Hey guys! Want to dominate in UFC 4? One of the most crucial positions to master is the top full guard. It’s a powerful spot to control your opponent and set up devastating submissions. This guide will walk you through the best submission techniques from the top full guard, helping you secure those satisfying victories. Let's dive in and turn you into a submission specialist!

Understanding the Top Full Guard

Before we get into the specific submissions, let's break down what the top full guard actually means in UFC 4. The top full guard is when you are on top of your opponent while they have their legs wrapped around your torso. This position offers a unique blend of control and submission opportunities. You have a degree of control over your opponent’s movement, but you’re also vulnerable if you don’t know what you’re doing. Mastering this position is key to becoming a well-rounded UFC 4 player.

Why the Top Full Guard is Important

The top full guard is important for a few reasons:

• Control: It allows you to control your opponent’s posture and movement, limiting their ability to strike or escape.
• Submission Opportunities: It opens up a variety of submission attempts, from armbars to triangles to kimuras.
• Transition Advantage: You can transition to other dominant positions like mount or side control from here.

To really excel, you need to understand the nuances of maintaining control, transitioning, and setting up submissions. Let’s get into the techniques that will make you a top full guard master.

Key Submission Techniques from Top Full Guard

Alright, let’s get into the meat of the matter – the submission techniques! These are some of the most effective submissions you can pull off from the top full guard in UFC 4. Practice these, and you’ll be tapping out opponents left and right.

1. Armbar

The armbar is a classic submission, and it’s highly effective from the top full guard. Here’s how to set it up:

1. Posture Up: First, make sure you have good posture. This means leaning forward and keeping your weight centered to avoid getting swept.
2. Control the Arm: Use your hands to control one of your opponent's arms. Ideally, you want to isolate the arm you plan to attack.
3. Transition: Begin the transition to the armbar by pressing the transition button (usually R2/RT) and selecting the armbar transition. Be quick, as your opponent will try to deny it.
4. Secure the Armbar: Once you’ve transitioned, make sure you have a tight grip on the arm and extend your legs to apply pressure to the elbow joint. Keep your hips tight to prevent escapes.
5. Apply Pressure: Keep extending until your opponent submits. Be careful not to gas yourself out by applying too much pressure too quickly.

Tips for a Successful Armbar:

• Timing is Key: The quicker you transition, the less likely your opponent will block it.
• Maintain Posture: Don’t let your opponent pull you down or sweep you while attempting the armbar.
• Control: Keep control of the arm throughout the entire process.

2. Triangle Choke

The triangle choke is another powerful submission from the top full guard. It’s a bit more complex than the armbar but can be incredibly effective if executed correctly.

1. Posture Up: Again, maintain good posture to avoid getting swept or submitted yourself.
2. Control an Arm and a Head: Control one of your opponent's arms and try to position their head for the choke.
3. Create Space: Create a little space to move your leg over their shoulder. This might involve some strikes or feints to distract your opponent.
4. Transition: Initiate the triangle choke transition by pressing the transition button and selecting the triangle choke. This needs to be done quickly to catch your opponent off guard.
5. Lock the Triangle: Once in the triangle position, lock your legs tightly around your opponent's neck and shoulder. Make sure you have a secure lock to prevent escapes.
6. Adjust and Squeeze: Adjust your position to maximize the pressure on your opponent's neck. Squeeze your legs together and apply pressure until they submit.

Tips for a Successful Triangle Choke:

• Angle is Crucial: Make sure you have the correct angle to apply maximum pressure on the neck.
• Control the Arm: Keeping one of their arms trapped inside the triangle will make the choke tighter.
• Patience: Don’t rush the squeeze. Make sure everything is locked in place before applying full pressure.

3. Kimura

The Kimura is a shoulder lock that can be extremely effective from the top full guard. It’s a painful submission that forces your opponent to tap quickly.

1. Posture Up: Maintain good posture to avoid being swept or submitted.
2. Control the Wrist: Grab one of your opponent’s wrists with both hands. You want a tight grip to control their arm.
3. Positioning: Position their arm across their body, creating a bend at the elbow.
4. Transition: Transition to the Kimura by pressing the transition button and selecting the Kimura. Be quick, as your opponent will try to defend.
5. Lock the Kimura: Once in the Kimura position, secure your grip and start rotating their arm behind their back. This puts immense pressure on the shoulder joint.
6. Apply Pressure: Continue rotating and applying pressure until your opponent submits. Be careful not to crank too hard, as you could injure their virtual shoulder.

