Rules for main forums
- Be nice
- No advertisement
- No events
- No fundraisers
- No topics asking for votes
- Only posts related to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Best Guard types for short legs
5 year(s) ago • 7012 views • 71 replies
JMPurple beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
I was curious what Guard types people were finding useful for short legged grapplers. I personally find Closed Guard almost unattainable to utilize but have found success with the Leg Lasso Guard.
JMBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Marcelo Garcia stuff...
TPBlack beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Deep half
JMPurple beltVerified
CBBrown beltVerified
RRBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
I agree with Marcelo Garcia stuff and actually recommend to start getting acquainted with X-Guard. It was very useful for me as a Bluebelt to grow my Butterfly Guard game around the X-Guard for entries and retention.
I'm 5'1" and continued to grow my game bias to Halfguard and Deep Half which I still back up with classical Butterfly hooks and variants like X-Guard, Shin on Shin etc.
Closed guard rarely ever did it for me.
I'm 5'1" and continued to grow my game bias to Halfguard and Deep Half which I still back up with classical Butterfly hooks and variants like X-Guard, Shin on Shin etc.
Closed guard rarely ever did it for me.
Edited 5 year(s) ago
JKPurple beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
I second the above post in that X-Guard has been immensely helpful. Butterfly hooks have been a lifesaver (though I don’t typically play a classical butterfly game with my hips directly in front of my opponent).
DBlack beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Half and it's variants. You are controlling with your thighs more than lower legs making length of legs irrelevant ... well mostly.
WABlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Alec Baulding just released an instructional video on this https://www.instagram.com[...]TYi/?hl=en
Great content
TPBlack beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Surprised seeing the X-guard recommended by many. I don’t have particularly short legs but I find the X challenging to play against tall people with long legs... they can just widen up their base and in effect my X just dies because it can’t reach their further leg properly & they can start easily stripping off the hooks (I typically have to switch to SLX or something).
Works for Marcelo though. :)
Works for Marcelo though. :)
RRBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
In my opinion and experience the idea of a guard can't be simply to maintain it. If my partner widens their base it is a reaction in the realm of my repartoire which I am prepared for, actually which I am asking them for. There are only so many reasonable reactions to any guard. If they widen their base for example that makes them fairly easy to tip for- (rather easy to stand up with because of the weight shift) or backwards (easy sweep because no post going there)
What I particularly like about the X guard since I'm short is that it makes the most of the length I've got just beneath my opponents center of gravity and that makes it very easy to employ a key principle of guard playing that is for me: let your opponent fight with their balance rather than your guard. Whenever my opponent feels stable and can rest their weight in my guard I am doing a messy job.
What I particularly like about the X guard since I'm short is that it makes the most of the length I've got just beneath my opponents center of gravity and that makes it very easy to employ a key principle of guard playing that is for me: let your opponent fight with their balance rather than your guard. Whenever my opponent feels stable and can rest their weight in my guard I am doing a messy job.
Edited 5 year(s) ago
ELBlack belt 1st degreePending
5 year(s) ago
Check out mikey musumeshi, he has super short legs.
I recommend distance management guards like:
Delariva
Cross collar sleeve guard
In close combat, go with butterfly, x guard and half.
These are my 2 cents lol
I recommend distance management guards like:
Delariva
Cross collar sleeve guard
In close combat, go with butterfly, x guard and half.
These are my 2 cents lol
Edited 5 year(s) ago
RDBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
I'm really small and my guard depends on who I'm rolling with. I switch between most guards to suit the roll. My go to is closed guard but alot of folks make it difficult to even get there so I'll play the most appropriate to the situation. Sometimes it's good sometimes it's horrible. Lol!
![Slideyfoot [jun]](userimg/5e25cf311adfd.jpg){kind=small}
SJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
I'm 5'7, butterfly guard and sitting guard are what I use most, but then my open guard is crap (I hate open guard, I much prefer being in closed). So I've been trying to get the hang of Priit's grilled chicken for the last three years. Not there yet. ;)
JMBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Also you need to be decent at wrestling because a lot of sweeps are going to be coming up to your knees/standing with an underhook and/or single leg and wrestling from there.
ASBlack beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
5'2" here. I use a lot of shin to shin and Priit's grilled chicken. But I always prefer closed guard even if I can't lock my ankles
TPBlack beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
In my opinion and experience the idea of a guard can't be simply to maintain it. If my partner widens their base it is a reaction in the realm of my repartoire which I am prepared for, actually which I am asking them for. There are only so many reasonable reactions to any guard. If they widen their base for example that makes them fairly easy to tip for- (rather easy to stand up with because of the weight shift) or backwards (easy sweep because no post going there)
For sure. I just tend to have difficulties with the X-guard against very good tall-legged players, who have great balance & flexibility, and are not so simple to tip over no matter what they do. (To a degree that I prefer another guard types entirely vs. these people.) Takes a lot of effort to keep them out of balance all the time so they can't easily dismantle the X.
