Open Guard Retention with Elbow Frames

A system for maintaining open guard by using elbow frames and leg connections to prevent the opponent from passing around the legs.

Flow outline

  1. Supine Guard Base

    • Establish a stable supine guard with elbows on the mat and knees close to chest.
    • Elbows planted on mat for base mobility
    • Knees drawn toward chest to protect space
    • Hands resting on thighs to support leg position

  2. Squaring Up to Opponent

    • Use elbow movement to pivot and stay square with the opponent's movement.
    • Lift hips and slide on elbows to rotate
    • Keep feet off opponent until they close distance
    • Maintain chest-to-chest alignment

  3. Feet Connection on Opponent

    • Place feet on opponent's hips or torso to control distance and follow movement.
    • Soles of feet on opponent's hips or thighs
    • Use leg tension to mirror opponent's lateral movement
    • Keep knees bent to absorb pressure

  4. Hand Frame Against Leg Push

    • Support thighs with hands to resist opponent pushing legs down toward chest.
    • Palms on thighs, elbows on mat for structural support
    • Direct opponent's force through arms into mat
    • Maintain upright torso angle

  5. Inside Foot Hook on Forearm

    • Hook the inside of opponent's forearm with the outside of the foot to control their hand placement.
    • Swing foot inside to hook forearm with outer edge
    • Lift hip slightly to maintain hook tension
    • Use hook to follow opponent's circling movement

  6. Knee Collapse Defense

    • Prevent opponent from collapsing knees to the mat by maintaining hand frame and elbow position.
    • Keep hand on thigh to resist knee push
    • Elbow stays on mat to block lateral collapse
    • Engage core to keep knees elevated

Branch conditions