1-800-BJJ-HELP #162: Jake O'Driscoll: Helping Pro Competitors, Guard Styles, the Mental Game, Studying Match Footage, and Goal Setting for Jiu Jitsu
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Nov 16, 2025 Jake O'Driscoll, a second-degree black belt and renowned coach from Perth, dives deep into the intricacies of jiu-jitsu. He discusses effective guard retention strategies and contrasts different guard styles of his elite athletes. Jake emphasizes the importance of mental resilience and accountability in training, advocating for a no-excuses mentality. He shares insights on analyzing match footage and goal setting, highlighting how to refine one's style and the underrated power of the closed guard. His advice resonates with both competitors and hobbyists alike.
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Design Guard Around Distance Control
- Close distance and make grips to force opponents to play your game rather than react to theirs.
- Manage distance, opponent length, and passing style to design retention strategies that fit your strengths.
Separate Pace From Intensity
- Pace and intensity are separate variables you can control to shape a match dynamic.
- Slow pace with high intensity favors positions like closed guard that increase submission threat.
Build Guard From Your Strengths
- Build guard around what you can consistently execute under pressure instead of copying trends you dislike.
- Find frames and wrestling-ups that stop flank passes so you avoid relying on inversion you can't perform.