Inside the University 554 - Using the Underhook to Open the Arm

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Showing how to use the underhook from the top position, Xande drops his weight on his opponent and drives his shoulder up to open the arm he is underhooking. The more weight and pressure he can keep from this position, the more difficulty his opponent will have trying to free his arm.

Inside the University 513 - Hip Switch Half Guard Pass

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From inside his opponent's half guard, Saulo makes a thumb in cross collar grip and switches his hips to face his opponent. When he switches, he puts his head heavy on the chest and drops his hips low, placing his outside knee underneath his opponent's thigh. Now he uses his outside shin to block the bottom knee and straightens his arm to open the guard and get his pass. He also has the option to choke, depending on how his opponent reacts.

Rafael Lovato Jr.'s Evolution of Jiu Jitsu 10 - Side Smash Body Lock

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Continuing his lesson on the differences of Jiu Jitsu and MMA grappling styles, Rafael shows a body lock he has been using to pin his opponent's down and smother them. When he gets to the side smash position, his opponent bases on his elbow and tries to back away. Instead of switching sides or going to the back as is normal in Jiu Jitsu, Rafael wraps his arms around the body, locks his hands and drives his shoulder into the chest to keep his opponent down. With this body lock, he can keep his opponent immobilized and work to pass or keep grinding.

Rafael Lovato Jr.'s Evolution of Jiu Jitsu 9 - Adapting Jiu Jitsu to MMA

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Now Rafael discusses some ways his Jiu Jitsu has changed since he began fighting MMA, most notably becoming more aggressive or violent, as he puts it. The concepts he shows are the same as when he has his cross collar grip and uses his forearm to pressure the face, but with nothing to grab onto, he either keeps his hand on the mat next the face or just pushes the chin. The principles are the same, and he can adapt his Jiu Jitsu to a real fight scenario.

Rafael Lovato Jr.'s Evolution of Jiu Jitsu 4 - When to Use the Thumb In Collar Grip

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When using the cross knee or knee cut pass, the most important thing for Rafael is that he can use his elbow to put pressure on his opponent’s neck and face. With the thumb in collar grip, he has a hard time utilizing his elbow pressure, so he prefers to go four fingers in. However, in almost every other situation, Rafael will use the thumb in grip. This does not necessarily mean either is right or wrong, but this is what works for him.

Inside the University 462 - Framing and Protecting Your Space

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Touching on the concept of personal space, Xande explains the importance of framing and not letting your opponent's close the distance. The more he's pressuring you while on top, the more uncomfortable you will be, so create space with your hips and place your frames to keep him at a distance.

Inside the University 447 - Setting Up Deep Half Guard

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Special Guest Instructor Lionel Marra teaches this weeks class and shows some of his favorite deep half guard techniques. Starting in half guard, Lionel's opponent gets the cross face and puts heavy pressure on him. With both knees pinching his opponent's leg, he turns his hips a little to raise his opponent's hip off the mat, giving him room to slide his arm underneath and frame on the belly. Next he brings his other hand up to frame on the shoulder. Now he lowers his legs so he is pinching his opponent's leg below the knee, and he swims his arm underneath the leg to cup the thigh. It is important that while he moves his legs, he does not uncross them and allow his opponent to pass.

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.

Inside the University 387 - Setting Up Deep Half Guard

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Starting from the classic collar and sleeve guard, his opponent steps over his leg, so Gustavo Dias sits up to get the underhook and grab the belt, and his other arm underhooks his opponent's leg. Now he steps over with his outside leg to hook his opponent's leg and turns his hips the other way, bringing the leg to him so his hips are underneath. Now he is in a good deep half guard, ready to set up some different sweeps.

Inside The University 280 - Replacing the Knee Shield in Half Guard

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Xande starts in his half guard, and his opponent has the underhook and is flattening him. Xande first keeps his free arm framed to prevent the cross face. He pushes off the mat and bumps his top arm against his opponent's head to create space. Now he does a little hip escape, which gives him the room to replace the knee shield.

Inside The University 279 - Recovering Half Guard with the Shoulder Escape

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Xande is playing half guard and his opponent gets the underhook on him and is trying to flatten him, so his first thought is to get his frame back. Just as in the drill he showed, Xande hip escapes and shoulder escapes, giving him the space he needs to swing his arm back in for the frame.

Fredson Alves Series 9 - Defending the Berimbolo

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From the De La Riva guard, Fredson's opponent goes behind and attempts the berimbolo. Fredson's first reaction is to base his hand on his opponent's hip, and step his leg back and traps his opponent's knee with his other arm. Now he takes the hand off the hip and underhooks the arm closest to him, before stepping over to get in a good half guard position.