David Gao (Bottom Guard)

Opponent starts X-pass

Top Leg guard recovery

RDLH

SLX

Kiss of the Dragon

Crabride

Backmount

Inside Contol

SLX sweep

Reap to outside heel hook

Opponent starts Knee Cut

Inside sweep

Knee shield

Throw the Shield

Dogfight

Outside leg control

outside heel hook 🏴

Standing

Opponent hip switches

Push Head away and turn

Stand

Lat grip sweep

Top half

Switch to Lucas Leites Half

Shoot the underhook

Coyote Half Sweep

Side Control

Opponent starts standing

Opponent Pressures

Throw Knee Shield

Opponent starts Knee Cutting

Knee Bump to underhook

Backmount

Jedi Mind Trick

Backmount

Foot to far hip

Op. Sits

Closed Guard

Op. Stands

SLX entry

SLX

DLH

SLX entry

SLX

Opponent Bladed

Scissor Shot

Imanari

Standing Saddle

Op. Bases out

Knee Bar 🏴

Turn Sweep

Saddle

Op. Runs

Invert to saddle

Grab far leg

Timber Sweep

Concepts to Remember

  1. When inverting for the saddle keep your hips high and look to roll underneath your opponent instead of rolling to the side
  1. Leg connection is key with any leg entanglement, if your opponent has any chance to free their leg they will, so ensure tightness
  1. Hip work is very important for the improvement of the scissor shot, don't let your hips disconnect from your opponent's leg even if you have ample arm control
  1. Remember that although the saddle is the end goal, you should try to set up other attacks more aggressively, don't show your intention to saddle until you have shown them other looks (the saddle is an overhand right not a jab)
  1. Open Guard retention should be based on the top foot pedal, hand position on the wrists and ankles, as well as chest position pointing toward the opponent.
  1. Open Guard is a main entry point to SLX / X via inside foot hooks
  1. Work to slow your opponent's passing and then work to SLX / X / Closed / Scissor shot. Do this via keeping strong angles with your hips and strong grips via the inside hooks and wrist grips

Key Half Guard Concepts

  1. (FAR) When opponent is far away and not engaging you can either wrestle up or you can switch toward butterfly
  1. (PRESSURE) When you opponent is crowding you, seek butterfly hooks for elevation and leg entanglements
  1. (KNEE CUT) When you opponent is knee cutting you have to seek underhooks and knee bumps to get further behind them

Guard Retention

Top foot recoveries

Saddle Entry

Reorient to butterfly

SLX

Turtle

Roll (Head Inside)

Roll (Head Outside)

Saddle / Backside 50/50

Inside Heel Hook

Outside Heel Hook

Bottom foot saving throw

Rev. Butterfly

Wrestle up

Single

Rear bodylock

Turtle to double

Top Guard

Turning away

Head and arm throw

wrist grip

backdoor

stand

rear bodylock

Scarf