Protect Ya Neck

[sk0t]

Question to all:

In BJJ...what are you hands in relation to you opponent.

For example:

In your opponents guard.

In your opponents mount.

Your opponent in your guard.

You mount your opponent.

Cross side (you on top).

Cross side (on the bottom).

North/South (both respects).

Your opponent on your back.

I would just like to know how you work on protecting the neck from these positions.

[AndrewGreen]

That depends entirely on where the best place for them at the time is

things are always moving, both people fighting to gain position and submission, nothing should be in a fixed position for very long.

Any safe place is going to be accomponied by a "when" and a few "unless" statements.

[SubGrappler]

Question to all:

In BJJ...what are you hands in relation to you opponent.

For example:

In your opponents guard.

In your opponents mount.

Your opponent in your guard.

You mount your opponent.

Cross side (you on top).

Cross side (on the bottom).

North/South (both respects).

Your opponent on your back.

I would just like to know how you work on protecting the neck from these positions.

Andrew's post gives some good advice- everything is always moving, but in terms of defense....

In your opponents guard.-- either a grip on the lapels around the chest area to prevent your opponent from sitting up to form any kind of attack

In your opponents mount-- elbows down your sides with your triceps/elbows having contact with the ground. Lifting your elbows even just slightly is all an experienced grappler needs to walk up into a high mount and basically end your match.

Your opponent in your guard.-- dont have to worry so much about your neck in this position- a commonplace for hands here is one in your opponents collar (with a deep grip) and another grip on the sleeve to allow for sweep/choke combinations.

You mount your opponent.-- one hand in the collar is always a good thing

Cross side (you on top).-- once again, not too much of a threat against you- one hand controlling the hips and the other controlling the head is a good way to maintain the position (but not so much attack)

Cross side (on the bottom).-- same as mount bottom

North/South (both respects). same as above

Basically for the inferior bottom positions, having your hands close to your body is better than wrapping your opponent which will make escaping far more difficult.

Your opponent on your back.-- depending on which side he wants to try to choke- you want to completely block off that side by touching your bicep to your ear as if you've got an itch in the middle of your back. This prevents the attacking hand from choking your neck (rather if he goes around your arm, he simply chokes your armpit).