Roger Gracie Teaches The Best Closed Guard In The World! 

"I consider myself to be a pretty strong basketball player" - Michael Jordan

holding his head off the ground for that long, that alone should tell you how scary this man is

I was very fortunate to attend his seminar at Evolve in Singapore many years ago, what a great guy. During positional sparring, I was able to land the bow and arrow choke he taught, and he said “nice”. Probably one of my favorite moments in all my time training

An extraordinary explanation of the strengths of the closed guard. He gave us a year of practice in 15 minutes.

I love how he gives both points of view the entire time.

My notes (if it's helpful to anyone else)... From the top in guard: The only place to grab is in the middle near the solar plexus. If you grab too high, you are vulnerable to attacks like armbar and chokes. If you are too low, you can't resist when he pulls you down. If your opponent grabs your cross collar over your grip, let go and start again. If you are not bigger than your opponent, the only way to pass your opponent's legs is if you stand up. You won't pass on your knees. To defend, you need to keep posture and space. You can't stand up without your stiff arm in center of his chest. From bottom: Be confident that you are safe. All your opponent can do is escape. Don't let him stand up and don't open your guard for him until you are ready to attack or sweep. Protect your solar plexus between your chest, but if he grabs it, cross grab the collar over it and bend his arm so that he no longer can stand. If he lets go and puts his arm over again, fight hands and don't give him the grip. If he tries to stand with your arm on top, pull him down and bring your knees to your chest. Only pull him down when he takes his second step. Arm lock secrets: normally, you grip his one arm with both your hands (wrist and elbow). Once your foot goes on that same side hip, he knows you're going to armbar him and he leans back which defends well. To avoid this, cross grab his wrist with your elbow high pointing backwards. With your other hand, reach up and cross grab his collar behind his neck with your fingers in palm up. This neck collar grab keeps him from pulling back. Now you can triangle your legs and work up to the armbar. For this setup, one of your legs goes over the shoulder of the wrist you have. Once you start setting this up, An experienced guy, knowing he cannot pull away and make posture, will lean forward to put pressure but you just readjust grips and push him away, get the angle and then put your leg over his head for the armbar.

“I consider myself to have a pretty good closed guard” hah!

What’s so amazing about this, is that in demonstrating closed guard, Master Roger Gracie explained and taught both perspectives, top and bottom.

A free high level seminar piece from one of the best that ever walked the planet...one of the few videos I have ever watched from start to end without skipping ..

Anyone notice how for the entire time his head never touched the ground. He is building neck strength while he's teaching. Such discipline

Danaher was right. Roger was not just the greatest gi-player also he's an outstanding teacher

Section Notes 0:00 Understanding the Closed Guard From the Attackers Perspective 2:23 How Space Affects Defenders Attacks From Closed Guard 3:14 How Defenders Open Closed Guard / When to Pull Down as Defender (Pull 6:55) 8:13 Attacker Grip Placement to Defend 10:24 Arm Lock (11:20 common attacker mistake / good defense against , pushing back 11:20)

If you want to see basics work at an extremely high level, watch Roger Gracie and Buchecha's Super Fight in 2017. Roger shutdown every attempt Buchecha made to get the takedown by using basic takedown defense. Then from guard pull to submission was 59 seconds. 9 minutes 13 seconds to 8 minutes 14 seconds Roger submitted Buchecha with a basic, basic rear lapel choke after taking his back, again, using the basics.

WOW - the details and thought process - Awesome

Bruh, I hope these students don't take their days with him for granted because the details and explanation of everything going on here is absolutely priceless.

I'm a beginner, but today, watching this video I understood how offensive can the close guard be. Just a couple of hours latter I applied the controlling techniques at class and it was amazing. Thank you!

Roger was so good he started as a blue belt: 1:48

I absolutely loved training there. The best, hard-working and nicest people. It all starts with Roger (plus his dad). Great atmosphere. Go, if you live there are visiting London; you won't regret it.

"I catch a lot more people..." I started to use this armlock details and it is really powerful.

I love the way he talks. The way he says "He fails. Not before. Not later. He's in danger. This- it helps a lot." Asmrish quality. Very satisfying prosody.

Great move! I'm gonna try it when they reopen my gym in... three months maybe ;( *crying out loud*

Love how humble he is!!!

I learned so much watching this. His students are very lucky to have him.