I probably just suck tho. :) Most of my X works okay against people my size or a little taller. And our gym does have some small women who use the X xpertly against people much taller than them.
I probably just suck tho. :) Most of my X works okay against people my size or a little taller. And our gym does have some small women who use the X xpertly against people much taller than them.
SJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
But I always prefer closed guard even if I can't lock my ankles
Yeah, same. Often I'll switch straight into leg clamp anyway (with my knees either side of their shoulder and their arm nice and vulnerable to a pressing armbar or omoplata), so I'm not too bothered if I can't lock my ankles. Or I've go for my favourite combo, which is bring their arm across somehow, pulling them in, then either go for the back or sweep to mount (depending if I'm able to bring them into my chest, or if they land towards my armpit instead).
JBlue beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
I've had a lot of success with koala guard especially in a gi and if you can grab the bottom of their lapel.
AKPurple beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
In my opinion and experience the idea of a guard can't be simply to maintain it.
I've been waiting so long for someone to say this <heart emoji>
DBlack beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
x-guard against tall people is tricky, single leg x I find better, but I find it hard without combining it with full x based on uke response.
Ultimately though, tall people have an unfair advantage in jiu jitsu period ... tall lanky guys with skill are a nightmare period.
Ultimately though, tall people have an unfair advantage in jiu jitsu period ... tall lanky guys with skill are a nightmare period.
BHBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Many heavy weight guys like to do deep half or other variation of the half guard. They don't sweep properly, they lock your leg between their legs and roll over you with all their weight. If they do it right, there is no much thing you can do. They will move all that mass with you included lol. Marcelo Garcia for short leg people is more the X guard. Pretty good guard with a lot of sweeps, many of them makes you stand up with one of your opponent legs over your shoulders. Z guard is also good, you make a shield with your knees block your opponent passing while you can work on chockes and sweeps. Keenan Cornelius crazy lapel sweeps can also be tried.
Second this. As a short legged grappler myself I’ve always been fond of x guard and z guard/knee shield. But especially x guard. It can be a lot easier for us short guys to thread our legs through.
KRBlack beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Surprised seeing the X-guard recommended by many. I don’t have particularly short legs but I find the X challenging to play against tall people with long legs... they can just widen up their base and in effect my X just dies because it can’t reach their further leg properly & they can start easily stripping off the hooks (I typically have to switch to SLX or something). Works for Marcelo though. :)
I had and have a lot of the same issues, what I was missing was upper body control. I’m a nobody but realized that when I got one arm or better yet a lapel and I was under them I didn’t have to worry about them stripping my feet off as much as I could break their posture or have some kind of control of the upper body.
Have you tried monkey guard? I know it sounds silly but I’ve had some success with bigger guys by having my weight on their upper body and working shoulder locks and chokes.
Have you tried monkey guard? I know it sounds silly but I’ve had some success with bigger guys by having my weight on their upper body and working shoulder locks and chokes.
PDBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
I roll with a lot of really big guys and I love butterfly makes it easy to create distance if i can't get a sweep or attack going but I transition a lot as I like to attack when on my back
DFBlack beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
I play a lot of Z guard
ELBlack belt 1st degreePending
5 year(s) ago
I roll with a lot of really big guys and I love butterfly makes it easy to create distance if i can't get a sweep or attack going but I transition a lot as I like to attack when on my back
I love butterfly too, so great for leglock setups too
DBBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
* Armdrags, armdrags, armdrags to the back or wrestlecrush them down.
* Butterfly to kick off / technical stand up, or wrestlecrush them down.
* Deep half to dogfight, wrestlecrush them down.
I'm Dutch and therefore taller that 99% of all of yous.
The game above is my kryptonite.
* Butterfly to kick off / technical stand up, or wrestlecrush them down.
* Deep half to dogfight, wrestlecrush them down.
I'm Dutch and therefore taller that 99% of all of yous.
The game above is my kryptonite.
RBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
I’m 5’5’’. I play a lot of Z guard, half guard, and single-leg x.
VBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Surprised seeing the X-guard recommended by many. I don’t have particularly short legs but I find the X challenging to play against tall people with long legs... they can just widen up their base and in effect my X just dies because it can’t reach their further leg properly & they can start easily stripping off the hooks (I typically have to switch to SLX or something). Works for Marcelo though. :)
For me X guard works better with tall people, but you have to control their posture. I play open guard mostly with a lot of lapel drags, butter fly hooks setup my half guard to x guard.
AKPurple beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
For the people saying X-guard, where is the most common place you are entering X-guard from?
