Developing your guard (Avoid these mistakes)

[@jonlau7937]

taking notes! as usual, great breakdown 1- guard retention comes first - when first developing your guard 2 - don't be so caught up on a (one) specific guard - each of them have a specific purpose. Investment in many guards 3 - Keep an open mind training new guards - you may be not good at first but thats normal; worth the time to put in 4 - Focus on in 3 types of guards - one for: Attacking, Sweeping, "Rest" ← money right here!

[@orangeInc311]

I like it!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Jon Lau Awesome happy you put that in there buddy it’s great reference for everyone including me!

[@nicocontreras5366]

Thank you, I cannot watch the video right now but this helps as a guide.

[@TakedownBreakdown]

I love that phrase: "Technique to overcome cardio." I knew it to be true, but I have never heard put that way

[@codyperry5331]

Jon, your videos are great and so helpful to my game, I started training about 7 months ago and the spider lasso guard is the easiest and most effective guard by far to date especially when it comes to regarding, you're a genius and love your material. Oss

[@canada_rye]

The conceptual ideas are the best. You can find videos on any technique, but it's the insight of your experience that I've been getting the most out of.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

canada_rye yeah it’s amazing when you are going through the process those annoying little struggles, failures, Highs, lows you take for granted at the tone and realize way later that experience has value to some people. Anyway happy it has helped

[@canada_rye]

@@JonThomasBJJ Definitely has! Thanks again!

[@peeelco.4202]

LOOOVE the concept videos. No one covers this stuff it seems... Thanks, Jon.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Peeel Co. happy you like it will be doing more of them as it seems to be really popular

[@MortoBJJ]

Awesome information!! I definitely would like to see connecting spider lasso to de lariva plus kneeling heavier opponent trying to attack double unders etc.

[@nicocontreras5366]

Such a good advice, I have problems with the modern guards but was doing by instinct what you call single leg guard so I´ll try to follow that rule of 3 types of guards.

[@GooseAndOpie]

New to BJJ and have found your breakdowns to be incredibly helpful as a beginner. Thanks, and keep the good content coming!

[@musacpuerto]

Excellent insight. Thanks for these videos. Been looking far and wide for general/abstract ideas that I can work generally.

[@pallkvaran2903]

Don't think I've ever written a youtube comment before but just felt the need to give you a proper thumbs up. Definitely my favorite bjj channel - always straight to the point, crammed with useful tips. Please come to Uganda and do a few seminars! We'll take you on a safari.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Pall Kvaran wow happy you likes it enough to want to make your first post. Safari sounds great!!

[@pallkvaran2903]

@@JonThomasBJJ Well don't know how serious you are, but let me send you a fb message with some more info just in case ;)

[@scottiekemp2951]

Thank you for this Jon! I play a lot of open guard and always switch between them. Some times it is mindlessly in doing so. Or I will continue to try and make my spider guard work and not switch to another guard. Just the few examples you just gave, has me thinking on what to do different. I always appreciate your work.

[@Aceinthehole1179]

You are truly brilliant on and off the mat my friend. Love your videos, your knowledge, and your wisdom. It’s quite obvious you’ve had 16 years of experience. I honestly felt like you were talking to me, I’m just a white belt and that’s how I’ve been thinking. Good stuff man.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Mister Twister Hey thank you so much for the compliment. I’m just so happy to see people care about those experiences, when you’re going through the journey you don’t realize the value those lessons actually have. So happy to share them and hope it makes your journey a little easier.

[@andrewkim6037]

Thank you Jon. As a newbie, I really appreciate this post.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Andrew Kim happy it helped wish I knew some of this when I started

[@whydoihavetoaddachan]

Great video on the concept of developing strategy. I've been rolling a bit on autopilot lately and need to get back into rolling with a plan in mind. Really needed this, thanks!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

whydoihavetoaddachan yeah rolling on auto pilot is fun sometimes for sure but if you want to have consistent results I find systemizing your game to be the best path towards linear long term improvement

[@eternalelitist1936]

Concepts are key, thank you!

[@nicolastellocamacho2305]

Guard retention drills and tips pls! Awesome work oss!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Nicolás Tello Camacho Thank You!

