Guard Retention details you need to know

[@mushonti]

Solid gold! So many teachers count on you figuring this stuff out intuitively. This will be a game changer for many. Thank you so much!

[@benhinn7751]

And the teachers who count on you figuring this stuff out are jerks who just want to hold back the secrets but they have no qualms about taking your money. I have met so many purple, brown, and even a black belt who don't know these tricks Jon is teaching. I am able to pass these higher belt guards and I'm only a blue belt. In my opinion if your instructor hasn't taught you this stuff at purple belt then he or she either don't know these secrets or they are not willing to teach you.

[@flipao1]

I was going to write exactly the same, this video is a absolutely amazing!

[@sangminna9322]

7:00 Thank you 🤙

[@DelasVC]

Yep, which speaks to their quality as a Coach since the whole purpose of a school is that you DON‘T have to find out by yourself but rather get a solid groundwork tought and then start building on that in your own way..

[@performancej8017]

@@benhinn7751 great point.

[@mcanu667]

Thank you coach! This video earned me my second stripe on my white belt. Actually, not the whole video - only the part about connecting the elbow with my knee. Just this concept is a game changer, life saver. People started to have actual problem with passing my guard. It was like taking a shortcut in the whole process of learning. Now, I feel that when I will internalize all the concepts you mentioned I will become the Neo of BJJ :D Thank You once again!

[@MrMilkyman89]

Nice video bro, too many people online miss out the basics like this or save it for paid videos. Really well broken down and nicely put across. Helped my guard retention infinite amounts. Thank you

[@DerRapper-hs2zj]

Thank u so much for these vids. Really appreciate that u put out this content for free, when u could easily demand money for it. Heres hoping for many more to come. Greetings from Germany

[@user-sk4nt5bm5r]

sssssssst! ;)

[@jaybekay01]

This is just what the doctor ordered. I'm always getting my open guard smashed. I've been starting from the bottom for about a month to improve my guard but I'm finding my sparing partners too fast for me to re-establish my guard. Thanks JT. I'll try out these techniques over and over again to save my guard. Thanks for everything.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

John_K No problem buddy hope the techniques are still helping with your development

[@WillyWhompa]

Love this conceptual work. I rarely if ever see this type of stuff taught.

[@MrSinusu]

This video is a gem. It teaches me what measures I take in order not to get passed. Thank you very much.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

시늬수 No problem buddy happy you found it useful!

[@performancej8017]

these details are exactly mistakes i got and i tried to look for answers for a long time even my teacher told me just took time to practice, but i haven’t learn much from them. your points covers everything i need.

[@AbuDurum]

Thank you so much. This was so well explained and I have been having problems with people passing my guard when they start going around. I am also thinking about adding pushing with the far arm on the opponents face or behind his elbow in the direction of where he wants to pass to while still maintaing that near side elbow/forarm and knee tight, and then sit back into a butterfly or whatever.

[@Aceinthehole1179]

Love your vids man! You’re such a great teacher. So many instructors know BJJ, but just can’t illustrate & speak as technical as you. I’m a white belt & this will be great implement in class. Thank you for your vids

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Mister Twister thank you so much I will keep the videos coming!

[@rockmeetspaper1166]

I really appreciate this breakdown!! This will help be step up my guard retention to a much needed higher level. I will be watching this again and again.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Rockmeetspaper 1 Happy it helps, it’s really useful for me as a coach to always be able to reference people to this video when at a seminar or after quick question in class they can always use it as a guide

[@ModusPwnens72]

This is huge, thanks so much! So many of these details and strategies are never explicitly taught, so this is really helpful. Your videos also demonstrate that even when there is a ton of material out there, there is always room for new good content. I'd be super surprised if these don't blow up!

[@Wrench-King_of_Angmar]

Tightened up my guard retention a bit with this! Thank you!

[@omid981]

Absolutely amazing!!! I knew most of the concepts as a purple belt but it all came together wow had very hard time against black and brown belts with my gaurd retention many thanks!!!

[@linusji1732]

The last one with the foot on the floor is what I has been doing all the time, and until today I din't even know it's wrong! thanks a lot!

[@christopherpena4965]

Really appreciate all of these. I'm a 3 week white belt and your videos help so much in explaining Why and when you position your self etc etc. My instructor is great but obviously having video reviews to practice and study on off days helps tremendously.

[@ultimaforsan899]

I love this style of teaching - you explain WHY to do something very well. Good stuff!

[@AamirTime]

Awesome elbow detail. Forms a strong structural triangle without using strength and helps prevent being turned over. Thank you.

