A fundamentals-first closed guard that prioritizes posture breaks, control, and easy sweeps.
The Bottom Line
You will learn to hold posture down and create simple sweep threats. You will mix collar or wrist control with hip angles. You will not get an encyclopedic attack tree.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: Newer players
Skip if: You hate closed guard
Tech focus: Closed Guard, Posture Breaks, Hip Bump
Biggest takeaway: Break posture early
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What You'll Learn
Modernizes closed guard for no-gi and gi by pairing collar/wrist control with posture breaks and opportunistic sweeps. Includes high-percentage attacks and strategies to reopen closed guard safely.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Closed Guard
- Posture Breaks
- Collar Grips
- Wrist Control
- Hip Bump
- Armbar
- Omoplata
- Re Open Closed Guard
Format & Level
- Instructional style: System Based, Technique Collection
- Skill level: Beginner
- Format: Both
- Runtime: 2 hours and 18 minutes
Should You Buy It?
Wait for daily deal. I like it as a curriculum-friendly baseline that gives beginners structure fast.
Why Tom DeBlass?
DeBlass blends pressure and control to make closed guard practical for non-flexible bodies.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Listed among must-have basics alongside half guard.
- Solid posture-breaking and sweep-first approach.
- Useful as a curriculum backbone for beginners.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Closed guard specialization fans may want more submission depth.
- Some threads push open guard meta instead.
Smart Alternatives
- John Danaher – Closed Guard (New Wave), Deep no-gi posture breaking and wedges.
- Shawn Williams – Williams Guard, Overhook closed-guard pathway.
Sources & References
Official listing: View Closed Guard Domination on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.
