Student Objectives:

  1. The Student will identify Posture in the Closed Guard.

  2. The Student will practice maintaining Posture in the Closed Guard.

  3. The Student will learn how to pass the Closed Guard using the Gorilla Stiff Arms technique.

Teaching Cues:

  • Gorilla Arms

  • Look up

  • Booty Back

  • Combat Base

  • Knee Cut

Lesson: Gorilla Stiff Arms

The Assisting student will put the practicing student in Closed Guard by laying on their back and wrapping their legs around the waist of the practicing student.

The practicing student will start with good posture, with their hands in the Standard Grips position. The practicing student will then move the hand near the center of the chest to the hips. Both Hands should take grips along the pants with their knuckles pressing down into the hips. The shoulders should always be behind the plane of the knuckles with the head looking forward or up. The practicing student will then walk their body backwards creating pressure on the ankles of the assisting student.

A good training partner will open their legs once they feel pressure and then the practicing student will move into Combat Base. Once in Combat base the Practicing student should execute a Knee Cut Pass and end in the Side Control position.

Possible Extensions:

  • The practicing student can perform a Double Leg Takedown before performing the Gorilla Stiff Arms.

  • Vary the finish of the pass after the student moves into the Combat Base position. There can be a Back Step, a Knee Staple or any variation of the Double Under.

  • Have the practicing student start without any posture and include a transition into the standard grips before moving into the Gorilla Stiff Arms.

Possible Refinements:

  • Ensure the student does not compromise their posture while walking their booty back. This is very common when they transfer weight from their feet to their knees to move back. This can be easily observed if their nose goes over the plane of their knuckles.

  • Ensure the knee is on the inside of their arm when moving into the Combat Base position.

Reference materials:

Teaching Reflections:

  • How did I do teaching?

  • What could I do better next time?

  • Did the student gain proficiency in lesson material?