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 509 - 50-50 Guard Specific Training

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Here is some specific training in the 50-50 guard, which is often used as a stalling position in competition, so in this scenario, everyone will assume they are down one advantage and must get on top to finish a sweep and get their two points.

Inside the University 508 - Winning the 50-50 Guard Battle

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When looking to get out of the 50-50 guard, Saulo first pinches his knees and pushes his opponent's knee to the ground. After his opponent's feet are uncrossed, Saulo now pushes himself back and away from his opponent, giving him the space he needs to stand up into base. From here he looks to establish himself in a strong top position.

Inside the University 506 - Flipping the "S"

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Touching on some details of the collar drag, Saulo first notes the importance of not stretching your leg too much when your foot is on the hip, which can allow your opponent to easily pass your guard. Another key point is to not pull your opponent on top of you when dragging the collar. To avoid this, he puts his weight on his posted hand and foot on the hip, keeping his own hip off the mat. Now when he drags the collar, he can easily shift his body to the outside. This is when he flip the "S" by rotating his legs and hips to face the other side, placing him in a position next to his opponent where he can easily climb to the back or finish on top.

Inside the University 505 - Setting Up Attacks after Pulling Guard

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Now Saulo steps to the side and pulls guard, immediately setting up his classic guard collar and sleeve grips. He turns to his side and pinches with his knees, places his foot in the hip and posts his hand to sit himself up into an attacking position. From here he has many attacks depending on how his opponent reacts. The three he shows now are the collar drag, loop choke and butterfly sweep.

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.

Leonel Marra Deep Half Guard 6 - Head Lock Sweep

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It's Yan Lucas' turn to ask Leonel a question, so he starts in the deep half where Leonel has the sleeve grip under the leg and is framing with his arm. To defend the first sweep, Yan gets the cross face, places his head in Leonel's chest and sprawls his free leg back to stay low. Now Leonel brings his arm up, reaches over the back of Yan's head and grabs the armpit. From here he crunches his body, forcing Yan's head and knee together, and pushes off the mat with his feet to turn his hips to the outside and roll Yan over the top.