Awesome video, actually showed the same technique when I was at his seminar in Vienna in February. Very cool and relaxed guy

Great details as always from Roger 🤙

Very cool. I love how he uses basic techniques with such efficiency.

Awesome! What a privilege to get this instruction. Much respect, Master.

I've been doing this a while, and nothing makes me happier than seeing such beauty in the basics. Awesome breakdown!

Now I know why Roger is the best, his explanation of the closed guard is the best I've ever seen.

dang, how have i never seen this detail before? brilliant.

Learning so much, Thank you Roger

Uncomplicated, simple, brilliant, amazing. The best.

I could listen to him all day

THIS is jiu-jitsu. So pleased to see the truth about effortless jiu-jitsu not dying out in this age of wrestlers and power players.

Superb demonstration and his demeanor makes me listen. Excellent this guy can teach people in the most simplest of terms. Applause 👏🏽.

Exceptional. His recent seminar in Florida demonstrated his superb understanding of the fundamentals and the ability to teach.

Incredible how one more grip to a simple technique makes it world class

So smooth and technical.

This is such a good demonstration. Thanks for sharing

This was pure gold. I always open my guard to start spider guard. He made it seem like such common sense for keeping the guard closed. A+!!!!!!! Will watch this as needed to master it. Thanks

An exceptional explanation of the closed guard now to practice applying this in my game

i just look at Roger Gracie and keep saying wow wow wow. Astonishing his pursuit and precision ........

What wonderful details!!! I need to go to a seminar with him

Thank you this video has made an improvement in my closed guard. Roger has always been one of favorites, the fundamental BJJ will always work if you perfect it.

Wow so awesome... from someone that likes to attack from closed guard that was so cool

That’s a freaking cool armbar setup!

He has so much knowledge

Great! Love the detail on armbar from closed gaurd

Wow 15 mins of content without making us sign up to pay for an absurd amount? How unusual.

Excellent explanation of the basics.

Great explanation, thank you!!

Amazing , hes legendary

Thank you professor!

fantastic lesson!

Wow absolute gold 🔥🙏🏻🙏🏻

Legend 🙏🏽

Excellent lesson.. 👍 thanks for explaining bjj mechanucs

Love closed guard This is gold

I've been training for almost 5 years and these small details makes Roger Gracie the 🐐

very good explanation of very principled techniques. I am impressed, as I had no idea he was such a good teacher.

Ohhh, I'm calling that armbar setup the "Bowman's grip" Looks very nice and effective, definitely trying this next class.

Amazing seminar

Thank you professor

The best closed guard tutorial I've ever seen

Great info. Thank you.

i had to watch this 10X to really understand it. Such mastery

Fantastic teacher

I've only been training for 2 weeks. Newbie here but wow his explanation of closed guard as one sided makes a lot of sense. Great video.

Wow! What great instruction!👍

Sensational clarity👍🏼🥋

Advanced basics

Thank you flow grappling.

Thank you sir

Amazing explanation!!!!

Roger is a legend.

FloGrappling! Love you guys! ALWAYS posting great content! Thank you!

Amazing knowledge and instruction!

Roger "I consider myself to have a pretty good closed guard" Gracie

I love that gi. I've only ever seen it for sale in the UK.

Excellent tutorial, thank you.

We can’t keep call it “basic“, amazing details!

Fantastic details! Thanks

That's exactly what any bjj fighter should be focussing on: the basics, and drilling them until perfectly mastered.

Dare I say, he has the greatest Jiujitsu of anyone before or after. He has the strongest grasp and mastery of the fundamentals of anyone, ever.

I can’t believe this is free on the Internet. This is a gem

Thank you for this. You have yourself a new subscriber!

I watched the whole thing and it explains a lot. Now I know that the purpose of breaking someone's posture is to prevent them from escaping and breaking your guard or passing. And you break guard by wrapping your leg around the upper back, neck, or head area and pulling them close to you or you can just apply the upper collar tie and again pull them close to you. Overall this is a great fundamental video of ju jitsu and I have subscribed to the channel because of it. Thanks Roger Gracie and thanks FloGrappling.

Gregor back there as well!

That was 🔥 🔥!

Eita... quantos detalhes!

Well thought out.

Awesome video of the closed from the greatest

Incredible

So good. 🙏🏼

Wow this is gold

Amazing content. Thank you

Amazing

What an amazing amount of information. I'm barely a white belt... Gotta get into jits

great details

Thank you!