Review of Closed Guard: The Old Library That Still Wins Matches

Overview
Closed guard is basic for a reason. Ankles crossed behind the opponent’s back, hips mobile, you control posture and distance. From there you attack arms, collars and balance. It’s less fashionable than open guards, but it remains a superb control classroom.

Who benefits
- Beginners needing a safe home base.
- Smaller athletes who want to slow larger frames.
- Anyone who panics under pressure—closed guard forces you to breathe and organise.

Pay‑off
You learn posture breaks, angle creation, and how to climb the guard. Armbar, cross‑collar choke, hip bump sweep, and pendulum are an evergreen four‑pack. Your understanding of kuzushi (off‑balancing) blooms because nothing works without it.

Watch‑outs
- Hanging on with crossed feet but no posture control sets you up to be stacked or opened brutally.
- Over‑committing to arm bars without controlling the far arm risks being stacked or passed.
- Keep your ankles safe—don’t cross too low when opponents stand.

Try this round
- Two‑grip rule: Don’t attack until you have two meaningful grips (collar + sleeve; head + arm).
- Angle drill: From closed guard, hip escape to a 45° angle before any attack; your partner feeds realistic posture.
- Mini‑ladder: Break posture → hip bump → if posted, swim the arm across → take back or armbar.

Final word
Closed guard is a discipline in patience and structure. Master it early; its lessons power every other guard you’ll play.

-Chuk