The guard, or more specifically the ability to defend yourself with your back on the ground is what makes Jiu-Jitsu so powerful and what has revolutionized the way we view the martial arts. Where before it was a common belief that once somebody was on the ground with their back on the mat that the fight was over, however Jiu-Jitsu has taught us that a person can not only protect themselves while thier back is on the ground they can also win.
Because the legs are so powerful we must neutralize them in order to protect ourselves. in Jiu-Jitsu one way we can do this is by passing the Guard. In Jiu-Jitsu passing the guard is the term we use for getting around the legs, this improves your position and puts you in a place where you are able to control your opponent and they are unable to control you. Our first priority in passing the guard is not getting submitted, the second step to passing the guard is not getting swept. However, if we have to choose between the two it is better to get swept then submitted.
In this mornings 6am Jiu-Jitsu class we worked on passing the closed guard. Knowing that it is more difficult for the bottom bjj player to submit us with only one hand we first trapped the bottom Jiu-Jitsu players arm, and then took away the remaining submissions by using our torso to pin them flat. From this position we were able to work to side control and then easily take mount while continuing to trap the bottom players arm. One of the most powerful aspects of Jiu-Jitsu is the ability to control a resisting opponent. Not all self defense situations require punching or kicking a person. In some cases trying to physically harm the person is the exact opposite of what you want to do. Jiu-Jitsu gives you the ability to keep yourself safe while simply controlling a person so they can not harm you.
If you are interested in learning more about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, simply click the Getting Started link and one of our coaches will answer any questions you may have. Located just off I-95 only minutes away from Electric Boat and the u.s. Navy base in Groton, CT, and Connecticut College in New London,CT. Come down, try a free class and see how learning Jiu-Jitsu can change your life for the better!