How To Do Perfect Guard Retention In BJJ by John Danaher 

John Denaher and Bernardo, two of the realest niggas there is out there

Attacking open guard 1. Break your opponents grips - The four points of connection 2. Establish strong working grips (legs) - 3. Create an angle - don't go straight forward as you would be moving straight into their guard 4. Close distance 5. Level change - achieve chest to chest or knee on belly (chest to chest is more controlling) 6. Pin your opponents head and shoulders to the ground (3 seconds to achieve a pin) The more steps you satisfy: - The higher the threat you become. - The more extreme their defensive measures must become. - The more risks you will have to take (including back exposure) in order to prevent the pin. Guard retention 1. Break your opponents grips - The four points of connection 2. Establish strong working grips (ulegs) - Without grips your opponent can easily pass your guard 3. Don't allow your opponent to create an angle on you 4. As your opponent creates an angle, form frames on your opponent The three levels of frames First level: a. Frame on the far bicep with your forehand, as this will be the arm that will be attempting to control your head theres to return your opponent to guard (go back to step 1/2) se the scissor action - lefttouch your left foot to your right hand (The scissor keeps you aligned with your opponent) opponent tries to level change in the scissor, sweep them. If not, re-align yourself, withdraw your legs and you will be back to open guard (back to step 1/2) Second level: Forearm frame (After your opponent has closed half of the distance) a. Frame on the inside of the neck b. Reverse shrimp c. Pull your body around the corner, past north-south and until you can form a scissor. (back to step 1/2) Third level: Backhand frame (your opponent has very nearly established chest to chest) a. If opponent passes your right leg, place your left arm horizontally palm down across your chest. Place your palm onto the right side of your face. b. When your opponent goes to control your head and shoulders, you can take inside position with your right hand. (stopping the crossface) c. Underhook your opponents arm (this gives them chest to chest, but you have the inside position) d. The inside position allows you to shrimp out and come to turtle (control your opponents leg otherwise you expose your back) e. undertooklide knee to knee on your opponents near leg and step over it. Sit back and bring your opponent back to guard (There are many other attacking options from this position)

Now I know why the Danaher Death Squad got so good, so fast. I have never had such perfect instruction before on a subject I have been struggling with for far too long. Danaher is obviously a very smart guy.

The final defensive frame to steal inside position is such a sneaky detail. Awesome stuff!

"a day late and a dollar short" gonna start using that

Legends says Bernardo is the only person that can make John smile xD

When John starts speaking, you always have to turn the sound up a few notches

"Some people get it, some dont" bro I felt that 😪

That right there is what a good teacher looks like

John has such a great ability to deconstruct things into such basic components and minutia, it really is levels above the way most people are teaching these techniques.

John jiu jitsu knowledge is amazing 🟦🟦🟦🟦⬛️⬛️🟦

Danaher is the GOAT.

John is a literal BJJ professor. I would love to learn from him directly

Thanks for the great breakdown. Wish I could afford the DVD.

I have had to troubleshoot this exact issue so many times in my own head, about at what point I invert and best ways to block different stages on side control. It is sooo nice to have such a competent well-spoken guy break up the stages. John Danaher is like modern day Master Splinter haha....... thank you Bernado. :)

This is how I start my Monday. Looks like ill be a bit late to work.

Love me some Don Janaher! Brilliant and generous man.

Wow. Wonderful. I knew you had the answers John! Been waiting for this one the most as it's my weakest link. Thank you for all you do for us.

Priceless explanations. Thank you!

Man John is an amazing teacher!!! So good👍🏼 Thanks.

No one Bernardo Faria - Huge honor for me

Very informative. Thank you.

thank you for breaking down concepts into applicable steps. very helpful!

Another great video ! Thank you very much for sharing with us :-)

so helpful thank you

We love it. Keep the video's coming

thank you for the video

This is exactly what I’ve been looking for. Many thanks!

I felt I should have paid money for this content 😮 Thank You

The step system is so much easier to follow. 👌👍

Very insightful. Hopefully this will be of use in my next session of bjj.

This is gold

Thanks from France Sir !

Man can't wait for the guard retention dvd..

That dry gi on gi rustling sound is so nice

absolutely brillant

Wheres the donate button. We gotta get you a mic for your guests

Yes I'm sold out. I will buy Danaher's videos.

