Chazz Canas: JJ Con 2021 Match Breakdown, Guard Study

Chazz Canas (@chazzcanas.bjj) breaks down a purple belt match from IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Con 2021: the guard pull, open guard reads, a failed berimbolo, and the matrix to waiter guard transition that led to the back. From the video: https://youtu.be/xPfGAIMdnZs

Flow outline

  1. Grip Before Pulling Guard

    • Wait for the opponent to come close, get a grip, then sit to the butt to pull guard.
    • From Chazz Canas (@chazzcanas.bjj), in the video "BJJ Breakdown: IBJJF JJ Con 2021."
    • Checkpoint: IBJJF rules require a grip before you pull
    • Timing: wait until he gets near, then grip and sit

  2. Defend Flying Triangle

    • Bring the knees up high and feet off the mat to block the flying triangle.
    • Reaction: opponent does a sideways shuffle step and tries a flying triangle
    • Frame: bring knees up as high as possible and feet off the mat
    • Mistake to avoid: elbow and knee space disconnected lets flying attacks land

  3. Open Guard Double Pull

    • Land in an open guard scenario after the flying triangle is blocked.
    • Checkpoint: land in an open guard scenario like a double pull

  4. Knees High To Single Leg X

    • His hips are higher than yours, so keep your knees high and push inside to work toward single leg X.
    • Pressure: he pressures up and his legs are on top of mine
    • Checkpoint: keep knees higher so he cannot come up to mount
    • Entry: use knees on the inside to push into him
    • Leg Path: swim the left foot back to the inside

  5. Clear Loop Choke

    • Push on his armpit to clear the loop choke threat and break free.
    • Reaction: he threatens a loop choke
    • Frame: push on his armpit to clear the choke

  6. Lasso Hook Attempt

    • Throw the right leg over the arm and close the elbow to the hip to threaten a lasso hook.
    • Entry: throw the right leg over the top of my own arm
    • Frame: continuously close the right elbow down to the hip
    • Grip: slide the tricep grip down to try to get a sleeve grip

  7. De La Riva On Right

    • Switch to De La Riva on his right side after he yanks his arm back.
    • Reaction: he yanks his arm back as the leg comes over
    • Checkpoint: his right foot is forward so attack De La Riva on that side
    • Grip: grab the collar to stay attached and break posture
    • Frame: swim the foot to the inside of his bicep

  8. Switch De La Riva Sides

    • Switch to De La Riva on the other side as his legs come close together.
    • Reaction: he steps his leg close so both legs are close to me
    • Checkpoint: normally cross the legs outside and threaten an overhead swing
    • Leg Path: the De La Riva hook was popping out so switch sides

  9. Defend Knee Slice

    • Pull the left knee to the chest and ball up so his knee slice has nowhere to go.
    • Reaction: he throws a knee slice to the far side and catches an underhook
    • Frame: pull the left knee to the chest and hug my own leg
    • Checkpoint: ball up so his knee has nowhere to go

  10. Failed Berimbolo Attempt

    • Go for the pant grip and invert through for a berimbolo, but he stays far away.
    • Entry: go for the pant grip and invert through for a berimbolo
    • Reaction: he pushes my heel toward his hip and scoots out
    • Mistake: should have jumped the shoulder in close as soon as the foot came undone

  11. Matrix Hook Attempt

    • Pull a gable grip behind the knee and throw the foot over the top for the matrix hook.
    • Grip: pull a gable grip behind his knee
    • Leg Path: throw the foot over the top of his knee for the matrix hook
    • Reaction: he turns in super hard and gets a good angle

  12. Single Leg X With Pant Grip

    • Reset with single leg X and a pant grip, an ideal sweeping position.
    • Checkpoint: single leg X with a pant grip is a super ideal position
    • Pressure: I'm underneath him with the ability to off balance and sweep

  13. Stuff Leg For Ankle Lock

    • Elect to stuff the leg and go ankle grip instead of keeping the leg up on the shoulder.
    • Mistake: got submission happy and tried to ankle lock instead of being patient
    • Reaction: he stands up as soon as I get the ankle lock
    • Checkpoint: I lose my position because my legs came out
    • Key detail At 0-0, keeping the leg up on the shoulder to score or go to the back was the better choice. Be patient with the position.

  14. Frame Closest Leg

    • Post on the closest leg or thigh, not the far leg, to re-square with him.
    • Checkpoint: frame whatever is closest to you
    • Reaction: he takes a small step right then a big throw by to his left
    • Frame: post on his thigh and hip area, not his upper body

  15. Invert Through Other Side

    • Frame with the left hand and invert through the other side instead of re-squaring.
    • Reaction: he lifts the leg upward to try to stack me
    • Frame: use the left hand to frame and pull myself through

  16. Matrix Hook To Waiter Guard

    • Throw the matrix hook, come up on the shoulder, and invert through into waiter guard.
    • Grip: pull the elbow across the body to lift his ankle and bend the knee
    • Leg Path: throw the matrix hook and come up on the shoulder
    • Entry: invert through over my neck into a waiter guard position
    • Checkpoint: get the left knee all the way underneath his leg

  17. Spin To The Back

    • Keep the butt grip and spin out as he turns, then row in toward the back.
    • Grip: keep the butt grip from the point it was made
    • Reaction: he starts to turn, giving a big area to spin out
    • Entry: spin through and row myself in, getting the knee close
    • Checkpoint: work up to the shoulder and hand and start to push

  18. Crab Ride Pressure

    • Use the crab ride hook with knee pressure down and foot pressure up to turn toward him.
    • Pressure: knee puts downward pressure onto his thigh
    • Pressure: foot puts upward pressure into his calf
    • Reaction: he bails to the far side

  19. Modified Leg Drag

    • Throw the left leg over and pull the right heel to the butt to clear the bottom leg into a modified leg drag.
    • Checkpoint: don't hang out with legs between his legs or he pulls 50/50
    • Leg Path: throw the left leg over as the right leg comes up heel to butt
    • Checkpoint: get the toes on the outside of his thigh for modified leg drag
    • Grip: still have the butt grip from the beginning of the transition

  20. Elevate Hips To Back

    • Dead lift the butt grip to elevate his hips, then take the back as he works to his feet.
    • Pressure: continuously elevate his hips and pull him up
    • Checkpoint: elevated hips make it hard for him to crossover with the outside leg
    • Entry: throw the seatbelt and both hooks as he works to his feet
    • Finish: land on the back; the ref resets them in the middle on the back with one hook

Branch conditions