The Lord of the Guards: Guard Retention by Jon Calestine

The Lord of the Guards: Guard Retention by Jon Calestine

Master Distance Management
Efficient Guard Recovery
Counter Common Passing Techniques
Integrate a Cohesive System
Master Distance Management
Efficient Guard Recovery
Counter Common Passing Techniques
Integrate a Cohesive System

What you'll learn

Enhance Your Guard Retention with Jon Calestine's Proven Techniques for All Levels

Master Distance Management

Learn to control the space from seated and supine positions, preventing opponents from closing in and passing your guard.

Master Distance Management
Efficient Guard Recovery

Efficient Guard Recovery

Develop strategies to recover guard from challenging positions like half guard and side control, ensuring you stay in the fight.

Counter Common Passing Techniques

Gain the skills to effectively counter leg drags, knee cuts, and stack passes, turning defense into opportunity.

Counter Common Passing Techniques
Integrate a Cohesive System

Integrate a Cohesive System

Build a unified approach to guard retention that combines leg pummeling, entries, and leg lock defense into a seamless strategy.

Jon Calestine
Meet Your Instructor

Jon Calestine

Jon Calestine is an elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and EBI champion, renowned for his technical precision and innovative guard play. Having trained extensively under Anthony Bergamo, Daisuke Yamaji, and Eddie Cummings, Jon has developed a deep mastery of guard retention and leg-lock strategies, consistently competing at the highest levels including ADCC Trials.

As an experienced instructor at Kings Combat Williamsburg and Renzo Gracie Brooklyn, Jon is dedicated to sharing his analytical approach and competition-tested techniques, making him uniquely qualified to teach practitioners of all skill levels.

Course Overview

Many Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners find themselves frustrated by ineffective guard retention, often losing control and position during intense rolls. Despite countless hours on the mats, maintaining a strong guard against skilled opponents remains a daunting challenge.

In "The Lord of the Guards: Guard Retention by Jon Calestine," you'll discover a strategic approach to guard retention that emphasizes managing distance and recovering from various positions. Jon Calestine, an EBI champion and renowned BJJ expert, shares his analytical framework that transforms guard retention into a cohesive system rather than a collection of isolated techniques.

Through this course, students will develop the ability to maintain and recover guard with confidence, translating directly into improved performance in both training and competition. Whether you're a white belt eager to build a solid foundation or a seasoned black belt looking to refine your skills, this course offers invaluable insights that will elevate your Jiu-Jitsu game.

Are you ready to revolutionize your guard retention skills? Enroll now and take the first step towards a more effective and resilient guard game.

Course Content

5 chapters • 43 videos

Jon Calestine Guard Retention Introduction 2:55
Butterfly Guard Positioning 4:55
Butterfly Guard Movement 3:56
Using Footpost to Create Off Balances 4:02
Using Outside Hook 3:07
Using Inside Hook 5:04
Hip Heisting 3:44
2 On 1 Grip 4:28
One On One Marcelo Grip 2:12
Making 2 On 1 Off Collar Tie 2:53
Making Elbow Grips Off Opponents Ankle Grips 2:50
Dealing With Grips On Ankles 2:51
K Hook And Hand Frame 3:24
Leg Scissor To Square Up 2:33
Side Guard Framing Bicep 4:38
Side Guard Foot To The Hip 3:08
Side Guard Shin Moves The Head 2:54
Side Guard Stripping Reverse V Grip 2:36

Guard Recovery

11 videos
Defending North South 2:00
Knee In Shoulder To Recover 2:44
Defending The Stack Pass Shoulder Walk 2:51
Defending Stack Pass: Putting Knee In Shoulder 1:56
Defending Knee Cut Using Reverse De La Riva 2:52
Defending Knee Cut Forcing Side Guard 3:02
Defending Knee Cut Collar Frame Foot Post 3:21
Half Guard Chest To Chest Recover From Side Guard 3:02
Basic Forward Shift And Forward Shift With Bicycle Kick 2:28
Recovery From Leg Drag 2:17
Basic Side Control Escape To Side Guard Recovery 2:48
Jon Calestine Guard Retention Drills 6:28
Rolling Commentary: Jeff 14:17
Rolling Commentary: Joe 10:52
Rolling Commentary: Yuri 6:42
Rolling Commentary: Tom 6:47
All Demonstrations - Lord of the Guards: Guard Retention 10:11
How Do You Stop Knee on Belly From Side Guard? 3:43
How Do You Retain When They Push Down Your Knee Shield? 4:56
How Do You Prevent the Far Knee From Getting Pushed Down From Side Guard? 3:36
How Do You Defend Leg Locks From Side Guard? 2:54
How Do You Deal With An Opponent Disengaging From Seated Butterfly Guard? 5:02
How Do You Deal With An Opponent Who Keeps Circling Out When You Heist? 3:07
How Do You Use The Leg Lasso For Guard Retention? 3:29
Is The R Guard A Viable Option? 2:53

Choose your Access plan

Best Value

Digitsu Membership

Access to 50+ courses and 1000+ videos

$239.88/ year
  • Access to 50+ full-length BJJ Courses
  • Includes 1,000+ instructional videos
  • New courses as they're released
  • Unlimited use of the Digitsu AI Chatbot
  • Access on all devices

Lifetime Access

One-time payment for permanent access

$59
  • 43 Video Lessons
  • Lifetime Access
  • Access on all devices

Monthly Membership

Monthly access to 50+ courses and 1000+ videos

$24.99
  • Access to 50+ full-length BJJ Courses
  • Includes 1,000+ instructional videos
  • New courses as they're released
  • Unlimited use of the Digitsu AI Chatbot
  • Access on all devices

Still have questions?

The Digitsu Membership subscription includes access to 50+ courses and 1000+ videos on Digitsu along with other benefits like nearly unlimited usage of the BJJ AI chatbot and access to new course releases. The Lifetime Access provides permanent access to this specific course without a recurring subscription.
The course is available on our website using your laptop, tablet, or phone. You'll also have access through the Digitsu mobile apps on Android and iOS using your Digitsu account.
Currently, content downloads are available exclusively through our Digitsu mobile apps (available on iOS and Android). This allows you to enjoy your videos offline wherever you go. Our website supports streaming only and doesn't offer direct downloads at this time.