Rubber Guard to Omoplata System is a advanced difficulty Submission Chain system. Integrates 6 components.
System ID: System Type: Submission Chain Difficulty Level: Advanced
What is Rubber Guard to Omoplata System?
The Rubber Guard to Omoplata System represents one of the most sophisticated submission chains in modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, bridging Eddie Bravo’s innovative 10th Planet methodology with classical shoulder lock finishing mechanics. This system leverages extreme hip flexibility and systematic control positions to create a network of attacking options that flow seamlessly from rubber guard’s high-control positions into omoplata shoulder locks, sweeps, and back takes. Unlike isolated techniques, this system teaches practitioners to view rubber guard not as a static position but as a dynamic control framework that naturally progresses toward omoplata-based attacks. The methodology emphasizes posture breaking from closed guard, establishing rubber guard control points like Mission Control and New York, then transitioning through specific pathways that exploit opponent reactions to set up omoplata attacks with multiple finishing variations. Mastery of this system requires substantial flexibility training, understanding of leverage principles in both rubber guard maintenance and omoplata mechanics, and the ability to chain attacks when opponents defend the primary submission. Advanced practitioners can integrate this system with triangle attacks and back takes, creating a complete offensive framework from closed guard that keeps opponents constantly defending against interconnected threats.
Core Principles
- Systematic progression from closed guard posture breaking through rubber guard control to omoplata finish
- Flexibility-dependent positioning that creates unique angles unavailable to less flexible grapplers
- Multiple entry pathways based on opponent posture and defensive reactions
- Omoplata as submission, sweep mechanism, and back take setup rather than isolated technique
- Hip control and shoulder isolation working in concert to eliminate defensive options
- Chaining omoplata with triangle and armbar threats to prevent singular focus defense
- Using opponent’s defensive pressure to facilitate transitions between system positions
Key Components
Rubber Guard Establishment (Creates initial control framework and posture dominance necessary for omoplata entries) The foundation begins with breaking opponent posture from closed guard and establishing high guard with one leg over the shoulder. From here, systematic progression through rubber guard positions like Mission Control creates the necessary control and angles. This component emphasizes grip fighting to secure overhooks or collar ties while using the high guard leg to maintain posture breakdown and prevent opponent base recovery.
Mission Control to New York Transition (Establishes optimal control position for omoplata attack initiation) From Mission Control’s overhook and high guard position, transition to New York by threading the non-hooking arm across opponent’s back while maintaining shoulder control with the leg. This creates a more stable platform with deeper shoulder isolation and sets up the primary omoplata entry path. The transition requires precise timing as opponent attempts to posture or remove the high guard leg.
Omoplata Entry Mechanics (Provides adaptive attack initiation based on opponent defensive responses) Multiple entry pathways exist depending on opponent reactions: direct swing-through from New York when opponent is stationary, triangle-threat entries when opponent pulls arm back, and meathook variations when opponent drives forward with pressure. Each entry requires hip rotation to bring the leg over opponent’s shoulder while controlling the wrist to prevent posting. The system teaches reading opponent weight distribution and grip fighting patterns to select optimal entry timing.
Omoplata Finishing Sequence (Ensures high finishing percentage through multiple completion pathways) Once the leg is over the shoulder with wrist control established, systematic progression includes hip rotation toward opponent’s trapped shoulder, chest pressure driving opponent’s head toward mat, and shoulder isolation through continued rotation. The system includes multiple finish variations: traditional sit-up finish, rolling finish for mobile opponents, and sweep to top position when submission is defended. Each variation maintains shoulder control while adapting to opponent escape attempts.
Back Take Integration (Converts opponent’s primary defensive reaction into positional dominance) When opponents roll forward to escape omoplata pressure, systematic back take entries emerge naturally from the shoulder-control position. The system teaches maintaining connection during opponent’s roll, establishing seat belt control as they rotate, and securing hooks before opponent can complete their escape. This component transforms a defended submission attempt into dominant position advancement.
Triangle and Armbar Connections (Creates multi-threat attacking network that overwhelms defensive options) The system integrates triangle threats when opponents pull their trapped arm back during omoplata setup, and armbar attacks when they attempt to stack or drive weight forward. These connections create genuine dilemmas where defending one attack opens another, preventing opponents from mounting effective singular-focus defense. Understanding these relationships elevates the system from technique chain to true attacking framework.