[@desmundreid3368]

Amazing details! It really helps me because I want to get better at being connected and retain my Guard effectively.

[@olivierdepryck5610]

Finally... Looking for this video since 2010! Can you make more videos about guard retention? For example: when they succeed in pushing the knees to the side - granby roll out of it. Or stiffarm and sit up on your elbow or hand to shrimp out. Thank you very much!

[@jonlau7937]

this is like an hour worth of concepts all in comprehensive 10 mins :) ... opposite elbow on the floor = mind blown :D

[@TheTazman63]

I enjoy the small details you are covering. As a new purple belt, I find the small details are key. Thanks again

[@modgrip805]

I learned my far/mid guard from just watching Roger Gracie doing collar hip. Thing is, he knew exactly what he was doing and I didn’t appreciate all the minutiae that he had made second nature. For months my guard got passed like a knife through butter. It’s only when I realised I was pushing too much on the hip, overcommitting to the pressure that I stopped sucking at it. This was one of a hundred similar experiences over the 15 plus years I’ve been pyjama hugging. I guess my point is; most high level players can’t explain the concepts behind their techniques because they are so instinctive. The best coaches teach concepts. You’re a good coach 👍

[@DefinitelyDean]

Massive appreciation for this! I’ll be studying this for sure & checking out your other vids. (the subscribe button got hit within the first 60 seconds of viewing). Great teaching 😉

[@channel4jiujitsu290]

Awesome vid Jon. Watched this in late 2018. Coming back to it now, what you said made much more sense--having the experience of rolling/specific training with these things in mind.

[@Leopar525]

You’re the best in explaining concepts

[@liengphy8827]

Thank you. It is a very useful technique for guard retention. I am always being passed easily to side control whenever I play guard

[@MahoganyBeatzOfficialChannel]

amazing after watching Jon last two videos, I went to practice and none of the blue belts could get pass my guard. I rolled with one guy for ten minutes I controlled his sleeve for ten minutes and he never thought to break out of it. my legs just kept shifting from his left to right biceps. he was totally confused. and my professor only allowed me to sweep as my offense which I m not that good at plus my leg is injured. thanks Jon you 10x my game. jordan teaches recommend you as channel to watch.

[@johndean2170]

I get passed into side control all the time as a 3 stripe white belt. Like you said I feel like I grasp the techniques well, but these sparring scenarios are tough on beginners who are doing something that's hard for the professor to teach a student before they are in the situation. Thanks for the video! Will definitely try adding these small details into my game.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

No problem buddy happy the videos have been helpful!

[@saadbenchalal935]

I don't know, but i feel like you're the best channel to teach bjj . thank you very much. plz keep posting.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Saad Benchalal Thanks so much buddy really appreciate it!

[@tyy123]

Man these little details are really really really helpful

[@ygorsiqueira1028]

I watched this video twice and used it rolling bro this is game changer

[@chgtffk1]

Really good detail on guard retention essentials. Thanks for posting

[@305tactical]

Thanks for great details and videos, it's all I wanted to know about guard retention.

[@kenjanowiak4162]

Great video dude. Cant believe ive been missing a couple detsils for so long. Cant wait to get on the mat tonight , and try it out.

[@Toddry]

This was extremely helpful to my guard. Thank you for your concepts.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Danger Man Hope it’s still helping 1 year later!

[@jasond6602]

Dude, love your channel! Love the concepts way of teaching!

[@josenildo6558]

Youre very didactic, and its helping me a lot Thanks for the videos! Would be awesome if you could do some videos explaining some especific types of guards, like the closed and the lasso, and under how cirscunstances you switch between them

[@lbcmatt1]

Incredible details! Thank you for sharing this. Subscribed.

[@imerected1]

Keep all these concept videos coming! Really helpful!

[@onetwo4833]

Fantastic video man, I can't wait to start practicing this stuff. It's exactly what I needed.

[@hugomcdinosaur5273]

I'm trying to develop my guard game but it usually goes: try to setup guard - the other dude does some vanilla pass - anxiety and desperation - guard collapse - bottom side control. This helps immensely! Thanks!

[@marcusfamo8154]

Please keep making these. Great vids to supplement my game.

[@36424567254]

extremely useful, I really needed a better understanding of this distance

[@bradbettis9210]

amazing, couldnt find these key details anywhere else. I was making some of these mistakes

[@stephenrogalla2108]

Great breakdown that knee to elbow is clutch

[@luisvasconcellos4549]

High quality content, congratulations. Please keep making more videos!

[@evarela12]

Thank you very much, this clarifies a lot. Really appreciate it!!!

