Inside the University 504 - Explosive Grip Breaking

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Now Saulo focuses on breaking his opponent's grip and setting up a takedown. In this drill, he is more concerned about moving fast and aggressive, and not so much worried about the details of the technique. He grabs his opponent's hand that is gripping his collar, does an explosive traditional grip break, and then pushes the arm to the side so he can set up a takedown or next move of his choice. This is a drill to replicate what will actually happen in a fight.

Inside the University 503 - Staying Connected and Driving Forward

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Now Saulo points out the importance of staying connected to your opponent and really driving forward to move him, rather than just pushing with your arms. It is also helpful for the partner being moved to stay relaxed and almost be dead weight.

Inside the University 502 - Backing Your Opponent Down

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To start the warm up for World Championship training, Saulo begins standing with the classic collar and sleeve grips. He makes sure not to squeeze too tight with his grips so he doesn't stiffen up, and he keeps his elbows closed so he doesn't allow his opponent to control the grip fight. Now he lowers his level into a nice base and walks forward, pushing his opponent back as he steps. When he wants to turn, he opens one elbow, and pulls down and pivot steps to turn his opponent.

Inside the University 501 - Sweeping the Floor with Your Feet

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One detail Xande points out here is that it is not good to stomp your feet on the mat to gain leverage for your bumps when you want to escape. Instead, he is just sweeping the mat as he takes small steps away from his opponent. This allows him to stay connected to the mat, ready to react whenever necessary, and also does not telegraph his next move to his opponent. Now he works his side control escape drill with this in mind, and focuses on keeping a connection with the mat.

Inside the University 500 - Setting Up the Hip Bump

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Touching on a common mistake, Xande points out how he does not like to make a big hip bump right away. Instead, he moves a little to makes some space, makes sure his frames are in place and then makes his big hip bump and extends his body. Sometimes he even waits for a reaction from his opponent to time his bump. Also, he makes sure to keep his frames in place until he has recovered his guard.

Inside the University 499 - Pushing Off the Shoulder

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Fine tuning some details, Xande explains how he places his top hand at his opponent's clavicle, with the edge of the pinky finger side making the initial contact. His other hand can stay down at the hip to keep a block and feel his opponent's movement. After Xande makes his first hip bump, now he can extend his upper body to straighten his arm, rather than just trying to push the shoulder away. This gives him the space he needs to bring his leg back in and recover his guard.

Inside the University 498 - Replacing Guard from Side Control

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With his opponent on his side control, Xande places both hands on his opponent's shoulder, his outside foot flat on the mat and his inside foot on its side with his knee attached to the body. He steps his flat foot out a bit and makes his first small hip escape. Now he has a little space to take another step and push off the shoulder for a big hip escape, and he can bring his leg in to begin replacing guard.

Inside the University 497 - One Legged Hip Escape Drill

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Starting from a shrimp position with the side of one leg and his elbow on the mat, Xande keeps his elbows to his stomach and his other leg off the mat. Pushing off his bottom leg, he takes small steps to move his body and rotate his hips to the other side. First he practices with about 5 steps to completion, and he can also do the entire movement in one fast step. This is a good drill to practice on your own, but can also be done with a partner on top.

Inside the University 496 - Single Leg Trap Sweep

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Using a similar set up as the last sweep, Xande is in position for the tripod sweep, and moves his foot on the hip to the mat between and behind his opponent's legs. Using his heel for leverage, he pulls himself underneath his opponent and wraps his leg around the leg, placing his heel on the hip, and his other foot moves from behind the far knee to behind the near thigh. Xande keeps his knees pinched together and his elbow closed tight, keeping the leg trapped. To knock his opponent down, he raises his hips and points his inside knee toward the trapped leg. Now he can easily sit up to his base and establish top position.

Inside the University 495 - Single Leg X-Guard Sweep to Foot Lock

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Xande is playing his open guard and is in position for the first tripod sweep, but his opponent defends, so Xande turns his knee out, places it behind his opponent's knee and uses it along with his grips to pull his opponent closer to him. Next he moves his foot from the near hip to the far hip, making an X with his legs, and he wraps his arm around his opponent's leg and grabs his own collar. Now he drops his other foot from behind the knee down behind the heel, and straightens his leg as he pushes his opponent back, putting him on his butt. From here Xande can sit up to his base to finish the sweep, and then fall back on his side to attack the foot lock.

Inside the University 494 - Reverse Tripod Sweep from Open Guard

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Xande has his open guard sling shot position set up, with a cross collar and pants grip. His opponent breaks the collar grip and throws Xande's leg off his hip and to the side, leaving Xande with only a pants grip. Xande immediately turns his hips to face his opponent and puts his top leg in the hips. Now he brings his bottom foot right behind the heel and kicks it forward as he pushes the hips back, knocking his opponent backwards, allowing him to come to the top.

Inside the University 493 - Tripod Sweep from Open Guard

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Using a variation of his classic open guard, Xande has his foot on his opponent's hip, a cross collar grip and a same side pants grip, while his free leg can push the far thigh or biceps. Here he is pulling tight on his grips to break his opponent's posture and forcing him to bend over. Xande places his free leg behind the far knee, and now he pulls with that hook and his pant grip as he pushes with his foot on the hip, forcing his opponent to fall backward. As he comes to the top, he keeps his hook knee in the middle and steps his other leg outside, already in a good position to pass the guard.