Implementation Sequence
- Initial Control Establishment: Begin from closed guard with focus on breaking opponent’s posture through collar grips, sleeve control, or overhook establishment. Once posture is broken, establish high guard by bringing one leg high over opponent’s shoulder while maintaining upper body control through grips. Key points:
- Break posture before attempting high guard to prevent opponent base
- Use grip fighting to secure overhook or strong collar control
- High guard leg should clear shoulder completely, foot positioned near opponent’s far shoulder
- Maintain constant pulling pressure to prevent posture recovery
- Mission Control Position: From high guard, secure Mission Control by establishing overhook on the same side as the high guard leg while using that leg to maintain shoulder control. The opposite hand typically controls opponent’s wrist or collar. This position provides stable platform for beginning systematic progression toward omoplata. Key points:
- Overhook must be deep with elbow control, not shallow grip
- High guard leg maintains active pressure pulling shoulder down
- Control opponent’s free hand to prevent posting or frame creation
- Hip positioning should keep opponent’s posture broken forward
- New York Transition: Transition from Mission Control to New York by releasing the overhook and threading that arm across opponent’s back to secure opposite shoulder or collar. Simultaneously maintain high guard leg pressure and use the transition moment to adjust hip position for deeper shoulder isolation. New York provides superior shoulder control and clearer omoplata entry pathway. Key points:
- Thread arm across during moment when opponent attempts to posture
- Don’t release overhook until replacement grip is secured
- Increase high guard leg pressure during transition to prevent escape
- New York position should feel more stable than Mission Control
- Omoplata Entry Selection: From New York, read opponent’s reaction to determine entry pathway: if they remain stationary with broken posture, execute direct swing-through by rotating hips and swinging bottom leg over to trap shoulder. If they pull trapped arm back, threaten triangle to force arm forward again. If they drive forward with pressure, use meathook control to facilitate entry. Each pathway ends with leg over shoulder and wrist control established. Key points:
- Never force single entry against strong resistance
- Use opponent’s movement and reactions to determine optimal path
- Maintain wrist control throughout entry to prevent posting
- Hip rotation should be explosive once entry is committed
- Omoplata Finish or Transition: With leg over shoulder and wrist secured, begin finish sequence by rotating hips toward trapped shoulder while driving chest pressure toward mat. If opponent remains static, sit up and apply rotational shoulder pressure for finish. If opponent attempts to roll forward, follow the roll maintaining shoulder control and establish back control. If opponent successfully defends shoulder lock, sweep to top position maintaining shoulder isolation. Key points:
- Apply pressure progressively, never explosive force to shoulder joint
- Read opponent’s weight shift to determine finish vs sweep vs back take
- Maintain wrist control prevents last-second posting escapes
- If transitioning to back, prioritize seat belt over immediate hooks
- Systematic Integration: Practice complete system flow: closed guard to posture break to high guard to Mission Control to New York to omoplata entry to finish/sweep/back take. Drill with progressive resistance, starting with compliant partner and advancing to full resistance as movement patterns become automatic. Integrate triangle and armbar threats during training to develop multi-attack perception. Key points:
- Full system flow should become single fluid motion with experience
- Train decision-making under pressure, not just mechanical execution
- Regularly assess flexibility improvements needed for position maintenance
- Competition implementation requires confidence in all branching pathways
How to Measure Your Progress
Position Retention and Advancement Rate: Measures ability to establish and maintain rubber guard control positions while advancing through system progression from closed guard to finish position Proficiency indicators:
- Beginner: Can establish high guard and Mission Control against light resistance, maintains positions for 10+ seconds
- Intermediate: Consistently progresses from Mission Control to New York, maintains control during opponent escape attempts, executes clean transitions
- Advanced: Flows through entire position sequence against full resistance, adapts to opponent reactions in real-time, rarely loses control during progression
- Expert: Makes system progression appear effortless, opponent feels constantly behind defensive curve, can execute all pathways with equal facility
Entry Success and Adaptation: Evaluates success rate of omoplata entries from rubber guard and ability to select appropriate entry pathway based on opponent reactions Proficiency indicators:
- Beginner: Successfully enters omoplata against stationary opponent with direct swing-through, requires multiple attempts with active opponent
- Intermediate: Recognizes 2-3 entry opportunities and executes appropriate pathway, succeeds against moderate resistance 60%+ of attempts
- Advanced: Reads opponent reactions instantly and selects optimal entry, creates entry opportunities through feints and threats, 75%+ success rate
- Expert: Entry appears inevitable to opponent despite awareness, uses opponent’s defensive movements to facilitate entry, near 90% success rate in training
Finishing and Transition Effectiveness: Measures ability to convert omoplata position to successful submission, sweep, or back take based on opponent defensive responses Proficiency indicators:
