Most Important Guard Principles

[@Draw1sts]

Principles is something that is looked over from a lot of instructions. Thank you for providing a mindset to help develop the skill. Bravo!

[@JohnnyRugged06]

Your lessons are always very scientific and very practical. I think you are one of a handful or two of top tier instructors in the world.

[@waaagh3203]

I watched this like 3 times before open mat today. I'm a big guy with a good (compared to my other skills, not compared to actual good BJJ) guard pass. So, today I just went guard. Guard, guard, guard. And freaken a, I tried to follow your principles and honestly it improved what I was doing so much. Kept my distance. Kept on one butt cheek. Took the grips they gave me. I did 1000% better (against the other big guys, too). These concepts you're teaching us, they worked better than learning a bunch of techniques and grips from guard position.

[@zacharywong483]

Awesome video Jon! Your explanations are so logical and easy to understand!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Thanks a lot buddy I really appreciate it!

[@Unibot47]

This was SO valuable. This and your seated guard passing video, holy hell it's nice to have SOME sort of clue what to do in these positions. Months and months in, and I'm still just learning whatever random technique is taught that day, and when it comes time to roll I'm utterly clueless and helpless, never able to pass anyone's seated guard (and just end up in their guard) thanks a ton for these videos!

[@flicker5419]

any update to how you got past this? i am one month in and this is exactly how i feel

[@Rathi04]

Shoutout from STL, we have several people at the gym that watch your content. Top notch!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Hope I can visit again soon!

[@GrapplingwithPhysics]

Your videos have been getting better, more polished, and more useful. I love this one. Thanks 🙏

[@alanhaine644]

Back at it again with the golden content - thanks for sharing!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

No problem I enjoy making these videos and it helps me organize my own way of understanding jiu jitsu!

[@aaaaaa-nf7lg]

Tactical comment, as always very helpful content, thanks for sharing concepts

[@JonThomasBJJ]

No problem happy you liked the video!

[@robertlester4569]

Very helpful. Thank you. I've found that guys will try to time me to pass. When I reach for grips and then lay back to put my feet in place, they will shoot past my legs before I get my feet in position. The principle of building grips from a distance is really going to help I think.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Yeah falling back and chasing the hips when they are close is a game killer. Distance and make sure your feet track correctly don’t go to the hip when you fall back if they are bent over or you have a sleeve otherwise they will jump past your legs

[@robertlester4569]

​@@JonThomasBJJ Ah, that is exactly what I'm doing. Thank you. I'll start looking for the biceps instead.

[@ahmedabbasalshammeri5461]

Very instructive coach thank you so much. Can you show how to establish proper grips from stand up and how to pull proper guard without being passed directly or without going to an insecure scramble?

[@JonThomasBJJ]

I will make a video on pulling Guard soon! Great topic choice!

[@Shaka_Garami]

@@JonThomasBJJ Hi Jon, could you please include something about pulling directly into sweeps if possible?

[@ahmedabbasalshammeri5461]

@@JonThomasBJJ thank you coach, forgot to mention, how to pull proper guard and incorporate these mentioned open guard principles after the guard pull, like a system.

[@jackpower182]

Great explanation, many many thanks!"

[@byron_bliss]

Hi Jon! First of all, thanks for all the great content. Your explanation of concepts are super helpful for a beginner like myself. Now to my question: I’ve seen some supine guard videos where they advice for a guard where you ball up, pull your knees close to your chest and place your arms on the outside of the legs (to assist with alignment and make it easier to grip fight). I’m having a hard time understanding what I should prioritize, since you mention maintaining distance is key, but in my case I feel that when I try to maintain distance from supine is when I get passed. I’m not overextending over 90 degrees with my knees. What is your recommendation here? Try to ball up when supine and get grips, then extend my legs or continue to practice the distance management while not being reckless with my elbow knee space? Hope I didn’t confuse you to much with my explanation 😆.

