Passing the guard can be one of the most frustrating parts of Jiu Jitsu. An opponent who has good hip movement and flexibility and can often frustrate your ability to pass and gain mount or side control. We are also in a position where the number of ‘new’ guards seems to be ever increasing. In my ever continuing efforts to simplify Jiu Jitsu this seminar focused on breaking all Guard Passing down to the most basic conceptual level as taught to me by Henry Akins as it was taught to him by Rickson. Guard passing is all weight distribution and shifting angles. This gem of knowledge is a game changer if you can learn to apply these simple principles. Any kind of guard countered with pressure and angle changes. 

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We had a great time this morning in this semi private lesson working on Side Control escapes. Initially focusing on understanding the importance of hand position when underneath and then determining the hand position on top to lead us to the right escape. One of the biggest problems beginners face is that they have to understand the right escape has to be done at the right time in order to be successful. All too often I see the fight to force one technique when a simple change of direction to a different technique would allow an easy escape. Once we had drilled escaping based on 4 different hand positions we moved to understanding the importance of knowing when your guard is passed and then getting ahead with regard to establishing a good bottom side position.  Basics applied well and fully understood are unstoppable. (Look how happy they are!)