Jiu-Jitsu Guard Attacks: 6-D Chess

Guard Attacks: Elevating Your Game with Strategic Jiu-Jitsu Combinations

Let’s start simple. In Jiu-Jitsu, effective guard attacks can be likened to playing a sophisticated game of chess, where each move sets the stage for the next, creating dilemmas and forcing opponents into increasingly difficult predicaments. Here's how you can develop your strategy from basic movements to complex sequences, employing a multifaceted approach to dominate your opponent.

See”Forks in Jiu-Jitsu” To see what is a fork and how it applies to Jiu-Jitsu

Initial Setup: The Classic Attack: Collar and Arm

Your foundational attack from the guard involves securing a solid cross collar grip. This grip sets you just one move away from a potential checkmate with a Cross Collar Choke. If your opponent anticipates and blocks the choke, it's time to introduce a new problem for them. Shift your focus to their arm. The moment their attention diverts, you exploit any opening for the neck.

Developing the Sequence: Building to a 6 Way Fork

Dilemma (Two-Way Attack): Start by simultaneously threatening with cross chokes and arm bars. This basic combination forces your opponent to make a quick decision, leaving them vulnerable to one of the attacks.

Trilemma (Three-Way Attack): Next, add another layer by attacking their base. This destabilizes them further and splits their focus across multiple threats.

Quadrilemma (Four-Way Attack): Introduce a threat to the second arm. If they defend the first arm, switch your attack to an arm bar on the second arm.

Pentalemma (Five-Way Attack): Lock in a triangle while they are preoccupied with defending other threats.

Hexalemma (Six-Way Attack): If you can cross the arm, take advantage of the angle change, transition to taking their back, setting you up for a choke, arm bar, or triangle.

Throughout these sequences, maintain your original collar grip, which remains your anchor point for final submissions. Everything else serves as a distraction or setup for you to ultimately secure the neck.

When newcomers enter the dojo, they often bring with them a mindset akin to playing checkers, focused solely on straightforward attacks. But Jiu-Jitsu, much like chess, is about strategy, not brute force. It demands a shift from simplistic thinking to a more complex, strategic approach. Those who cling to their initial tactics, hoping these will lead to victory, find themselves stuck, unable to progress in the true art of Jiu-Jitsu.

To truly excel in Jiu-Jitsu, one must embrace the philosophy of Wu-wei, which emphasizes minimal effort for maximum efficiency, letting go of forceful actions. It's essential to humble oneself and delve deeply into the fundamentals, learning how each movement influences the next, much like understanding each piece on a chessboard.

Learning and Mastery: The Role of Deep Practice

Having a good coach is like having a guide who knows the terrain intimately. He helps navigate through the complexities of Jiu-Jitsu, emphasizing the importance of understanding each position deeply and sequentially. Training isn’t just about physical repetition; it’s about understanding the why and how, which transforms simple movements into strategic weapons.

By maintaining a position where you always threaten with a submission or a positional upgrade, you force your opponent into a continuous dilemma. They must choose between conceding a position or risking a submission, effectively trapping them in a tactical disadvantage. Funneling them through a labyrinth of doom.

Conclusion: Mastery Through Strategic Layering

At Six Blades Jiu-Jitsu New Market, we approach training as a layered learning experience, where each session builds on the last. From white belt novices to seasoned practitioners, understanding how to create and navigate through dilemmas, trilemmas, and beyond not only enhances your ability on the mats but also deepens your strategic thinking, akin to playing multidimensional chess.

Join us, and elevate your Jiu-Jitsu from playing checkers to mastering the art of 6D chess, where every move counts and every setup has a purpose.

Jiu-Jitsu Guard Set Ups