BJJ Beginners

Lesson 19 – Pull Guard

Position:

Standing

Overview:

In an ideal situation, you would be able to close the distance, establish the clinch, conduct a takedown, achieve the mount, and win the fight. Sometimes however, the bully is very resistant when you try to establish control of them. If you get into a clinch and you are unable to the bully down because they are too strong or too resistant, you have two options: let go and try again or Pull Guard. If you let go, you risk getting punched when you try to reestablish the clinch. If you pull the bully in your guard, you can neutralize the punches, exhaust their energy, and eventually win the fight.

Technical Slices:

Pull Guard

• Indicator: Bully prevents you from controlling their hips after you close the distance.
• Essential Detail: Quick surprise pull on the opponents shoulders.
• Most Common Mistake: Ineffective handwork and punch protection from the guard.
• Safety Tip: Squat and shoot far back to minimize risk of the knee to the groin.
• Transfer Teaching Tip: Test their punch protection more intensely each time they succeed.

Bully Battle

• Practice Pulling Guard in combination with all of the previously learned techniques at various intensity levels. Give special emphasis to Headlock Escape 1 (Lesson 16).

Final Thoughts

• Whenever possible, you should focus entirely on achieving the takedown and the top position. When you can’t take the bully down, Pulling Guard is the best option. Even though you end up on the bottom of the fight, you are much safer and have far more control than you would if you were standing and exchanging punches with the bully. Stay close and stay safe.