When you’re playing open guard, the opponent’s path is clear to attack, take your legs out of play and pursue a position of advantage like side-control or the mount.

That’s why it’s always handy to have some weapons up your sleeve for when he opens your guard.

Today, GRACIEMAG dug up a choke by the black belt Eric Bordo, who demonstrates how to use an attack on the neck to disconcert the opponent and set up the counter-attack—a sweep topped with a mount.

Check out Eric’s tricks:

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Saulo Ribeiro against Eduardo Telles at the International Master and Senior 2012 (Photo by Ivan Trindade/GRACIEMAG.com)

When an opponent has balled up on all fours, you have but two options: either stick your hand in and grab the collar for a clock choke or stick in your hooks and take his back. Right?

Not quite! You’ve still got some other alternatives.

Today GRACIEMAG.com brings you a slick double finish direct from Las Vegas, taught by our GMA Ricardo Cavalcanti, head sensei at Carlson Gracie Las Vegas.

Pay attention to how the Jiu-Jitsu professor fakes a clock choke with his hand.

If the opponent shuts your first hook out, don’t worry: position your foot as Ricardo does and turn while pulling on the collar from behind, which also traps the arm.

All that’s left for the opponent to do is shout out or tap out any way he can. How’d you like that?

That’s how Strong Heat Academy’s Mike Martin, our GMA in Phoenix, Arizona, teaches it in the video below.

Give it a watch, but only put it to practice under a Jiu-Jitsu instructor’s supervision.

Daigo Rodrigues teaching a choke at his Pernambuco academy / Photo: Junior Samurai/GRACIEMAG.com

How about kicking off a roll by grabbing the collar, getting the takedown and choking out your opponent—all without exerting much force? Sounds like a dream, doesn’t it?

Well pinch yourself. Professor Daigo Rodrigues of Nine Nine Pernambuco school shows how to do all that in a question of seconds. Watch and learn. And remember, only practice this under the supervision of a qualified Jiu-Jitsu instructor.

Isaque Paiva chokes Bruno Frazatto using his legs at the Gramado tryouts for the WPJJC last March. Photo: Ivan Trindade/GRACIEMAG.

Every month, you find GRACIEMAG at the news stand with a thousand and one tips for sharpening up your Jiu-Jitsu. Here on GRACIEMAG.com we just look to provide complementary lessons. Today’s is on the guard, those legs that keep a fighter’s arms and neck safe.

As Carlos Gracie Jr. puts it, “The guard is a Jiu-Jitsu fighter’s fortress.” And that’s the straight truth. Starting from the position, gentle-art practitioners have millions of options for keeping an aggressor at bay, not to mention the myriad attacks that can prove decisive in a match, in or out of the gi.

GRACIEMAG.com hunted down seven gi-wearing beasts who were ready and willing to share some moves for efficiently attacking from guard position. Heed their words, and when you’re done fathoming what they have to say, share with us: What is it that you do to make your guard more efficient and become a well-rounded fighter?

1-COMBINE DEFENSE AND ATTACK FROM GUARD

For Isaque Paiva of Saikoo team, the secret is in upholding the defense position while, at the same time and ever more efficiently, launching attacks like, for instance, chokes from there.

2-ATTACK TO NOT NEED TO DEFEND

To 2012 Pan champion Lucas Leite it’s all about making your guard offensive, never static. “From guard the hint is to attack—the more you attack, the less you’ll need to defend,” is the teacher from CheckMat’s advice.

3-BREAK THE ENEMY’S POSTURE

According to Marcel Fortuna of Ralph Gracie academy, “One of the main tricks to closed guard is undermining your opponent’s posture. Train to break his grips and pull him to you, cracking his posture. That’s a key detail. After that you can start going for sweeps and finishes.”

4-CLIMB THE OPPONENT USING THE LAPEL

The next lesson comes direct from Pennsylvania, USA. Black belt Daniel Beleza of SAS team has a lesson exclusively for GRACIEMAG.com readers, a choke from guard using the adversary’s lapel.

5-COLLAR AND SLEEVE GRIPS

To André Galvão the key is in control. “Control your opponent’s collar and sleeve and you’ll have plenty of options for attack from guard,” says the teacher from team Atos. “By sinking those grips you can snag an arm, triangle or omoplata. It’s a basic grip but it offers lots of finishing options, control and attacks.”

6-PRACTICE PLENTY OF OMOPLATAS AND TURN ON AUTOMATIC PILOT

To Lucas Lepri of Alliance, doing lots of omoplata repetitions makes guard playing smooth sailing. “I really like the omoplata lock; I feel it works really well from any guard, and it always catches the opponent by surprise,” preaches Lepri. “You just need to practice it plenty so it’ll be on automatic, and after that you iron it out in training.”

7-HAVE A STRONG STARTING POSITION IN JIU-JITSU

Controlling the opponent’s posture is crucial when you attack from guard,” says Gracie Humaitá’s Zak Maxwell. “With a firm grip on the lapel and another on the sleeve I feel more comfortable to start going for most of my attacks. Have a strong initial position that you trust, and go for it.”