe white belt I struggle with having good retention. Working on these ideas to eventually build on offensive sequences. Thank you

[@imaginethatttt]

Dude, as a 6 month white belt, this has been extremely helpful! Thank you so much!

[@PTB-s4o]

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.

[@david4475]

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

[@CanaRollcreations]

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.

[@codynelson3475]

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

[@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!

[@Trap_Mills]

This was a very good video, Thanks Chewy. I’m opening a new gym for my instructor soon and I’m panicking with an urge to strengthen my fundamentals.

[@zZilent]

So true, so many good mindsets and technique. I''ll be experimenting with the iron squirl position, I really really want to feel confident to be able to feel confident to esscape side control. My guard retention for a white belt isn't horrible (in my success with higher belts), I've studied and experimented alot with it. But knowing when to retreat, go to defense, and setting up escapes is some thing I want to get REALLY REALLY GOOD AT. THANK YOU!

[@tededo]

An upperbelt who tookmme under his wing once saw how I was training rention and he said: retention is when your guard suck, and rentetion mean you'r jiujitsu is profusly bleeding. You should never retention. he mentionned names f good grapplers who, indeed, never or barely rentent. They attack the guard passer, the wrestle up vs the passer, they ankle pick the passer, so on and so forth. He then proceed to teach me his lasso and spyder. I was mezmorized and couldnt pass his lasso. Then he said, you see, cause my guard is decent, I wont ever have to do retention.

[@zZilent]

@@tededo Awesome, great perspective. That makes sense to, my game is developing on how I want to go about things, I try to take a lot from wrestlers to stay dominant then taking power riding into account ( still learning, but concepts of it) but my real game lies on my different guards. x. delaheva. I tend to wrestle up when I can so I don't have to play this exhausting game of defending my self from my guard/side. When I originally commented on this I was purposely working on the retention, and developing a high pumble, and at the end of the day my mind came to this..why? why all this, when I should always be getting 4 points of contact, and connecting to them, if I'm in a state where they are running around me, grabbing my legs and passing, I'm not using my guard right. Just pure mindsets and perspective and REMEMBERING to do whats needed to end in more favorable positions. Connecting and being sticky and working from these once in position has been game changer.

[@mateo9862]

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

[@letsusbreakitdown3222]

absolutely humbled by your phenomenal break down! dam dude!

[@steveco.1234]

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

[@Chewjitsu]

Looking forward to meeting you there!

[@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.

[@927Cole]

Just got my blue and these tips are very helpful. Thanks man

[@ouzoshots9865]

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

[@rstonelee1311]

This is definitely in the top 10 YT videos I've seen. Thanks!

[@emonmaitra7837]

Thank You Coach!

[@NHunter-Author]

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

[@huskylord123]

Amazing compilation. Thank you for this!

[@joshmiller6885]

Great video Chewy!

[@anonoumos]

20 min video by chewy, hell yea

[@wadup606]

I love this iron squirrel, thanks!

[@patrickreagan7784]

Helpful stuff,Chwstr.Thanks!

[@carlburr852]

thanks for simplifying this stuf chewy

[@jvera718]

You’re a good teacher!

[@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

[@tron1495]

Thank you Coach. I just started BJJ!

[@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.

[@FR-ty5vn]

I’m gonna work that Iron Squirrel 🐿️ - really helpful video - thanks so much - one question, when you lock that stiff arm out how do you ensure you don’t get armbarred - just be aware and quickly retract into a T-Rex?!

[@Jason_Wheeler]

Thanks for the info

[@bigMCLR]

Thankyou Coach 🙏

[@docabj8097]

Fantastic content!!!!

[@DoggosAndJiuJitsu]

What is… “My Game,”? “That is correct.” “Thank you, Alex. I’ll take noob jitsu for $500.”

[@JiuJitsuAdventureGuy]

Thank you ChewJitsu 😎

[@thelastchimp]

brilliant video

[@tylerdurden7918]

Great video

[@michaelhaner4866]

I'm kind of a beginner I did some 10 years ago, but know I'm constantly getting into arm bars and triangles what am I doing wrong?

[@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

[@sleeplessdev7204]

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

[@kingchief4038]

Essential Knowledge 🤠

[@cameroncabrera6476]

Only been going for like a week or two. Everyone blows through my guard like it’s nothing. Watched this video before class and no one got passed my guard today except the black belt instructor

[@xfit88]

Gold.

[@damluar]

"Big Bubba fella" got me laughing 😂

[@chrismcreed]

Appreciate the 300 pounder shout out 🦍😂🫡

[@lovedavis7376]

The iron squirrel might be my first special move 😂

[@RJG86X]

The shoulder of justice!! 😂 oh man

[@jiujitsujunkee]

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

[@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!

[@DiaryOfaCell]

My guard needs a major overhaul

[@SovannPenBJJChannel]

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

[@linksvexier9272]

Nice

[@charleskeesee1426]

🙋🏻‍♂️I’m one of those 300#’s🙅🏻‍♂️

[@armymikeymike]

Iron Squirrel T shirt incoming?!

[@morpheus2072]

Dude you weigh 200 pounds?

[@Chewjitsu]

@@morpheus2072 yeah why?

[@sanjuansteve]

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