A few weeks ago, as part my breakdown of Dan Faggella’s Entanglement Protocol video series, I compared the intricacy of advanced chess theory to the intricacy of higher level grappling studies. In Two Sides to Every Story a look at the in-depth study of the Sicilian Defense described how a defensive strategy evolved into variations and variations to the variations. This is exactly how to continue taking our beginning level grappling to intermediate and eventually advanced levels. As we develop some of our positional game, our opponents will develop counters to our most common paths of escape, attack, entanglement, or disruption. It is necessary that we keep expanding our options to stay ahead of the counters.
An example that we will use today will offer additional options to the bottom Half Guard game. For the beginner still developing this game, it is essential to have options when (even against our will) we end up flattened out. This is because the standard Half Guard strategy is to maintain defensive structure while keeping our hips mobile and free by staying up on our side. It is the constant goal to not be flattened out, which means it is a pretty constant goal of our opponent in top position to flatten us out. Against more experienced opponents and training partners, we will clearly be unsuccessful with our standard goals some or much of the time. Thus, we need more options. What do we do when we do get flattened out?
Variations to the Variation
In November, we analyzed how to begin experimenting with Deep Half as one option. The position and technique shown offered a path of disruption and a sweep from underneath, an area that is accessible to the flattened out bottom player. Of course, whether the Deep Half path becomes your go-to option or not, if it remains the only option to counter once flattened out, it will soon be met with counters to the counter. So, we need more options.
Just as in the game theory of chess, variations spring up and get tested and proven throughout competition. One variation to heavy top games and strong passing skills is the Inverted Guard (or Roleta Guard). Developed most thoroughly by Roberto Magalhaes in the 90’s, this guard position is having a resurgence in recent years. A growth in No-Gi submission grappling and a reinvigorated interest in the leg lock game are likely contributing reasons, but the cyclical nature of positional trends is common nonetheless. This happens for the very reason we are discussing variations to variations, because a strategy that begins to gain success will undoubtedly be met with more studied counters to negate that success. Until a new take on the variation begins to counter those counters.
A notable variation to the Inverted Guard that has played out with particular success is Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu’s Tornado Guard. In particular this guard is most often utilized from the bottom Half Guard and is another option even when being flattened by heavy top pressure.
Enjoy a great article and videos on THE HISTORY OF THE INVERTED GUARD and its evolution.
…But Where Do I Start?
The Tornado Guard is not a beginning level technique. It is a specific variation to the already intricate Inverted Guard. I always preach the importance of exploring the more advanced paths sooner than later. This doesn’t mean abandon your fundamentals. They must be strong for your new paths to be applicable. However, as we discussed in Earning Your Flight Wings exploring more advanced paths will strengthen your success rate with the fundamentals as well as offering you new options.
Today’s video (and the step-by-step breakdown following) analyzes the legendary Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu’s Tornado Guard and offers some simpler ways to begin exploring this advanced technique. Just as we offered the floating passes as entry-level exploration to more advanced aerial techniques, and the Waiter Sweep as an exploration into Deep Half, Coach Dan offers some easier options (compared to some of Cyborg’s more advanced sweeps and submissions) to develop familiarity with the Tornado Guard position and set you up for more advanced exploration as that familiarity develops.
Step-by-Step:
- Beginning from a flattened out bottom Half Guard
- Pop elbow of own underhooked outside arm up and inside into a secure frame with hand hooking opponent’s opposite shoulder and forearm framing with throat or chin pressure to make some space
- Turning to side, immediately reach free bottom arm to hook under thigh of opponent’s free outside leg
- Tip: this must be quick, as top opponent has cross-face to underhook control and will use to flatten back to the mat, resetting the position if no anchor was established
- Kick knee shield of own top leg off of opponent’s hip and outward in a tear-drop to horizontal pendulum motion allowing the momentum of the spin and a push with own bracing arm to open a path for own head to duck under and through opponent’s cross-face control
- Without losing contact, trap opponent’s outside arm by transitioning inverted underhook as head swings underneath opponent’s body
- Use extended inside leg (still between opponent’s legs) to handle weight of top opponent
- Bring own body underneath opponent’s base by releasing outside arm underhook and hooking opponent’s outside leg and using both arms to pull opponent close with hips coming in over own shoulders
- Immediately use inside load-bearing leg as a lever to continue opponent’s forward motion, forcing opponent to post arms to re-establish some base
- Attack the now-controlled outside leg by wrapping for leg attacks or transfer to a forward sweep or Back Take utilizing the Technical Lift
- Tip: to transfer into a proper extraction position for the Technical Lift, kick outside leg off of opponent’s underarm or shoulder joint, post and kick entangled leg free for extraction behind opponent’s posting knee (kicking off of joints further off-balances opponent forward)
For continued analysis of the Tornado Guard check out this video tutorial from its inventor Cyborg Abreu!
Image credit: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1334672/Jaw-dropping-image-enormous-supercell-cloud-Glasgow-Montana.html
Image credit: http://meerkat69.blogspot.com/2012/09/seminar-roberto-cyborg-abreu.html
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