Open Guard Top — Horse Reins Hub

The Lesson

Stop thinking about passing. Think about controlling the position until it becomes dominant position. There's no race. There's no finish line you have to beat them to. There's only the next right decision — and that decision gets clearer the calmer you are.

In the Horse Reins Hub: am I in combat base? Is my foot wedged under their butt? Are their legs behind me? Pull the reins — what are they doing? If they sit up, look for the pass. If they drive back, follow them, drop weight, attach. Knee down, post the foot, flood forward. The pressure is built before you arrive.