Alright, started practicing again...lightly. Preface: had knee surgery and have a problem back. Knee requires a brace when I roll. Also, I am a short guy with a long torso and short limbs.

Problem: When I am in a particular opponent's guard (who is larger than me), I want to keep my balance and not lean over too much so I don't afford the opponent the opportunity to swing me in. With my shorter reach I have a problem with controlling his hips and keeping my torso away without leaning to give him some leverage to toss me forward.

Basically, what I have been trying to do is back up and time him coming foreward to close the gap so I can break his guard by pushing on his knee and cross along his right leg with my good left knee or try to reach around and loosen his guard to attempt to roll and stack him....harder since he's a good 50-60 lbs heavier and I generally miss the timing to get up to have good leverage.

Is there another strategy that I can use, considering the brace I wear...where I can break the guard of a larger opponent?

Try reviewing these Brad:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=111952703762762255&q=abhaya+breaking+guard
(seems to not have enough but may give you some ideas. The knee to the butt we call "The Violator"

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3207422892071958392&q=abhaya+breaking+guard

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2232310421473818054&q=abhaya+breaking+guard

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5334484576135010119&q=abhaya+breaking+guard

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2775512178832515543&q=Passing+the+guard

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8054400759637053420&q=Passing+the+guard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41EhwdU1ewQ

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2036343795257889600&q=Passing+the+guard
(Here's my Instructor's Instructor Machado's David Meyer and his partner John Will. I have their armbar DVD, good stuff.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDGCW5zlkDU
(Pat Miletich opened a school in Fort McMurray, AB and one of their MMA fighters is my Instructor's opponent on April 20th)

There are a few others we do in class but I'm very poor in explaining them verbally without showing them. I know throwing up videos is probably not what you are looking for but perhaps they may give you some ideas. Hope somebody more qualified is able to explain things for you.

Cool Beans, dude! You know, at this point I am just trying to learn….not win. But I never thought of trying to go forward (re can opener) in the guard. Was always afraid of triangles or arm bars. What the hey, I’ll try this weekend.

Too bad I only have dial up at home, can’t watch the videos there.

-B

The can opener tends to be more of a big man's game but as it's training, it's worth playing around with.

As its difficult to coach without being there in person and seeing what's going on, I'd advise you to check out youtube for guard passing. Watch the smaller, lighter guys as they tend to be VERY technical. That's what you really want to strive for.

Fundamentals never go out of style.

Why not play a low safety posture and stall? Try that among the others and see if you can force your partners to open their OWN guard.


-John

John,

Thanks. Will do and see what happens. Just trying to have fun.

Alright, per the can opener, should come with an engraved card stating "To not try at home."

It does suprise people when they think you are going backward, but suffice it to say that if the guy is sufficiently big, it probably ain't gonna work.

Got floated and arranged for a nice armbar.

On the other hand I got shown somehting that I can't quite visualize as a half guard for controlling a larger opponent. OK, I get confused with a lot of the terminology and I used to think a Kimura was a key lock so take this as a qualification, but I was shown a position after breaking guard that was labeled "New Age" half guard by the person showing me. It's high on the chest of your opponent, controlling the head, but your back is basically facing him.

Can this be considered a half guard?