[@richarddukard8989]

These are so great! Please keep making videos (:

[@stepheninczech]

Very nice, going to try that knee slide counter tomorrow.

[@FfSsBb]

Thank you for the great details and great video output! Always looking forward to your next lesson!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Ferdinand Heider Thanks buddy happy the videos have helped!

[@neonoir1989]

This video is so informative and to the point. Looking forward to more. Subscribed.

[@Remotecontrol1990]

Could you do a video on transitioning between guards such as spider, lasso, and de la riva and why you would? More from a retention standpoint.

[@markb1001]

Thanks Bro, loving your videos, They have helped me at classes!!

[@pizrux6592]

ugh i fucking needed this. i could never keep my partner from getting side control and was lucky to get half gaurd. this really helped thank you!!!!

[@benpurcell591]

Great details. You've got some fantastic vids 👍

[@dna8269]

Any chance you could do a video on the knee slice and also addressing knee slicing with long step grips (something the Mendes brothers have been doing the past few years and something that has interested me due to the ability to combo the knee slice with long stepping and leg weaving quickly)? I'd like to see how you teach the knee slice since there's a lot of varying instructionals on it, but also your thoughts on using the long step grips, including getting to the grips and finishing the pass. With the long step grips, I've specifically been having trouble straightening the leg (pant grip side) behind me in order to cut through for the pass. The opponent typically keeps his leg tucked in and it can be tough to push and straighten it out behind me.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

dn a I’m definitely going to cover the knee cut soon. I will do a few videos on knee cut because I use a lot of different variations. As far as the long step grips you mean pant grip with back hand and collar grip with front hand like Romulo knee cut?

[@dna8269]

JonThomasBJJ Yep, exactly. I recall the Mendes bros saying they use those grips almost exclusively these days due to the ease of transition from pass to pass, so I've been digging into it more

[@orangeInc311]

@@dna8269 I know you posted this ages ago but hopefully you're still training. Rafa had a match against grippo that's been uploaded to yt, you should check it out because he does the pass you're describing in it or at least tries it a few times

[@dna8269]

@@orangeInc311 Much appreciated bro. I'll check it out. Still training but I'm temporarily laid up with a rib injury so ive got time to watch some matches lol

[@orangeInc311]

@@dna8269 unlucky man. If you didn't know the Mendes website has a free trial so you could learn it off their site if you want but other than that I'd definitely binge watch Jon if I was you haha

[@Stonelandscaping_pools]

Thank you much for sharing this is awesome!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Joe Stone No problem buddy doing my best to help!

[@gmilligan]

Busy working my way through all your videos. Could you do a video on retention vs low level pressure passing?

[@victorsimonlee]

Awesome video. Thank you.

[@ryantwalk]

Now this is a good video. Thanks.

[@danielrezaee4801]

Ur videos are great!

[@Nerales_]

Fantastic, thank you.

[@mr.reberdo6141]

Great video! Thank you!

[@karwengloo361]

Great stuff. Any advice on leg drag defence?

[@nathanclements1986]

Awesome !!!! Glad I was sent here, OSSSS

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Happy someone suggested the channel!

[@Vscustomprinting]

excellent teaching style!

[@likeminas]

Great video! Appreciated

[@powerfuldags]

Damn why haven’t I heard of you before!!! Good shit ! Osss 🤘🏿🐸🤘🏿

[@andrewkim6037]

Very helpful video, thanks!

[@DS-te9nm]

really helpful stuff, thanks

[@nature_Quran]

Do u mind if u teach us how to escape knee on belly in your next few videos?

[@conor-_C]

just did that in my last class

[@jesseascriven]

Awesome video!

[@modestogarciasantos2585]

thanx a lot for your vids

[@Omgiamsotriggered]

Thank you professor! oss

[@brucemoore4]

Great Video!

[@JamezAdam]

Great Tutorial! 👊

[@RaveSamurai]

Thank You for this video OSS

[@channel4jiujitsu290]

Wow, this is amazing

[@cv0669]

great video as usual

[@mariosolorzanojr90280]

This dude is good!

[@andyandkevinbjj5064]

Those are nice mats. Where Did you get them?

[@ivanramirez57]

so good!

[@terryvideo]

super helpful!

[@Jblazer88]

Thanks sensei

[@ddaley814]

Are you at risk of a far side leg drag when you bring the outside leg in to recenter? These videos have been fire!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

ddaley814 no I think you are very safe in that situation. When your hips are centered like this it’s really easy to just reloop the other leg in to recompose. When. You get turned really far on one side you are much more in danger of a leg drag.

