Inside the University 469 - Anticipating Side Control

Inside the University 469 - Anticipating Side Control

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Xande emphasizes a very important point that he is not so much playing guard at this point as he is anticipating and defending side control. With that in mind, his continuous focus is on keeping his foot out wide to keep stepping and escaping his hips so he has the space to bring his elbow frame inside. It's also very important that he does not get stuck flat on his back, and he is always working from his side.


Inside the University 468 - Replacing Guard when Opponent Reaches His Arm Across

Inside the University 468 - Replacing Guard when Opponent Reaches His Arm Across

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Xande's opponent does the old school pass, and this time he gets to the side and puts his arm across Xande's body to trap him with his forearm. Xande's reaction is to flare his outside leg out as wide as he can, and do an explosive bridge and hip escape to create as much space as possible. Now he can bring his forearm in to block his opponent's hips and recover his guard. Ideally Xande will react immediately and not give his opponent time to settle in.

Inside the University 467 - Avoiding the Wrist Lock

Inside the University 467 - Avoiding the Wrist Lock

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Answering a question of whether or not he is concerned about getting wrist locked while posting his hand on the hip, Xande details how he is only pushing with his palm and not placing his whole hand underneath the hip. By keeping his hand on the outside, he is safe from the wrist lock. He also points out the importance of keeping the other hand posted on the shoulder to prevent the pass while he's pushing off to escape his hips.

Inside the University 466 - Defending the Old School Pass when Opponent Keeps His Elbow Tight

Inside the University 466 - Defending the Old School Pass when Opponent Keeps His Elbow Tight

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This time when Xande's opponent reaches under the leg, he clamps his elbow shut and Xande cannot push it off as he did previously. Instead, Xande puts his hand on the hip and walks his shoulders out until his arm is straight, and he places his other hand on the shoulder. From here he walks his free leg out a little, turns his hips inside, and repeats until he has enough space to bring his knee back in and place his feet on the hips to recover guard.

Inside the University 465 - Opening the Elbow

Inside the University 465 - Opening the Elbow

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After watching students, Xande points out some key details of the guard recovery. The first is to immediately bring your hand to the elbow as soon as your opponent swims his arm under your leg. Also, make sure it's under the elbow rather than just on the side, so you can push it up and away with better leverage. It's very important to open his elbow and not let him keep his arm clamped down on your leg.

Inside the University 464 - Defending the Old School Pass

Inside the University 464 - Defending the Old School Pass

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Xande's opponent is attempting the old school pass, with one arm under his leg and reaching to his cross lapel, looking to stack and pass. The first thing Xande does is clamp down his leg on his opponent's arm. As his opponent reaches across, Xande cups the elbow and turns his leg to the inside as he pushes and turns to his side. Now he pushes off his bottom foot to hip escape, giving him the space he needs to bring his leg back in and recover guard.

Inside the University 446 - Staying on Your Side

Inside the University 446 - Staying on Your Side

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A common error people will make while playing the classic collar and sleeve guard is to get caught laying flat on their back. This is when your opponent has the best chance of passing your guard. It is very important to stay on your side and not let your opponent flatten you out.

Inside the University 438 - Getting Full Rotation

Inside the University 438 - Getting Full Rotation

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Another detail while Gustavo turns his hips in the air is that he is rotating fully, until he is looking at the mat. From here, his opponent cannot continue to control his legs and will give up space for Gustavo to recover guard. Once he has recovered guard, Gustavo likes to immediately throw some attacks, like an omoplata, collar drag or anything available to keep his opponent defending.

Inside the University 437 - Avoiding Pressure

Inside the University 437 - Avoiding Pressure

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Focusing on a common mistake he sees his students making, Gustavo shows how some are crunching their bodies up and actually creating more pressure on themselves. Instead, they should be basing on their elbow and extending their body away from their opponent. Then he has the leverage to straighten his arm and bring his hips high in the air and turn to recover his guard.

Inside the University 436 - Finding Space Under the Head

Inside the University 436 - Finding Space Under the Head

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Answering a student's question about what to do when your opponent buries his head in your chest and doesn't give the space to make a collar grip, Gustavo just pushes the shoulder to defend the pass, and eventually his opponent will move and open the space. It is important, however, that he doesn't push his opponent's head. This will only make passing the guard easier for him.

Inside the University 435 - Defending the Leg Squeeze Pass

Inside the University 435 - Defending the Leg Squeeze Pass

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Professor Gustavo's opponent has both of his legs squeezed and is trying to pass his guard, so first Gustavo bases up on his elbow and reaches his other hand in for a cross collar grip and extends his arm. Pushing the edge of his foot off the floor, Gustavo raises his hips off the mat and turns facing down with his butt high in the air. As soon as he feels his opponent readjust his position, he turns back and replaces his guard.

Saulo and Xande - How to Beat My Brother's Game 6 - Birth of the Knee Shield

Saulo and Xande - How to Beat My Brother's Game 6 - Birth of the Knee Shield

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Xande is successful using his arm to block the crossface, but now when Saulo brings his arm over Xande's head, he also switches his base to smash with his hips. This is when Xande can punch his knee in between them and start shielding. Here he can start to extend his body away and push off Saulo's hips to create the space he needs to bring his leg all the way through and replace the guard.