[@MrAC8787]

I'd love to see a video that shows your gameplan for competition. Specifically, I'm curious to hear your strategy for standup (guard pull vs. takedown), whether you have a specific sequence you go for to start a match (e.g. guard pull --> collar sleeve --> sweep --> etc.), and how you think about points and advantages. Thanks!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Alistair this is a great idea will definitely do a KZbin video or IG post with some of these concepts in soon

[@crenatojls]

This video is the beginning of my jiu-jitsu changes... Cheers, mate!!! 👍🏽

[@sheralimalik5525]

Your explaining the concepts are very dynamic. Thanks.

[@ryantwalk]

i'm a simple man, i see a new jonthomasbjj video, i hit like.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

heybrohigh5 lol thanks so much!

[@Georiosss]

It could be a broad suggestion but it would be great to see in addition to this great video some guard transitions. You somewhat touch upon that here, but it would be great to have a few different routes.

[@1ma4ighter]

Not a black belt here but as I've worked on my passing game; I got VERY good, I found there were two other categories of guard notentioned here; there are guards that prevent certain things like; de la riva prevents the passer from keeping a good distance, spider will prevent a pressure passer from putting any pressure on you, so they're kinda intertwined; the more you understand about passing a guard, the more you learn about how to maintain it and vice versa

[@EngineersApproachBJJ]

Love this Jon! Thank you. Food for thought.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

William Edmondson Thanks buddy you’re the best will! Thanks for being such an amazing friend

[@MizzoniDojo]

Really great stuff man. Thank you for your insight

[@michaelrotch3057]

Hey @jonthomasbjj awesome breakdown! I’m curious about your leg lock game in the gi from guard positions/leg entanglements.When do you look to attack legs from bottom and if so would be interested in your approach and setups. Thanks!

[@aaronholland2771]

Love the concept videos 🤗

[@2000jjcjfl26]

Thank you again for sharing your knowledge 😄 Conceptual aspects of bjj is what helps me in the long run.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

steve armstrong Yeah you can only help so much with a single technique bigger picture things are often what matters most

[@2000jjcjfl26]

@@JonThomasBJJ thanks again for all the high quality bjj instructional you have been sharing for free.

[@stantoncochran536]

Phenomenal conceptual clinic on building your guard game Jon! 7 out of 5 stars!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Stanton Cochran Thanks Stan looks like everything is going great for you over there at AOJ really proud of your progress and determination, it’s a rare trait and really stands out about you.

[@stantoncochran536]

JonThomasBJJ Thanks Jon, that means a lot. I still consider you one of my professors and owe a lot of my success to you. You’ve been a great mentor and I really appreciate your help and support over the years.

[@1stmardivgrunt314]

Wow! Thanks. I have a ton of wrestling experience from back in the day, thus gravitated toward more comfort on "top" in Jiujitsu. So, after attaining my blue belt I was coached to start on some butterfly guard, based on my stature mostly. But as I worked on that my first realization was exactly what you said: I got my ass handed to regularly for a while. Which led me to the next realization; that on some people of certain sizes, at my age, Butterfly guard was not going to work so hot. That's when, while trying something else that, I figured out to use the appropriate guard for the situation. Of course, as it pertains to you, your body structure, your Opponent's body structure, and what they are presenting you with as a problem. Which is Jiujitsu, right? I'm obviously no prodigy or phenom here. It's just a life time of different combative type training, that has been preparing me to learn new things. Thanks agin for the affirmation of being on the right track and the tips! Enjoy your coaching.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

1st Mar Div Grunt thanks so much and happy the philosophy makes sense for you. When you really think about it, it just makes sense you should have multiple weapons in your arsenal.

[@ChrisHickmanstl]

Really good concepts!!!!!! I like looking for rest spots.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Chris Hickman That’s because you are lazy Chris!!

[@bunnyazorth945]

Personally, I would like to see a spider guard video about dealing with opponent posturing up, putting their knees behind my lower back. Or how to attack when you got the spider grip and one of their foot in your armpit. And of course, thank you Jon. We love you.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Bunny Azorth you you too buddy! Yeah with foot in arm pit you mean they are stomping your spider hook off?

[@bunnyazorth945]

@@JonThomasBJJ yes, that's it, Jon.

[@egdcbdhcqb1234]

Loving the concept videos

[@JonThomasBJJ]

calum burke happy you like them they are fun to make too so it works good for both sides

[@MrQuidoxz]

Sick video! Having a video with footage of specific sparring (mini games) you spoke about would be great.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Hey buddy I’ll definitely add some more in I did one video like that in the past slim through my video and you will find it

[@gabrielrevelo4232]

Hellow, I saw a lot of your videos and i love it, i could improve a lot in my guard game with the gi, but can you do a video about no gi guard game?

