Spider guard basics
Entries and control for spider guard, using sleeve grips and feet on the biceps.
How to read it
What this entry helps you see
Spider guard controls a passer with sleeve grips and the soles of the feet pressed into the biceps. Framed here as a control setup, the priority is establishing the grips and foot connections that off-balance the passer and open sweeps and attacks. Tension between the grips and feet does the work rather than raw strength.
Key steps
- Grip both sleeves and place one foot on the same-side biceps.
- Extend that leg to create tension and manage the passer distance.
- Add the second foot to the other biceps or shift it to a hip as needed.
- Keep your grips connected and your hips mobile under the passer.
- Use the tension to off-balance the passer and open a sweep or attack.
Study cues
- Establish sleeve grips before placing the feet
- Create tension between the grips and the feet
- Follow the passer with the hips rather than only the feet
Common errors
- Placing the feet without securing the sleeves
- Letting the arms straighten and lose the grip
- Staying flat while the passer changes angle