Closed guard that scores and transitions cleanly to modern tops.
The Bottom Line
You get combination attacks competitors actually hit, not museum pieces. The course shows how to re-guard via reverse half if your opponent stands or backsteps. If closed guard feels stale, this makes it a scoring hub again.
⚡️ Quick facts
Best for: Points-focused guard users
Skip if: You never play closed
Tech focus: Closed Guard, Arm Triangle, Lapel Controls, Hip Bump, Kimura, Flower Sweep, Reverse Half Guard
Biggest takeaway: Closed guard still wins brackets.
📋 Jump to a section (Click to expand)
What You'll Learn
GF Team standout Jake Mackenzie modernizes closed guard with combination attacks and lapel use competitors actually hit. The set emphasizes sweeps to the top and arm triangles from closed.
It integrates reverse and deep half concepts to recover if the opponent stands or backsteps, keeping you in the scoring race.
Primary Techniques You'll Drill
- Closed Guard
- Arm Triangle
- Lapel Controls
- Hip Bump
- Kimura
- Cross Collar
- Flower Sweep
- Reverse Half Guard
- Back Takes
- Guard Recovery
Format & Level
- Instructional style: System Based, Technique Collection
- Skill level: All Levels
- Format: Both
- Runtime: 1 hour and 39 minutes
- Volumes: 3
- Released: 2019
Should You Buy It?
Wait for daily deal. I revived closed guard scoring by chaining hip-bump to arm-triangle and re-guarding to reverse half when posture broke.
Why Jake Mackenzie?
Jake Mackenzie is a Canadian black belt under Roberto 'Cyborg' Abreu who became a fixture in Brazil with GF Team. Known for deep half and reverse half mastery, he translates those layers into reliable competition sequences. Mackenzie is widely regarded as a clear teacher with battle-tested guards.
Community feedback
Here’s a summary of common feedback from platforms like Reddit’s r/bjj.
😍 Why People Love It
- Clear teaching and uncommon details from a half guard wizard.
- Reverse half guard and knee-cut defenses stand out.
- Good blend of foundations and advanced tactics.
🤔 Common Criticisms
- Some find inverted tornado-style options impractical for most.
- Better if you already like half guard concepts.
Smart Alternatives
- Closed Guard Domination – Another proven closed guard curriculum.
- High Precision Half Guard – Pairs well if opponents stand and backstep.
Sources & References
Official listing: View Competition Closed Guard on BJJ Fanatics
Additional References
Your next step
You have the breakdown, community feedback, and my final thoughts. Now it’s your move.