- Beginner: Can finish omoplata submission against non-resisting opponent, recognizes sweep opportunity when finish is blocked
- Intermediate: Finishes submission 40%+ of time, converts to sweep or back take when opponent defends, maintains positional advantage
- Advanced: High finish rate 60%+ with clear understanding of when to transition vs persist, smooth transitions to back or top position
- Expert: Opponent faces genuine dilemma with no good defensive option, converts every omoplata entry to submission or dominant position advancement
System Integration and Multi-Attack Capability: Assesses ability to integrate triangle and armbar threats with omoplata attacks creating comprehensive offensive framework from rubber guard Proficiency indicators:
- Beginner: Aware of triangle and armbar connections, can demonstrate basic entries from rubber guard positions
- Intermediate: Threatens triangle when opponent defends omoplata, uses armbar to counter stack attempts, creates basic attack combinations
- Advanced: Seamlessly chains omoplata-triangle-armbar threats creating genuine multi-attack pressure, opponent defends in reactive rather than proactive manner
- Expert: Creates attack sequences where defending one submission inevitably opens another, maintains offensive initiative throughout exchange, forces opponent mistakes through dilemma creation
Expert Insights
- John Danaher: The Rubber Guard to Omoplata System exemplifies the principle that superior control systems create superior attacking opportunities through systematic position progression. What makes this system particularly effective is not the individual positions or submissions, but rather the interconnected nature of control points that progressively compromise opponent defensive capabilities. From a biomechanical perspective, rubber guard positions create unique angles by using extreme hip flexibility to break standard defensive postures, and the omoplata represents the natural culmination of shoulder isolation that begins with high guard establishment. The system’s true sophistication lies in how each position reduces opponent options while expanding your attacking choices - Mission Control limits posture and base, New York isolates the shoulder, and omoplata position creates the trilemma of submission, sweep, or back exposure. Practitioners must understand that flexibility is not merely helpful but mechanically essential; without adequate hip mobility, the leverage angles that make this system effective simply cannot be achieved. The integration of triangle and armbar threats transforms what could be a linear technique sequence into a genuine decision-tree framework where opponent defensive choices determine your attack pathway rather than you forcing predetermined sequences against resistance.
- Gordon Ryan: In competition application, the Rubber Guard to Omoplata System provides significant advantages against opponents unfamiliar with 10th Planet methodology or those lacking flexibility to reciprocate the positions. I’ve found the system most effective when used selectively rather than as primary guard approach - establishing closed guard normally, then transitioning to rubber guard when opponent demonstrates specific defensive patterns that system exploits effectively. The key competitive insight is recognizing that omoplata entries create scramble opportunities even when finish is unlikely; many high-level opponents will defend the submission adequately, but the sweep and back take options that emerge from their defensive reactions represent genuine scoring opportunities. Against elite competition, I emphasize using triangle threats from rubber guard positions to keep opponent aware of multiple attacks, then capitalizing on omoplata entries when their arm positioning favors shoulder isolation over neck vulnerability. The flexibility requirement can be legitimate limitation for some body types, so honest assessment of whether this system suits your physical attributes is essential before investing significant training time. When executed at high level with proper physical prerequisites met, the system creates genuine tactical problems for opponents because defensive solutions for one attack inevitably expose others.
- Eddie Bravo: This system represents the evolution of rubber guard from position to complete attacking framework, and it’s built on the reality that flexibility creates attacking angles that strength and technique alone cannot defend. The progression from Mission Control through New York to omoplata isn’t just position sequence - it’s systematic elimination of opponent defensive options through increasingly compromised shoulder control. What I’ve developed with this system is response-based rather than force-based attack methodology; you’re not muscling into positions but rather using opponent’s defensive reactions to facilitate your advancement through control hierarchy. The beauty of integrating omoplata with triangle and armbar threats is creating authentic dilemmas where opponent has no safe defensive choice - defend the shoulder lock and expose the neck, defend the triangle and give up the shoulder, try to posture and get swept. This multi-threat environment is what modern high-level guard play requires because elite opponents don’t get caught by single-dimension attacks. For practitioners learning this system, my emphasis is understanding that rubber guard positions feel uncomfortable initially but become relaxed control points with familiarity, and omoplata should be viewed as position rather than just submission - the shoulder control it provides creates opportunities even when tap doesn’t come. Train the complete system as integrated whole rather than collecting isolated techniques, because the power comes from systemic pressure not individual moves.