Saulo Ribiero- Jiu Jitsu Revolution- The X-Pass

developed to update his jiu jitsu game.

the game is changing so fast.

how to break the guard

opening from the knees- circling with leg outside
common problem- bending upper body/torso down to open guard
keep upright, good posture

what opens the guard- the angle that is created by the hip circling outward

as soon as they start to break your base- you move, create gap to open up guard

tip- if opponent locks one side, try other side- be flexibile

x-pass
blocking one side with knee/elbow

x-pass is not a difficult pass- very quick move, need to pay attention to timing

posture- from elbow/knee with knee pressure
grab lapel

stay diagonal

other hand grips on outside pants near ankle

you wait for reaction- when they push back on your leg- you kick back with leg

shuck other leg like toriani
come to knee on stomach (more like shin on stomach-without knee down fully), but keep grip

transition point- depends what they do
you can go to ground, go to mount, attack arms, etc. many options.

if he tries to do a de la riva hook, he helps you actually

x-pass details
unique- diagonal grip

variation from cross-knee pass
they switch hips and block 101 pass- you can go into it.

keys to success- you block leg and upper body- lock them down so they can't escape out

pass knee slide
if leg is outside of your hip, you can't go

detail- x-pass- you don't have to back up! foot stays planted- only leg kicks back

they push back on shin- you switch to other leg and pin it down
explosively slide over it, not like 101 pass
almost kicking his leg
fast and smooth motion
not digging for pass like 101

you can pull a bit on leg to fake them out to react properly

negative x-pass
hips flat from open guard- easy to x-pass
if they shift hips to side, they kill your angle and space

keep same grip- kick opposite leg back, sit on hip to side, over leg
shift leg and collar with grip (lock out arm on leg)
head/shoulder drives on body
turn back and put weight down
lock up side control

key- lock out other arm- keep leg as far away as possible
takes away power and leverage

if both legs aren't free, you can't scoop your hips
hand on collar blocks you from turtling

butterfly to x-pass
first thing- don't let them close distance and get underhooks
kills your arms!

stop them with hand in collar
grip outside leg
use head also to block them from coming at you

if they hold your belt with the correct side, you can x-pass (same side where you have leg controlled)
otherwise, must go negative x-pass

difference- knee drives under knee, not on belly (adapted for ground)

key- don't let them close the gap
keep hips far away for this pass

butterfly x-pass 2
same setup as before, but they grip other side

you can switch hands if you want
but some people don't have ambidextrous passes

collar grip- elbow- grip INSIDE- you still have power
shift head- head stays low

body turns away to take sweep angle away
note- this is very similar to jacare's butterfly pass

butterfly x-pass 3
saulo's favorite variation

from knee/elbow posture
you move back, they sit

RIGHT AWAY- grab the collar and leg

mini step back, cross hands, very quickly pass

you can also just step right over the leg

the grip makes this pass effective

if they sit and take away your angle, go negative x-pass

the grips are the key! the rest of the stuff can be improvised if needed

need to be sensitive for where/when they shift their body

need to drill this

de la riva x-pass

solution to common guard

big problem with de la riva hook- they try to force the wrong leg

common solution- turn knee outside
if guy has long leg or strong hook, it's hard to get away

first thing- keep the base

secret- how you approach other leg, not the hook leg

put elbow inside thigh
shrug foot off hip
step inside, make them spread leg
automatically takes away hook!

legs and hips even on floor

de la riva hook requires them to be on their side

approaching diagonally- takes away de la riva options

their posture- spread, but leg outside yours
gotta do the negative x-pass

de la riva with outside/inside hooks-
control knee, shift your knee/shin over the inside hook, pinning it (all your hips shift here, you need to change your base- simultaneously pointing outside hooked leg outside)
kick leg and do normal x-pass

other side is open! always another option

important- negative x-pass- fall to SIDE
not diagonally!

heel control to x-pass
de la riva hook with trapped ankle!

