Back to Techniques
Open GuardBottom
Beginnertarantula guard
N/A
Taught by:Nathan Merkle
Share
Share this page
About This Technique
Tarantula Guard in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
The Tarantula Guard is a complex form of guard used to control and manipulate an opponent's posture and balance while creating opportunities for sweeps or submissions. It's characterized by the usage of both feet on the opponent's biceps and maintaining grips on the sleeves, similar to the Spider Guard but with added layers of complexity. This guard is typically employed by more advanced practitioners.
Possible Position(s)
- Position: Open Guard, transitioning from Spider Guard.
- Top/Bottom: Bottom.
Step-by-Step Instructions
-
Establish Spider Guard:
- Begin in the open guard position, facing your opponent.
- Secure sleeve grips on both of your opponent's arms.
- Place your feet on their biceps, creating a Spider Guard.
-
Transition to Tarantula Guard:
- Keeping tension, extend one of your legs fully while pulling with the corresponding arm, isolating that side.
- Curl the other leg tighter, ensuring your shin presses against the opponent's arm.
- Rotate your body slightly, increasing leverage and control over the opponent's posture.
-
Control & Manipulation Part 1:
- Pressure your opponent by pulling their sleeve while placing your extended foot onto their hip, maintaining a stiff arm to keep them off balance.
- Use the leg at the shin to prevent them from moving that arm forward, locking their position.
-
Control & Manipulation Part 2:
- Utilize your free leg to occasionally push against your opponent’s hip or thigh, utilizing it as a pivot point to ensure you keep your position or transition to other guards or submissions.
- Adjust your angle by rolling slightly sideways if needed to maintain optimal pressure and discomfort for your opponent.
-
Set Up Sweeps or Submissions:
- From here, you can seamlessly transition to a variety of techniques. Options include:
- Triangle choke: Transfer grip pressure from pulling to lifting your hips under their arm, leading to a leg lock around their neck.
- Omoplata: Swing the leg around their trapped arm, placing them in a shoulder lock.
- Armbar: Especially when they try to free an arm, you can shift control, swinging your leg over their head.
- From here, you can seamlessly transition to a variety of techniques. Options include:
-
Sweep Opportunity:
- If your opponent tries to stand up, capitalize by pulling their arm and sweeping them.
- Use their momentum against them for a successful sweep, taking the mount or side control position.
Tips and Warnings:
- Tight Gripping: Ensure that your grips on their sleeves remain tight and steady to avoid losing control.
- Hip Mobility: Utilize your hips for adjustments, which is crucial when moving between Tarantula to other guard techniques.
- Avoid Telegraphed Moves: Keep moves subtle to not alert the opponent prematurely.
- Practice: Like all advanced techniques, practice is essential to mastering the subtle movements and grip transitions.
Japanese Name
- Japanese Name: N/A
How to Execute
# Tarantula Guard from Open Guard
## Setup
- **Initial Position Details**: Begin in the open guard position with your opponent standing or on their knees in front of you. Ensure that your hips are mobile and your legs are ready to engage and control your opponent's posture.
- **Grips and Controls Needed**: Secure a sleeve grip on each of your opponent's wrists or sleeves. Your feet should be placed on your opponent's biceps, similar to the start of a spider guard position. Your hips should be slightly elevated off the ground to allow for better mobility and control.
## Steps
1. **Control the Sleeves**:
- Maintain strong sleeve grips with your hands, ensuring that your thumbs are not wrapped around the sleeve (thumb-less grip). This will help in preventing your opponent from breaking the grips easily.
2. **Establish Foot Placement**:
- Place both of your feet on your opponent's biceps. Your legs should be bent, with your knees pointing outwards, creating tension on your opponent's arms. Keep your hips elevated and slightly off the ground to maintain mobility.
3. **Create Angles**:
- Use your legs to push and pull your opponent's arms, creating angles. This off-balances them and opens opportunities for further attacks or sweeps.
4. **Adjust Your Hips**:
- Use your grips and foot placement to adjust your hips. You can twist your hips slightly to one side to enhance the control over your opponent and prepare for transitions.
5. **Apply Pressure**:
- Straighten one leg while keeping the opposite leg bent. This will apply pressure on your opponent's bicep with the stretched leg, while the bent leg maintains control and balance.
6. **Transition to Attacks or Sweeps**:
- From this position, you can transition to various attacks such as triangles, omoplatas, or sweeps by manipulating your opponent's posture and balance with the controlled grips and foot placement.
## Key Points
- **Important Details to Remember**:
- Maintain constant tension on your opponent's arms with your foot placement on their biceps.
- Keep your hips mobile and elevated to facilitate transitions and maintain control.
- Use the push-pull dynamic with your legs to create angles and off-balance your opponent.
- **Common Mistakes to Avoid**:
- Do not allow your opponent to break your sleeve grips easily; ensure your grip is firm and thumb-less.
- Avoid keeping your hips flat on the ground, as this reduces mobility and control.
- Do not let your legs become too relaxed; maintain active engagement with your feet on your opponent's biceps.
By following these steps and key points, you can effectively control your opponent using the tarantula guard from the open guard, allowing for a versatile range of attacks and transitions.
Rate This Technique
Sign in to rate techniques
Sign In