Chapter 6: How I Structured My Bottom Game

From closed guard, prioritize submissions as they are the most direct route to ending a match. To set up submissions, focus on closing the space between you and your opponent, aiming to bring their chest to yours and breaking down their posture. Utilize various methods such as pulling in your legs, attacking grips, and drawing in their elbows to achieve this.

1. Once the opponent's posture is compromised, their arms, hands, and neck become vulnerable to attacks. Use this opportunity to build a submission arsenal.
2. Breaking down the opponent's posture requires less energy from you than it does for them to rebuild it, creating an energy deficit in your favor.
3. As the opponent works to regain posture, prepare for sweeps like the hip bump or scissor sweep. This allows you to use their posturing efforts against them.
4. If you cannot maintain closed guard, prepare for the transition by controlling their sleeves, as opponents rely on their hands to pass guard.
5. Wait for the opponent to initiate the guard break, then position your legs and secure sleeve grips as the guard opens to stay one step ahead.
6. In open guard, the lasso position limits the opponent's movement and provides easy transitions to spider guard and lasso sweeps.
7. Be cautious when untangling from lasso, as it signals your transition to the opponent, potentially allowing them to counter.
8. Transition to half lasso sweeps, spider guard sweeps, or De La Riva guard to maintain control and prevent the opponent from passing.
9. Choose sweeps that align with your body type and have been refined in your game for maximum effectiveness.
10. If unable to maintain distance in spider guard, transition to De La Riva to control the opponent's sleeves and legs.
11. When distance can't be maintained, consider moving to X-Guard to create space and focus on controlling the opponent's arms and legs.
12. All sweeps should lead to a top game position, emphasizing efficiency and control throughout the transitions.