this changes the whole scenario

biggest thing that's trapping you- hand and the ankle

everything you do can expose yourself to more sweeps and attacks

point your knee outside, shift your knee to the side-hooked leg (not towards them)- like a lunge

key-you want to go below his knee line, not over his knee line

drop your knee- smashes his shin against his hand, the grip is broken!
first thing that touches the ground- your knee, not your hip

follow through with the pass- kick over and shift base back

you bring their leg back with you- gives you more base

if they have a high hook- use elbow to wedge and push knee down
do the same pass

tripod sweep killer- knee drives the leg

key- your head comes to his body!

the key to this is the ankle. you must clear the ankle, otherwise nothing will work out.

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this changes the whole game!

gotta work this into the pass flow.

Saulo Ribiero- Freestyle Revolution- Escapes

double underhook escape
first reaction- don't try to pummel, they will take you down

step both feet back, lock overhooks

don't let them go hip to hip!

block hips with hand, hold head over ear, push to side, step back circle outside (like guard break)

all at the same time

double underhooks from behind

don't want to stay there forever- kimura is coming!
step inside on same side they're kimura'ing
hips down, drive low (elbow DOWN), take the leg, take them down
don't stay on back!
go against his angle

single leg on ground
crossface- against a good wrestler, they will keep going around and still take you down

put hips on shoulder
hand holds own leg (you have sem-overhook)
turn knee
turn to face them- get parallel
break grip, hand shoots to control

guillotine escape

first thing- hold the wrist

arm in guillotine- if they bring your elbow high, you get choked
bring arm low and base (can also block them from taking back)

walk towards the guillotine, drive head through, head up, control arm, sit diagonally, throw them over, turn and come to side control

another guillotine escape
you move and they follow
extend leg on side where they aren't guillotining (arm in side)
wrestler sit out (make sure you wrap the arm strong)

guillotine from guard

first reaction- protect your neck

drive forward, reach arm around to his back (shoulder heavy)
must angle your legs, turn your body
start to come around to the side
slide over and pass guard

once you go to side control- switch arm to other side of headd, go to n/s

arm in guillotine from guard
arm in side- swing arm back and drive shoulder to middle of chest- solar plexus
angle legs, start to come around and open guard
note- trapped arm blocks hip to prevent them from following you

best way to avoid guillotine- don't let them get it!
don't put your head to the side
stay in center

you need to make a mistake for them to get it

mount escape
submission wrestling- about your first reactions
the game is quick, you need to initiate the right sequence of moves

elbows tight to you- don't let them raise knees
don't grab double underhooks- all weight comes on to you
don't push- you'll get armlocked

don't stay flat- hip escape and TURN your body before they mount, elbow to ground
make frame, regain half guard, regain guard
tip- head stays on ground- don't let them wrap it up

back position- with hooks but without harness
elbows have to be inside!

scoop down and pull your elbows in (defend the neck!)
creates angle, space for escape

don't put weight on them like you do with gi

turn to guard

back escape with hooks and double underhook harness
scoop hips, fall to side
elbow to knee, clear the leg, turn to side control

certain angle- you have to go lower on the leg- below the knee line
otherwise they still have control

cross body
don't push, you give them too much

elbows in, hands protecting neck

starts with the BRIDGE

arm blocks the crossface

if they lift up the arm, don't follow- you allow them to establish cross-side

bump to create space, hip escape and replace guard or go turtle if they're blocking hip

