Octopus Guard 2.0

From Craig Jones' Octopus Guard 2.0. A no-gi system for handling standing pressure passers: get a deep reverse underhook (attach), bridge hips to off-balance (tilt), then redirect their forward drive into backs, legs, or top control.

Flow outline

  1. Side Control Threat

    • Side control is only dangerous when flat
    • Cross-face + hip control creates flattening
    • Turning to a side restores mobility
    • In the seminar video, the Craig describes how to transition into an octopus position in a way that doesn't necessarily give the opponent your back.

  2. Control Before Movement

    • The video segment shows how Craig positions his arms in a two-on-one ("prayer") grip before progressing his elbow to the inside.
    • Secure one-on-one wrist before rotating
    • Limb control prevents secondary control
    • Movement without control creates exposure

  3. Octopus Angle

    • Once Craig gets the angle, tucks his bottom arm underneath him, gets his head on the ground, and he pulls his knee in to bring his hips up high.

  4. Headstand Counter (Jo Chen)

    • Jozef Chen's headstand-style passing has resulted in Craig preferring to keep his reach-around grip on the thigh now instead of a classic tight-body grip straight away. This controls the leg instead of reaching too deep.
    • Opponent jumps hips over shoulder
    • Hip drop flattens our angle
    • Punishes reaching too deep

  5. Outside Leg Priority

    • Using your arms to frame the outside leg prevents them from being able to get close to control your far side.
    • Control knee before reaching high
    • Prevent hip from dropping onto shoulder
    • Leg ownership preserves side angle

  6. Hip Trap Sweep

    • This one looks like one where you come up and take them backwards.
    • Sweeps happen when weight overcommits
    • Lift hips to dominate theirs
    • Redirect instead of lift

  7. Darce Threat

    • Darce exists only if elbow is trapped inside -- if you get your elbow outside the threat is gone
    • Choke is a hip compression issue

  8. Elbow Outside Immunity

    • Elbow outside removes finishing leverage. As long as it's outside, you're safe from the Darce finish.
    • Structural defense beats strength. Place your arm on their thigh and pushing it basically sets a strong frame that keeps your elbow outside.
    • Turn belly-down to widen angle

  9. Opponent Overcommits

    • Opponent drops hip aggressively
    • Extends body to finish
    • Overcommitment creates rotational space

  10. Back Exposure Counter

    • Push your hips up into the sky while keeping your head down low.
    • Throw your leg through their body and lock your legs. Use it as leverage to push your hips and pry their grips off to go into a back control position.

  11. Back Control

    • You technically have a back take.
    • If they square towards you into a closed guard, you use their momentum to go into a pendulum sweep.

  12. Buggy Angle

    • When someone tries to darce you, you can transition into a buggy choke by rolling backwards and catching your reach-around arm with your leg.
    • Being on side enables buggy
    • Knee above shoulder creates compression
    • Invite pressure to counter

  13. Buggy Choke

    • Rotational knee compression
    • Ankle connection is structural
    • Works because opponent feels safe

  14. Arm Throw Escape

    • Opponent throws arm the cross body over to negate the Darce
    • The opponent's underhook goes over the head to a cross body grip.

  15. Ghost Darce

    • Pull underneath -- your head spins underneath the opponent until you come out parallel to one another.
    • Keeping your legs high the entire time maintains the opponent in the position for the Darce

  16. Crucifix Threat

    • You're in a crucifix with your arm trapped kimura-styl with a leg reinforcing control

  17. Push-Pull Disruption

    • This video shows the movement:
    • https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDQ0RxYz7D0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
    • Stabilize the leg that's trapping your arm, pin your head ear-to-ear, grab the back of their head, and drive backwards.

  18. Turtle with Hook

    • Leaning forward makes it so that the opponent needs to use more energy and effort to pull you back.
    • Square turtle invites control
    • Deep hook dangerous if posture neutral

  19. Asymmetrical Lean

    • Control the opponent's deep hook by either placing your far leg over the top of your leg or position your legs so that your thighs are squeezing the hook.
    • Lower shoulder and hip on hook side
    • Force opponent to squeeze to stay and the energy shifts to them

  20. Runaway Hip Switch

    • We can turn into the opponent. We don't have to turn away from them into a turtle.
    • Opponent's near-side underhook makes it impossible to sit out to a turtle.
    • Creating a run:
    • Switch hips before running
    • Move legs away from center with a Homer Simpson run
    • Peek out

  21. Peek Out Back Take

    • Allow front head briefly
    • Move underneath center line
    • Emerge behind opponent

Branch conditions