FANTASTIC 🥋⚡️❤️🙏🏻

The strength of a conceptual approach (fundamental, all-encompassing, context-insensitive, flexible) vs point by point approach (circumstancial, context-dependent, rigid)... This is tatame science! :-)

Wizard. He speaks like a phd in bjj

Now I have a goal when I go to train

NICE!

now the question: where does the cartwheel pass lie in this system of steps?

this man is a BJJ nat'l treasure

Mr John Danaher explains the superiority of a conceptual approach on a point-by-point approach and then shows us three specific technique against three specific guard passing. What I saw is that the best leg-frame for Danaher is the SCISSOR FRAME and that when the legs are passed he uses three ARM FRAMES depending on the distance with his opponent. Nothing new but very specific moves to use against different techniques and distances. I can't find the link between the teoretical introdution of the video and the pratical appllications. I'm confused. Having said that it is always a pleasure to hear what Mr. John Danher has to say and always learn new details.

Love this... M’kay

Where can I find these tutorials. They are so good!

Love the camera operator’s sounds.

Da pra ouvir esse cara explicar por horas , valeh bernado ! abs

Great videos but could you all please invest in a shotgun microphone or try to improve the audio quality.

Bernardo, what will be the title of the DVD series? I think I'll buy this one. As a blue belt, this is more valuable to me.

Great stuff 👍 could someone please clarify steps 4&5 tho? I feel like closing the distance, and establishing chest to chest contact with level change are the same thing? Am I missing something.

Lately, I've been afraid to reach my foot over and across to scissor (or even use it to square back up) mostly b/c I'm afraid of people doing what Ive been doing to them -- sprawling and dropping into like a leg draggy kind of a thing -- pinning that leg. Since Priit cautioned and showed this a couple months ago in his grilled chicken dvd, I've been having good success with exploiting this and doing a quick drop there (in my own passing) on that reaching foot. So actually, I've had to unlearn it in a way so it's strange to see it being part of one of my heroes foundational guard concepts. I'd be interested to see it addressed. Thanks!

John my Brother

Next intructional?? Guard retention?? I will buy it

Did he pronouce "lasso" as "las SUE" at 7:32? LOL. But seriously this is great info! Thanks for sharing.

When is this instructional expected to release?

Gold

If anyone has purchased his go further faster dvds can you tell me if John teaches how to break guard in them?

thank you! please make a video called "how not to get stuck in closed guard". thanks again.

Is most of the DVD based around these 6 concepts or are there more? Also when does the Gustavo Batista instructional come out?

Bernardo is all inside me

does this video help with no gi guard retention?

had to turn the volume up and zoom the screen in to hear danaher better..

I think I've been subconsciously blocking (framing) people and quickly shrimping to return to guard as I'm pretty quick due to being so light.

Looks like I need to be saving my money again.

What is Middlesex tpk and 4th ave?

My guard retention sucks. After that dvd it wont. MUAHAHAHAHAAHA!

Bernado starts speaking: Turns the sound down a few notches John Starts speaking: Turns the sound up to the maximum and put headphones on

13:12 great technique

Great video, but the sound quality is not very good. I would recommend upgrading your equipment.

John wears rashguards everywhere. Like grocery shopping and friend’s weddings. There are photos.

how do the 4 points of connection work for no gi? i try to grab wrists but ppl seem to break the grip easily especially when sweaty.

Wizard

What if the passer pushes down the scissoring legs to the mat?

Is this a video you should watch as a white belt?

I get lost at 18 minutes. Is he saying for this video always pulling gaurd so your partner can drill? I like the video.👍🇨🇮

That is a Ph. D in BJJ class for your azz. Every one of John’s videos are archive material. Perfectly explained. Like bitches!

Lassooo!

scissor me timbers

Does this video have movement drills in it?

who dislikes a video like this?

I can’t reposition or roll on my back cos I get flattened by a lot of weight

where does inverting fit into all this?

You can tell this is a high quality bjj instructional since neither of them are wearing Shoyorol

Science

There is a problem with the voice ( volume is so little ) fix it please

Guard retention I thought he said hypertension- wrong channel 😬

19:02 what was that strange sound ?!!

Can we finally get John a decent mix please 🎤 🙏🏽

Please mic up master Po!

Anyone else have a hard time hearing danaher in these videos?

So. The best immediate way past Danaher's guard is a hip throw. Not that I think he would be easy to hit one on.

Anyone know of BJJ videos that show more demonstration than talking?

I'm watching this in my rashguard ;)

Indeed probably the most unintuitive skill for beginners, rolling with the other white belts often feels like whoever starts passing wins

Who possibly downvotes this?

Did he just say lasooo?

Spidey god