Back to MMA Fundamentals
Ground
Closed Guard
A fundamental bottom position where your legs are wrapped and locked around the opponent's waist.
Key Points
- •Controlling posture prevents effective ground strikes from the top
- •A strong guard opens up sweeps and submissions
- •Break your guard deliberately, don't let it be passed
Instructions
- 1From your back, wrap both legs around the opponent's waist and lock your ankles.
- 2Keep your hips close to theirs to limit their space to posture up or strike.
- 3Control their posture using their collar, sleeves, or wrists.
- 4Use hip movement to off-balance them and set up sweeps or submissions.
- 5Keep your elbows in to protect against strikes from the top.
More Ground Techniques
Mount
A dominant top position sitting on an opponent's torso with both knees on the mat.
Side Control
A dominant pinning position perpendicular to the opponent, controlling their torso from the side.
Back Control
The most dominant position in grappling, controlling an opponent from behind with hooks in.
Armbar
A joint-lock submission hyperextending the elbow, applicable from guard, mount, or side control.
Rear-Naked Choke
A blood choke applied from back control, one of the most reliable submissions in grappling and MMA.
Triangle Choke
A leg-based choke from guard using your legs to trap the opponent's neck and one arm.