Building a Strong Defensive Posture in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Another random musing from me today…
Martial arts come in many forms and flavours. For me, I like to categorize them into two main types: traditional martial arts and fighting arts – bear with me.
Traditional martial arts, to me, are the likes of Aikido, Kung Fu, etc., whereas the fighting arts are boxing, wrestling, Muay Thai, Judo, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ). The reason I separate these is the fundamental difference between them. The traditional martial arts work with a problem/solution mindset – they do this, you do that. The fighting arts tend to work from a defensive posture from which they stage their attacks – told you, bear with me…
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu falls somewhere in the middle. We learn and coach with a problem/solution mindset, much like traditional martial arts. You ask your coach why you got your guard passed in a certain way, and, because they’ve spent years assimilating techniques, knowledge, and time on the mats, they’ll respond with a solution: “You could do this or that.” The direct problem is answered with a direct solution.
Advancement and progress in BJJ often seem to rely on accumulating techniques and knowledge. The more tools you have in your toolbox, the more problems you’ll be able to solve, right?
But is that the full story?
In boxing, there isn’t quite that same luxury. There are four basic punches: jab, cross, uppercut, and hook. If you go to your boxing coach and say, “I got hit with a cross,” they probably won’t offer a one-move solution. Instead, they’ll check your defensive foundations: “Did you have your hands up?”, “Were you covering your chin?”, “Let’s look at your footwork and head movement.”
Boxing is about defence first, then attack. Your attacks come from a solid defensive base and are set up with feints, footwork, and timing. Wrestling is the same. Stance and movement are king, followed by hand fighting and setups.
But in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – where’s our defensive foundation?
Is BJJ defensive posture taught? Is guard retention drilled as a core concept?
BJJ Defensive Posture and Guard Retention
In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, anytime someone can occupy the space between your elbows and knees, you’re vulnerable – and they’re winning.
Let’s quickly revisit the BJJ positional hierarchy: side control, knee on belly, mount, and back control. These positions dominate because they effectively control this precious elbow-knee space.
So, logically, the heart of BJJ defence is about keeping your opponent out of this space.
Try it with a training partner.
Ball up, pull your knees into your armpits, and wedge your elbows inside your knees. Keep your knees close to your chest and your elbows, head, and shoulders tight between your knees. See if your partner can pass your guard.
Focus on nothing but maintaining this defensive shell.
Think grilled chicken.
Think defensive egg posture.
Think BJJ defensive structure.
Whatever mental cue helps you, hold on to it while your partner brings controlled chaos.
Redefining Guards: Your BJJ Jab, Cross, Hook, and Uppercut
From this BJJ defensive posture – this grilled chicken, egg, defensive shell – start rethinking your guards.
Your guards from this position are your jab, cross, uppercut, and hooks. They’re your tools to attack, but you don’t need to rush. Like a seasoned boxer, you can hide behind your BJJ defence, attacking only when it’s comfortable, appropriate, and technically correct.
Contrast this with someone outside a Weatherspoon’s who can’t box – they throw wildly, because if they stop, they’re likely going to get hit clean.
This is what happens when BJJ players abandon their defensive posture – they scramble, they flail, they attack from bad positions out of panic.
But if you trust your BJJ defensive shell, if you trust your guard retention, if you trust your defensive posture, you can stay calm, composed, and dangerous.
Take this mindset into your Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training and see how it feels.
Final Thoughts
I’m not going to give you specific examples – I’ll leave you to play with this on the mats. Test it, explore it, and let me know how you get on.
Reach out to me with any questions or if you want to chat about this further – I’d love to discuss it.
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