Brianna Ste-Marie's Octopus Guard from Half Guard

Brianna Ste-Marie (@briannasm) teaches the octopus guard from half guard: frame the crossface, switch the lock, sit up, get a deep lapel grip, then take the back or sweep when he pushes in. From her video: https://youtu.be/eMq4ygBKz0w

Flow outline

  1. Half Guard Start

    • Start from half guard as he applies crossface pressure.
    • From Brianna Ste-Marie (@briannasm), in her octopus guard breakdown, posted by Jiujitsu BTT Laval.
    • Frame: forearm frame against the crossface
    • Head Position: dunk your head under and scoop out the other side

  2. Switch Half Guard Lock

    • Switch the half guard lock so you're locking the other way.
    • Pressure: if he pressures heavily, lower the lock to stretch him out

  3. Sit Up

    • Sit up. You want to be seated to start the octopus.

  4. Grapevine The Shin (Optional)

    • Sometimes grapevine the shin. This is the position to work from.
    • Leg Path: wrap the outside leg over the shin

  5. Octopus: Lapel Grip And Elbow Across

    • Get a deep lapel grip near the armpit and turn your elbow across his back.
    • The idea The deep grip and the elbow across his back keep him leaning away from you.
    • Grip: lapel as close to the armpit as possible
    • Angle: elbow turns across his back
    • Key detail Get the grip as close to the armpit as possible.

  6. Hip Escape To Back Take

    • Escape the hips to bring the knee out and turn to take the back.
    • Hip Line: escape the hips until the knee comes out
    • Anchor: keep the lapel grip

  7. He Pushes In

    • He pushes into you to stop the knee escape.

  8. Sell The Back Take

    • Commit to the back take so he believes it and reacts.
    • Pressure: keep the lapel grip
    • Avoid Pretending to do the back take without selling it. He won't react.

  9. Sweep Him Over

    • When he pushes in, use the lapel grip to get him over.
    • Trigger: he pushes into you to stop the knee escape
    • Grip: use the lapel grip to get him over

  10. They Crossface

    • One of the two common problems when you play this guard.
    • Counter: anticipate it and grab his wrist
    • Shoulder: keep your shoulder in. At that point his posture's broken

  11. They Post

    • The other common problem: if they post, you lose effectiveness.
    • Counter: trap the arm and crank their shoulder a bit

Branch conditions