Inside the University 544 - Staying on Your Side

Add to Favorites Remove From Favorites 727 132 days ago

One of the main points of focus while in the closed guard is to not be flattened out. This is why Saulo is always looking to get on his side and stay there. His collar grip arm will help him by keeping his opponent at a distance, but it's his shoulder that is doing the work. Also, it's important that his top leg is pinching down and keeping pressure on his opponent.

Inside the University 543 - Getting to Side Closed Guard

Add to Favorites 803 Remove From Favorites 133 days ago

After watching students practice, Saulo points out the difference between escaping your hips and moving to the side. When punching the collar grip, he swivels his hips so he gets to his opponent's side, staying connected. He is not escaping his hips and creating space.

Inside the University 542 - Collar Choke from Closed Guard

Add to Favorites 753 Remove From Favorites 135 days ago

From the closed guard, Saulo makes a cross collar grip and stretches his arm as he turns to the side on his hips. From here he grabs the gi on the cross shoulder and escapes his hips a little more to create his angle. Now he pulls his grips in with his elbows to his body to finish the choke.

Inside the University 541 - Backward Break Falling

Add to Favorites 654 Remove From Favorites 136 days ago

Showing some finer points of a backward break fall, Saulo emphasizes not to let your momentum keep you rolling back so your hips raise off the mat. Instead stop with your hips down and your legs in front to protect you. Also, keep your feet pointed out rather than up.

Inside the University 540 - Self Protection and Breakdown of Recovering Guard

Add to Favorites 635 Remove From Favorites 137 days ago

Breaking down the steps of recovering guard, Saulo shows the necessary movements to first protect yourself, and then look to recover guard. His main concern is always to protect himself, which is why he keeps his hands close, and doesn't overextend to reach for his opponent.

Inside the University 539 - Hand Positioning when Turning Belly Down

Add to Favorites 697 Remove From Favorites 138 days ago

Now Saulo points out that your hands should stay under your body when turning belly down. Many times people will reach for the legs and get stuck because of this. If you are reaching for the legs, it should be in effort to take your opponent down. However, in this case, we are looking to recover guard, so he keeps his hands near his body for protection.

Inside the University 538 - Avoiding Turtle when Turning Belly Down

Add to Favorites 772 Remove From Favorites 139 days ago

Tying all his movements together, Saulo shows how to avoid getting stuck in turtle when turning belly down. After escaping his hips and bringing his bottom leg through, he doesn't hang out on his knees, allowing his opponent to set up attacks. Instead he brings his other leg to S position and falls back, where he can reset his guard.

Inside the University 537 - Framing Before Recovering

Add to Favorites 713 Remove From Favorites 140 days ago

Now Saulo focuses on the importance of recovering guard with two specific movements after turning on his side. When he brings his knee in the first time, this is to set his frame. He is not yet looking to recover because he doesn't have the space. Next he escapes his hips, and now he has the space to bring his knee in more and begin to recover.

Inside the University 536 - Back and Forth Hip Movement

Add to Favorites 646 Remove From Favorites 142 days ago

Saulo breaks down the fundamental movement of the hips while recovering guard. After his bridge, while still on his side, he is using a back and forth motion to gain momentum, whether he goes to recover guard or turn belly down. If he recovers, his inside leg now becomes a frame against his opponent's body, and a new point of leverage to use.

Inside the University 535 - Recovering Guard when Your Opponent Passes Your Legs

Add to Favorites 711 Remove From Favorites 143 days ago

Saulo's opponent is passing his guard, so as soon as he gets around the legs, Saulo's first move is to turn on his side at his 45 degree angle, with both elbows attached to his body. His opponent drops his weight to put pressure, so Saulo bridges to create space. If he now has room to move his hips, he brings his legs in to recover guard.

Inside the University 534 - 45 Degree Hip Escape

Add to Favorites 755 Remove From Favorites 144 days ago

Now progressing to defense when your opponent is already going around your legs, Saulo discusses the concept of the 45 degree hip escape. Where many people fully extend themselves to a 90 degree hip escape, Saulo points out the flaw in this and shows how just going 45 opens up many more options to bridge, recover, turn belly down and so on.

Inside the University 533 - Taking the Back from Half Guard

Add to Favorites 793 Remove From Favorites 145 days ago

From the half guard, Saulo bridges and gets the underhook, keeping his hand closer to the side of the back rather than reaching across, to protect from the whizzer. Now he switches his legs, using his outside leg as his hook. He opens his elbow and turns to his shoulder, opening space for him to get to his knees and sneak out the back door, ready to attack his opponent's back.