Why guard retention is important in BJJ?

Guard retention is one of the most important skills to master in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) as it is the foundation of a strong and effective guard game. Guard retention is the ability to keep your guard (legs and feet) between you and your opponent, preventing them from passing your guard and obtaining a dominant position.

Here are some reasons why guard retention is important in BJJ:

1. Defense: Guard retention is a critical aspect of defense in BJJ. By keeping your guard, you can prevent your opponent from passing and potentially submitting you. This allows you to control the pace of the match and defend yourself against your opponent’s attacks.
2. Offense: Guard retention is also important for offense in BJJ. By keeping your guard, you can set up sweeps, submissions, and other attacks on your opponent. This allows you to be more aggressive and create more opportunities for yourself in the match.
3. Control: Guard retention helps you maintain control over your opponent. By keeping your guard, you can control the distance between you and your opponent, limiting their ability to strike or pass your guard. This allows you to dictate the pace of the match and control the flow of the action.
4. Transition: Guard retention is also important for transitioning between positions in BJJ. By keeping your guard, you can transition from a defensive position to an offensive one, or vice versa. This allows you to maintain control over the match and adapt to your opponent’s movements.

Overall, guard retention is a crucial skill for any BJJ practitioner to master. By keeping your guard, you can defend yourself, create opportunities for offense, maintain control over the match, and transition between positions.

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