Tips for a Successful Kimura:

• Grip Strength: A strong grip is essential for controlling the arm and applying the lock.
• Leverage: Use your body weight to generate leverage and increase the pressure on the shoulder.
• Control: Maintain control of the arm throughout the entire process to prevent escapes.

4. Arm Triangle

The arm triangle is a choke that uses your arm and shoulder to cut off the blood supply to your opponent's brain. It's a powerful submission that can be set up from various positions, including the top full guard.

1. Posture Up: Maintain good posture to avoid being swept or submitted.
2. Control the Head and Arm: Secure control of your opponent's head and one of their arms. You want to trap their arm across their body.
3. Transition: Transition to the arm triangle by pressing the transition button and selecting the arm triangle. Be quick, as your opponent will try to defend.
4. Lock the Choke: Once in the arm triangle position, tighten your grip and squeeze your arm and shoulder together. This will cut off the blood supply to their brain.
5. Adjust and Squeeze: Adjust your position to maximize the pressure on your opponent's neck. Squeeze your arm and shoulder together until they submit.

Tips for a Successful Arm Triangle:

• Angle is Crucial: Make sure you have the correct angle to apply maximum pressure on the neck.
• Tight Grip: A tight grip is essential for cutting off the blood supply.
• Patience: Don’t rush the squeeze. Make sure everything is locked in place before applying full pressure.

General Tips for Top Full Guard Dominance

Beyond specific submission techniques, here are some general tips to help you dominate from the top full guard in UFC 4:

• Maintain Posture: Keeping good posture is crucial. Lean forward and keep your weight centered to avoid getting swept or submitted. Posture is the name of the game. Seriously, don't underestimate it!
• Control Your Opponent: Use your hands and body weight to control your opponent’s movement. Prevent them from posturing up or creating space to escape. Deny, deny, deny!
• Transition Effectively: Learn the transition animations and use them to your advantage. Quick transitions can catch your opponent off guard and set up submission opportunities. Timing your transitions is super important.
• Mix Up Your Attacks: Don’t be predictable. Mix up your submission attempts and strikes to keep your opponent guessing. Variety is the spice of virtual combat!
• Manage Your Stamina: Submissions can drain your stamina quickly. Be mindful of your stamina levels and avoid wasting energy on failed attempts. Stamina management is key to survival.
• Practice: The more you practice, the better you’ll become at recognizing submission opportunities and executing the techniques. Get into the practice mode and drill these techniques until they become second nature.

Defending Submissions from Top Full Guard

Okay, so you know how to submit people from the top full guard. But what about when you’re on the bottom? Here’s how to defend against submissions from the top full guard:

• Deny Transitions: As soon as you see your opponent attempting a transition, deny it by pressing the corresponding button. Quick reflexes are essential here.
• Maintain Good Posture: Try to posture up and create space to prevent your opponent from isolating your limbs for submissions. If you can get your posture back, you're in a much better spot.
• Escape the Guard: Look for opportunities to escape the guard by transitioning to a better position or creating enough space to stand up. Getting out of the guard is your top priority.
• Block Strikes: Block strikes to conserve stamina and prevent your opponent from setting up submission attempts with strikes. Don't just eat those punches!
• Manage Your Stamina: Defending submissions can drain your stamina quickly. Be mindful of your stamina levels and avoid wasting energy on failed attempts. Stamina, stamina, stamina!

Drills to Improve Your Top Full Guard Game

To really master the top full guard, you need to practice regularly. Here are some drills you can do in UFC 4’s practice mode:

1. Submission Transition Drill: Practice transitioning smoothly from the top full guard to various submission attempts like armbars, triangles, and kimuras. Focus on speed and accuracy.
2. Submission Defense Drill: Set the AI to constantly attempt submissions from the top full guard. Practice denying transitions and escaping the guard.
3. Posture and Control Drill: Focus on maintaining good posture and controlling your opponent’s movement. Practice denying their attempts to posture up or escape.
4. Strikes and Submissions Mix Drill: Mix up strikes and submission attempts to keep your opponent guessing. Practice transitioning seamlessly between striking and grappling.

Conclusion

So there you have it, guys! A comprehensive guide to mastering submissions from the top full guard in UFC 4. By understanding the importance of posture, control, and timing, you can become a formidable grappler and dominate your opponents. Practice these techniques, implement these tips, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a UFC 4 champion. Now go out there and get those submissions! Keep practicing, stay patient, and you'll be tapping out opponents in no time. Good luck, and have fun dominating the virtual octagon!