[@cccowboy2576]

Very helpful stuff, John... Thanks! Where is your gym and what is your bjj lineage, John?

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Yixi Zeng Hey buddy! I trained with Rodrigo Vaghi out of St. Louis Missouri and owe a lot to having such a great instructor and group of people around me when I started my career with out their support I would never be where I made it to. I also trained with Romero Jacare Cavalcanti as well as Lucas Lepri and Cobrinha and learned so much from them and received my black belt from Lucas and Jacare.

[@cccowboy2576]

JonThomasBJJ Awesome! Alliance academies have been popping up across China now... Also, L Lepri came to China and had a very successful seminar here in Beijing last year.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Yixi Zeng Yup hope to visit there sometime as well.

[@groundkarate]

Really Good modern striking dojo! Thanks!

[@kyrios6551]

Hey Jon can you go over Lo's knee smash / de la hiva leg pin?

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Kyrios hey buddy yeah I’m gonna try to cover that soon!

[@isaaclevy7469]

Lärorikt! Tack!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Isaac Levy Var sa god :)

[@orangeInc311]

Looking forward to that spider collar guard video!

[@mizujunior2519]

Great video, can you show a high percentage sweep and submission from the lasso.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Mizu Junior sure can will try to get back to lasso soon I have done some videos on it in the past but more can always help

[@raymondramallo601]

Jon when u have a chance cau u show the rumolo guard ? As always great details and insight ☺ thanks

[@JonThomasBJJ]

raymond russo it’s coming for sure buddy

[@havenbjj]

Great insights as always!

[@TakedownBreakdown]

I would love to train with you. What part of the country are you in?

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Takedown Breakdown 👥 hey buddy I’m living in Sweden now actually. I’m guessing you are in the US?

[@TakedownBreakdown]

@@JonThomasBJJ yes I am in the U.S. If I ever get to travel to Sweeden I will look you guys up

[@nicola6789h]

Thanks !

[@volumeoxygen]

What I don’t understand is how people can unlike this video..

[@KingsSVR]

Can you go over hybrid guards or how guards use lapels to improve the position or change the position?

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Did a video with andris on lapel stuff of you didn’t see it, but I can do a video talking about lapel stuff in general

[@gingyenbien2694]

Seems like it’s not your “go to” guard, but I play a lot of butterfly. Any concepts of guard retention from butterfly guard would be great!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Gingyen Bien I love butterfly guard use to use it all the time just when fighting standing opponents use it less, Adam Wardzinski has been doing some amazing stuff with it recently check him out on KZbin. That being said I still use it when guys go to both knees when I’m in lasso I unlasso and sit up and go class butterfly guard style. Love it. Also love old school Leo Santos one of best butterfly guts players of all time.

[@jordanburton4147]

Romulo Guard next. Overview and some connections.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Jordan Burton it’s coming buddy I swear!!

[@afnanbogey]

Conceptual ftw

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Abdul J more conceptual coming!

[@bigLOSdog]

defeating 'Shin on Shin' guard

[@michaeld585]

Deep Half!

[@JonThomasBJJ]

Michael Diaz Honestly my deep half is not the best so I don’t feel comfortable right now teaching much about it until I work it more in depth my self. When I teach stuff I like to have a ton of sparring and comp experience in the position before I teach it. It’s my way of making sure anything I show you is legit.

[@michaeld585]

@@JonThomasBJJ totally fair. It can be an unforgiving position in my experience. Thanks for putting out such insightful content. My training partner's don't like it. 😈

[@jordanburton4147]

You made my day when you said you will do a video on the Romulo Guard. Give your boy a shootout then! Follow me on ig @BlackOpertativeNo7. Great context as usual

[@nahuelvillegas]

REVOLUCIONARÍAS EL MUNDO DEL JIU JITSU EN LATINOAMERICA SUBIENDO VÍDEOS EN ESPAÑOL. PIENSA EN ESO. OSS ;)

[@navinthiyambarawatte5121]

Use technique to overcome cardio, eep more training for me

[@blandz]

Lucas Luh-PREE is the GOAT

[@JonThomasBJJ]

blandz Lucas was my coach for 3 years and an amazingly nice person on top of one of the best of all time can’t say enough great things about him.

[@bearmaple9242]

Full gwahd

[@anarchic_ramblings]

Oh, you meant 'developing'.

[@JonThomasBJJ]

J. Yup lol sometimes rush stuff out and miss the typos... oops