We all know how important it is to break grips when you’re in someones guard, right?
For example, if someone has a deep grip on your lapel from the closed guard he can use it to break your posture, prevent your pass, and set up sweeps and submissions. So your first priority is to break or at least nullify that lapel grip (here are some ways to do that).
But it’s not just the lapel grip that can cause you grief. It’s ANY grip that he’s good at!
If your opponent prefers double sleeve grips then he can mess you up with the spider guard. Or if he gets your sleeve and heel then he can dominate you with the de la Riva guard.
You don’t want to play his game, so if someone gets grips first you try to break them.
But if you can’t break them then you go to counter gripping. This concept involves anchoring your hands on your opponent so that he can’t move you around like a marionette.
The simple principle is: he grips cloth; I grip cloth.
Here’s a video about counter gripping in BJJ that’ll really help you incorporate this concept in your game.
This strategy can really become a game changer so give it a try!
Keep fighting to break the grip, absolutely, but if that doesn’t work then make sure to also include counter gripping.
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