If you are a Gi player, you most likely do not consider the rubber guard as an available guard option. To be honest, even most No-Gi folks do not go there, unless they’re a part of the 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu system, or they are crazy flexible. The rubber guard is actually a great position to use, especially in the sense of preventing guard passes from the closed, or even the half guard. To that extent, apart from that old, original Eddie Bravo Rubber Guard DVD, there are now many resources that cover the position in-depth and make it an option for everyone.
The Rubber guard was designed to prevent people in MMA from being able to punch you. In pure BJJ terms, though, it helps you accomplish two of the main principles of the closed guard – break the posture and close the distance. And no it won’t take you crazy levels of flexibility to be able to get into the position and play it safely, granted, for some of the crazier moves you will need to be pretty dextrous, but you can also develop a mean rubber guard system while being the most brittle grappler in your academy. All you need are the Rubber Guard DVD instructionals below.
The Best Rubber Guard DVD Instructionals Collection
The Rubber Guard is a very interesting guard to have fin with. It offers so many different attacking options that it usually ends ups working purely because people have no idea what is going on. However, that is not the only reason it is effective. The position puts you in a safe spot of sorts, where your guard can not be passed until it is opened up, which is notoriously difficult. Moreover, you get to attack directly from that spot, mostly by manipulating grips and arm hooks.
For those just starting off with the rubber guard, the focus should be on keeping it. It can be a bit tricky in the beginning, seeing as you are holding to one leg with your arm and the other leg is pretty much open on one side while being placed on the opponent’s back or hips. However, there’s a method to the madness here and the position will allow you to enter attacks such as Omoplatas, triangles, and armbars with ease. For the more adventurous you also have Gogoplatas, dead orchards, and a bunch of other craziness that might even take you to rubber mount. Yes, there is such a thing.
The real problem with the rubber guard is who you learn from. Most people that don’t like it usually just have an idea of what it is, and an even worse idea of their capabilities to deal with it. In other words, you need a 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu coach, or someone very very familiar with the rubber guard in order to really understand the position to that extent, going for rubber guard DVD instructionals that feature 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu instructors is your best bet to get world-class information on the position.
The best Rubber Guard DVD
The very best resource you can get on the subject of the Rubber guard is of course, one which features the founder of the position, Eddie Bravo as the instructor. This four-part Rubber Guard DVD is basically the holy grail when it comes to mastering this unusual closed guard variation.
The Ultimate Rubber Guard by Eddie Bravo
With huge success in launching Combat Jiu-Jitsu, Eddie Bravo launched a brand new rubber guard DVD instructional as well, focusing on all the changes and improvements he has made to the guard. Given that his latest instructional on the subject was almost two decades ago, it was about time. The instructional has four parts, each covering a different stage of the rubber guard in a progressive and logical manner.
In fact, Eddie Bravo covers the entire evolution of the rubber guard, going over all the original stuff and giving reasons behind the new modifications. He then explores his modern rubber guard, wrapping up with rubber guard variations that also include a rubber half guard.
The List Of Every Rubber Guard DVD Instructional In The Market Today
Following the “Holy Grail” of Rubber guard DVD instructionals by Eddie Bravo, let’s now look at several different ones that are just as useful as our top pick, especially if you already have some experience with the position.
1. Rubber Guard: Concepts From Half Guard by Richie Martinez
Richie Martinez is one of Eddie Bravo’s best black belts, especially when it comes to competition. Also a breakdancer, Richie has a very original style of grappling and is a true master of the Rubber guard. he is perhaps most versed with it in the entire 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu system. That is precisely why instead of focusing on the rubber guard, he has an instructional out on the less utilized, but at least just as effective rubber half guard. This is a DVD that ties in perfectly with all the others that cover the original rubber guard position, providing you with a nasty system to play from the bottom.
2. Rubber Guard: The Meathook by Brandon McCaghren
Brandon is by far my favorite instructor from the 10th Planet System. He has a real knack for teaching, along with, of course, being as innovative and open-minded as the rest of the 10th Planet bunch. In this rubber guard DVD instructional Brandon covers the meathook, a very specific portion of the rubber guard that allows for even more safety form passing and even easier transitions into attacking.
3. 10th Planet Fundamentals by JM Holland & Zach Maslany
This DVD instructional covers all the drills that 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu gyms use to warm up with. Of course, they involve lots and lots of rubber guard drills, including entries and follow-ups. I’d urge you to look into this DVD only after you’ve established a great base for playing the rubber guard by using any of the other instructionals reviewed above. That said, everyone can benefit from watching this one, regardless of level.
In Conclusion
The rubber guard is a fun tool to have in your arsenal. it will help you surprise people and get out of tough spots if you plan on using it only occasionally. If you’re planning on developing an entire game around it people will pretty much be clueless about what to do with it once caught inside. The rubber guard DVD instructionals we reviewed above are literally all you need to develop the meanest rubber guard game outside of actually training full time with one of the instructors from the DVDs.
