techniques

How do I deal with flexible guard players?

Against flexible guard players, use pressure passing rather than speed passing because their flexibility lets them recover from quick passes. Keep heavy pressure on their hips and legs to prevent them from inverting or recovering guard. Body lock passing and smash passing neutralize flexibility by eliminating the space they need to move.

Detailed Explanation

Flexible guard players are frustrating because they can recover guard from positions where most people would be passed. Their inversions, Granby rolls, and extreme hip flexibility let them create angles even when you think you have passed. The solution is to take away their space. Body lock passing pins their hips and prevents the hip movement needed for most flexible guard recovery. The over-under pass stacks them on their shoulders, which neutralizes their leg dexterity. The smash pass flattens one of their legs and puts your weight through it, preventing the re-guard. Avoid speed passes like the torreando against very flexible opponents because the moment you let go of their legs, they will invert and recover. Instead, maintain constant contact and heavy pressure throughout your pass. Stay patient. Flexible guard players often rely on you making a mistake in your haste to pass. Slow, methodical pressure passing is the antidote.

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