The closed guard can become a holding position. That is useful for slowing a fight down, but it is not enough. A good guard should threaten reversals. It should make the person on top defend their posture, hands, knees, and hips.

Hour nine of my couple client’s Submission Grappling course returned to a familiar position with a more demanding lens. We were not chasing the pass itself. We were revising the preconditions that make passing possible.

Martial arts training room with equipment and two men grappling on red mats. Text: Side Control to Scarf-Hold blog post info.