Guard-Play or Passing Guard?
It’s good to decide, before the sparring match, if you would like to Play Guard or Pass Guard. If both fighters want to pass and the match begins on the feet (opposed to the knees) then someone will have to takedown or throw their opponent to the mat, which forces the opponent to play guard. If both fighters want to play guard, the one who pulls guard first is playing guard.
Generally, the fighter passing guard will make grips on the opponent’s lower body (knees, hips, ankles) to control the legs and hips of the guard player. The fighter playing guard will make grips on the opponent’s upper body (Not always, but this is a good way to start off with until you develop a more advanced guard) to control the distance of the passer, as well as their posture, and their ability to move around you in either direction.
It’s good for the guard passer to keep a leading knee between themselves and the guard player to prevent the guard player from closing the guard around their waist. This adds another (dangerous) step between being in their guard and passing guard. The guard player will try to keep their feet, knees, or (butterfly) hooks between themselves and the passer’s body and legs to prevent them from pressuring their guard with their weight.
The basic objective of the guard passer is get passed their guard into side-control, knee on belly, or mount. The basic objective of the guard passer it to sweep (their opponent to the ground: reversing the positions), Submit, or take the back (To back-control with the hooks).
It’s good to practice both, but it’s better to know what you want to practice before your opponent decides for you.
Etiquette:
It’s good form to bow and shake hands, before and after a match. It’s also good form not to celebrate when you win and not sulk when you lose.
Being too aggressive with strength and size (rather than technique) might also be perceived as disrespectful and unnecessary. The term “Sparring” implies training to fight by simulating the movements and technique of Jiu-Jitsu. There is force, endurance, strength and agility involved, but the idea behind sparring is that you can do it with anyone, both of you walk away without any injuries or sore feelings toward one another.
Learn by Example:
Watch the upper-belts and pay attention to how they spar when you roll with them. Most upper belts have training long enough to know what makes for a long term sparring partnership as well as avoid injuries on both sides.
Coach Aaron
Winning one of his two matches, Javen displayed excellent takedown strategy, scoring a takedown on both matches. He managed to secure the mount position and, just as the timer ended, finished with an armbar — a favored technique, as seen from his preceding tournaments. Javen plans to come back from his tournament experience and hit the mats immediately! He has big aspirations to continue competing for years to come.
SUNDAY ~ FUNDAY details:
We are hosting our third PB&J Feed the Hungry event at El Dorado Hills Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. This is an all inclusive event for everyone in the community that would like to get involved to provide sandwiches to feed the hungry in downtown Sacramento.
Even though we had a scheduled agenda before the children arrived each day; we stepped out of the agenda and followed the interests of the children. Each day started with games and free play, to let the children socialize and become more comfortable with each other. That led to learning the basic and foundational movements and positions of BJJ. The campers expressed what they were thankful for by making cards and drawing pictures for their families. And we had plenty of snack breaks to feed our hungry learners!
Chess seemed to be the most interesting daily activity for the group. For over an hour the children worked harmoniously together, as they helped each other setting up the Chessboard and learning how the pieces moved. We worked on game-planning and strategies. Does that sound like some familiar concepts we use for another game? 
Yes! The camp was structured around getting each student to THINK. Not only about what they were thankful for, but that their actions have consequences, how to work together in groups or with a partner, and that the cross over between chess, jiujitsu and other activities off the mat. 
El Dorado Hills Brazilian Jiu Jitsu hosted it’s third Ladies Only Self Defense Jiu Jitsu Class on Sunday, July 19th. The class was a free community class for those in the El Dorado Hills, Folsom, Cameron Park and in general the greater Sacramento area.
The group that gathered came from various backgrounds of having 5 years of jiujitsu experience to those who knew nothing about jiujitsu. We had participants from the age of 10 all the way to 48.
his free event was made possible by the members of El Dorado Hills Brazilian Jiu Jitsu who pay a monthly membership. Thank you! We would also like to thank those who took time to share the event on their social media, post a flyer at their place of work or favorite coffee shop / grocery store, and refer their friends to the event. The event was a success because of our members! Thank you!