[@Aceland1]

Great one, thank you

[@pascalgraf1413]

Great video! I also started to dive into the new courses on your website. Great comprehensive content, can't wait for the De La Riva course!

[@CantHandletheParrot]

You're brilliant at videos mate

[@atlanticsligo]

High quality information as always! Thank you

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Thanks a lot Ryan! Really enjoyed the last trip there!

[@victorcostalima2966]

AMAZING VIDEO!!!!!

[@JSMinstantcoaching]

Sitting up is good in ibjjf or other organization rules, but terrible in mma or self defense. It might be out of this context but it is good to remind this. I guess

Pure gold.

[@angiepeters7198]

Brilliant !!! I loved it.. hey jon, what advice would you give to deal lack of vision of chances into a game? I mean i know techniques, however when i arrive to a good position and pressure is on me, i cannot see anything...in specific a bottom game... Thanks for your videos, they are awesome

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Hey Angie! Happy you liked the video! Did you mean if you don’t have good vision so it’s hard to see things, or do you mean you can’t visualize or decide what the next attack should be because you freeze? Just want to better understand the question so I can answer more specifically. Thanks!

[@angiepeters7198]

@@JonThomasBJJ when i am front of pressure i cannot visualize what to do in order to get the sweep, because i freeze..the question is how can i develop those aspect of visualization under pressure?

[@SM-dg8do]

Great content as always, I have a question regarding collar sleeve guard, my opponent always seems to posture out of it. While they're stood upright have you any sweeps that you could recommend or would you try & re-guard? Thanks

[@jopperrrr]

Nice!!!

[@whateveritwasitis]

With the sitting up when there's no contact and space dictates.. I feel it's the same as 2 shoulders, you've got both hips in the ground now. I'm automatically frantic and worried I feel like if he gets any kind of grip he's easily able to get around me? I'm just trying to understand

[@reggiw.4708]

Very informative video! I am interested in purchasing your courses but wonder if I need to wait until I am able to train more than 2 hrs/ week, on average, so the courses are beneficial ...

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Hey buddy the best thing I could recommend to get better at jiu jitsu is to find a good training partner you can work with a lot outside the gym. If you only train at gym it’s hard to have time on your own to develop you need a lot of private time to work.

[@reggiw.4708]

@@JonThomasBJJ I absolutely agree! I am a higher ranked female law enforcement commander and don't have a lot of female or male peers/friends I can train with outside of the gym since the hours would be random. I tried to get my husband interested so we could train, but he is an outdoor enthusiast and lacks genuine interest. 🙄😄 I will get this figured out. I have been training - albeit sluggishly - for 3 years and truly enjoy the sport and want to go full in. Thank you for responding. This channel is awesome!!

[@chadbraswell5515]

Good stuff

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Thank you!

[@javiazar]

As a new white belt, I see people do guard as I try to pass and it feels like fucking magic.... how in the fuck...

[@josephher5042]

Any sale on ur collar sleeve system during labor day?

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Hey buddy not planning on it right now. I’m adding videos to it over time and updating it so it’s a growing library.

[@josephher5042]

@@JonThomasBJJ I see, I was not aware it's a growing product. Probably will still get it.

[@antoinevonburg0404]

Devid changed with time.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Yeah he gets more and more tan lol

[@JENDALL714]

Tackle and Grapple!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Haha love key and peele

[@wattwatt9838]

nice video Ossss

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Thank you!

[@Ignacyjablonski12]

Tips for bjj guys with long hair? how do I tie it so it doesn't fall out.

[@ayylmao889y]

What position is 5:08 and 5:53 called?

[@JonThomasBJJ]

It’s De La Riva X Position, I just set it up using a knee grip. Super powerful position!

[@SlickNickster]

OSS!

[@Hardwork213]

😀

[@t.s.2006]

Obligatory like and comment

[@5gallonsofwater495]

Another thing I heard from someone is to push and pull.