If you’re talking about sport jiu-jitsu tactics then pulling guard and fighting an entire match from the bottom position can make total sense.
But in a real fight, where punches, kicks, and stomps are being used, you definitely DON’T want to spend one second more than necessary in the guard position.
You want to submit, sweep or standup as fast as possible!
Today’s video is about the incredibly important (and fundamental) BJJ technique used to get back to your feet.
You’ll start in the closed guard, progresses briefly through a low shin guard, and then finish with the classic ‘technical standup’ movement.
For the BJJ afficiandos out there, the reason it’s a low shin shield is because a) it’s easier to insert it at the hip if your opponent is leaning forward, and b) you’re only using this position briefly to get your foot on the hip in the next step.
Once the feet are on the hips you can then start your techical standup, which is a time-tested method for getting from the ground back up to your feet.
The test for you doing the technical standup correctly is doing in slow motion with a much heavier partner leaning and pushing on you, like the picture at the top of this article.
The test for you doing all the steps correctly is whether you can do it in slow motion with a much heavier partner leaning on you and pushing you back down (like in the picture at the top of this article)
If you can get back to your feet under those conditions then you’re off to an excellent start. Now you know your biomechanics are solid enough to hold up under forward pressure of an opponent determined to keep you down on the ground!
Check out the video below to learn the step-by-step process for going from your closed guard back up to your feet (it’s an excerpt from The Self Defense Guard instructional available on this site).