Dec 23 2008
The Rubber Guard.
The rubber guard is employed by the fighter on their back with someone in their guard. They pull their leg up the other fighter back, and bring it up underneath the other fighters chin.
I don’t understand why more fighters do not utilize the rubber guard. It has to be one of the most under used guards in MMA right now. It is also one of the most effective.
Using the rubber guard can give fighters a great way to end a fight with either a gogoplata or omoplata. This guard variant does require more flexibility, but with any style of martial arts, flexibility is very important. Eddie Bravo has shown how effective the rubber guard can be, and there have been fighters who have had success with it, but as more fighters begin to effectively utilize it, I believe it will become regularly used by all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners.
I look forward to more fighters becoming active on their back. Just laying there while trying to control their opponents hands while looking for an arm bar or triangle just don’t seem to be the most effective defense.