[@eschelar]

I find that smaller, flexible guys have really good guard that is hard to pass. For me, I am much bigger and I have a broad, thick back. I don't spin well at all and usually all my opponent needs to do is keep their distance and keep going around in circles to tire me out and when I start to slow down, they just walk in and pass. For someone small, turning is much easier. For someone large, it burns a ton of energy. So I will often wait for them to just pass and go into defense from there. This is bad for me, of course. But I never see tips that apply to bigger guys so I don't have much choice. On the up side, my defense is getting pretty good. However, I would like to have some tips that are effective for bigger guys. There are many situations where starting from standing is not advisable (especially crowded mats), so this is particularly relevant to controlled sparring or positional sparring rather than general competition.

[@michaelrotch3057]

Enjoying your channel! I have a question about stopping the knee cut. I’m a smaller guy with a similar build to you. Often I’ll hide my elbow under my knee to reenforce it. But at times good knee cutters will reach beneath my knee, grab my sleeve, pull it out from under my knee and straight up flattening me out. Is there a way to stop This ? Thanks

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Michael Rotch It seems like that should be pretty hard to do from thinking about it. What is your left leg doing? Are you trying to lasso at same time? If you want add me on IG or Messenger and you can send me a video and I will make a short video response for you.

[@michaelrotch3057]

JonThomasBJJ hey I just saw you replied to this- Sorry about the super late response!! Yeah I’ll send a video ASAP

[@Lesnewbold]

Great stuff, instructor don’t tell u these things, much appreciated! OSS

[@jasond6602]

I would like your thoughts on escaping the modified mount. I get stuck there a lot.

[@2000jjcjfl26]

Soo good! Thank you. Just curious what would u do when the opponent tries to go north south without any grips? I have a dude in my class who is fast and while I'm on my back, he I'll stand up and disengage; he won't get any grips but will try to run around to go north south. Then settle in when he gets north south and I can't place my guard anymore.

[@bEeeatem]

Track his movements with your close side arm and your far side foot. If you can reach him, that's enough. If you can't reach, then he is too far away to engage anyway and you should have time to do a movement with your hips to square up. Worst case scenario: you can invert and the square up.

[@bgalvani]

That's legit! Thanks for sharing! Oss

[@andrewbrown6512]

One question, regarding the elbow on the floor. This will obviously impact your ability to spin/travel with the guard passer. Thus, do you only use this when he/she decides to try and move into you? In other words, are you TRYING to connect with him so that you can move accordingly, elbow into the floor when they press in, or are you tracking him using another method? You don't want to just sit there with your feet in the air as he moves around you..right?

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Andrew Brown great question buddy will address soon in a video

[@andrewbrown6512]

@@JonThomasBJJ Thanks! Looking forward to it

[@rujiajavi]

please, we need instructions with the inverted guard.

[@kofiadugyan169]

I've been playing with this and it's been great! One thing I've run into is what to do when they're deep on my frame and I can't bring the other leg in. I've been using the Marcelo Elbow Push when I run into it. What would you recommend?

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Kofi Adu Gyan Deep on your frame you mean they are really close to you and you can’t lasso your other leg in to recompose? Not sure I understand the position you are referring to.

[@kofiadugyan169]

JonThomasBJJ Yea, that's it. I guess I'm not preemptive enough about recentering before they put down their weight, but the frame is still good so I'm safe. I just wasn't able to swing the other leg to the bicep or body. They were also either blocking the other leg or hugged it. The elbow push took care of every situation, I'm also trying to think of a few other things I can do though

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Kofi Adu Gyan so I would suggest watching my first aide escape video sound similar to that situation, just before they fully establish. Instead of lassoing try to get side of your foot on hip. I show that in my side Control common mistakes video

[@kofiadugyan169]

Yup. I've been working the pin escapes into practice and they've been serving me well (though I need to start being more pre-emptive.) It's a bitch and a half for me to stop people that glide from side control, to N/S, or some other position, as they meet resistance.

[@Endolean]

It's mind boggling how many bjj schools don't teach fundamentals like this

[@ivarkjerstad]

When you do the "Shell" pass defense and you frame against your own leg with your hand, isn't there a chance of hurting your wrist if your opponent is really throwing you to the side/putting a lot of weight on..? Just an observation. Anyways, great stuff!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

I have never had that happen I think it would be hard for the guy to generate enough force to hurt you there also focus on posing with your palm more than the top of your hand where it can bend back if that makes sense

[@zoetekauw9647]

Defended with that knee-to-elbow frame and got the arm janked right into an arm-bar... any advice?

[@bencookestunts]

More concepts pls

[@C4Combatives]

Legit brother!