Saulo Ribiero- Freestyle Revolution- Passing the Guard

fundamentals

different- no gi, less grips

make sure to lock the space and lock them on the ground before you go for the pass

why not to pass from the ground
passing from the ground- not as good
you give too many weapons to them
fighting too much against his legs
easy for them to scoot back

saulo- keep hips as close as you can to them

whoever starts the game first has the advantage

opening the guard
in closed guard, you are in a bad spot
they have too much leverage

block armpits before opening

hop up in one jump
hips forward, knees squeeze to break closed guard
don't use hands to do it
keep hips forward, don't move back or you start over

they need to wrap a leg, control your body to stop you from opening

common things- fighting double underhooks
they get double underhooks
don't push with forearms- they can scoop hips and create space
don't sit back/up, they have too much control

put weight down, jump up
changes angle- they can't scoop hips or keep tight

note- can't keep elbows up, must rotate hands and point fingers away from him
don't come up until you break the grip
control the legs- bottom of ankles

more common things- fighting an overhook
they get overhook on one side
don't pull- you expose the arm to many attacks!
your hips can not move over his hips
you have to be tight

step leg on same side as trapped arm
force leg on elbow (so it can't move down, create a wedge), create space for arm to get out
go UNDER the underhook- weave it through- sort of like you are kimura'ing yourself

posture issues
two ways to stay in closed guard
they aren't doing anything- you can take your time

they start to attack, get active- gotta control arms
go down and get your low posture
every time they scoop the hips, you re-scoop and adjust

every time they come up- use your head to drive them down
head is an important weapon

elbows always inside! otherwise bad things can happen

passing the guard- moving to butterfly
when you get the right spot, you can move to the ground

look for ankles
don't hold far away

grab ankles and RIGHT AWAY, drop weight and go to butterfly
get them flat on their back
keep underhooks, pinch knees/elbows

they will push legs to try and escape
you lift hips! tripod up. shift weight to torso, light on legs
if you stay tight, they WILL get out from this position

from the top- keep the weight on! otherwise they can move out
every time they scoop hips, you adjust
they always have to carry your weight!

more bf passing
once you open, close in again
commit to the pass!
control ankles, get to bf guard

they will move back, you follow and pinch elbows/knees

if they open legs on own, you drive ankles down and go to bf guard

if their legs are up, smash legs down
float on shins, move to bf guard eventually

don't give space between your hips and their body

more details- sweep counter

depends on how they react when you put weight down
flexibile with the passes

most common- they overhook, try to push you to the side
you TURN the direction of your hips to where the sweep is headed (kill the leg)- but don't go to half guard
switch hips to other side as soon as you feel on the verge of half guard- use hand to help get over knee
detail- as soon as you get over the knee, drop knee down to hip, switch your hips, complete pass

can't let them lift you too much- keep hips lower

variation- star guard pass

you are getting swept in bf guard
plant head on ground, hand stays on knee- keep weight up
lift up and over knees, reverse direction and star guard pass- all weight goes on shoulder, head stays on ground
detail- underhook hand switches to block hips- you can't star guard pass with it where it used to be

sweep counter to mount

from bf guard pass

they start to sweep- you plant leg and base out
you switch hips, drive knee through- sometimes you let them go further into the sweep to create space to drive your knee through
their legs are scissored up now
grab crossface/underhook harness
use other knee- switch hips and go to his hip, move up to full mount

sitting butterfly guard
common reaction- pushing the chest with arms
not so good, you can get armdragged easily

you hold over the knees
wait for them to sit up
use head to drive them back, pull elbows back and tight, hips back a bit
break position before it happens

if they get arm- don't pull back, you give the right reflex to get armdragged still!

passing from sitting up bf guard- guillotine pass

stop them from sitting up with your head- they still come p
let them come up, neck tie them
switch to guillotine grip with opposite arm arm- around to chin

move back to get out of hooking range
use other hand to block legs

reaction-they move hips, you push the head down

walk around legs

keep grip until you get to the side

passing from double underhooked bf
common mistake- trying to come up to pummel inside
easy for them to sweep! either backwards or forwards- your base is no good when you're high from here

don't back up either!

change direction of your hips, sit a bit on the side- no longer squared up
hand can plant to base a bit

extend the leg, drive the knee to his knee
wrap an overhook, switch hips, step around and pass

cleaning up a common mistake- block leg with knee- inside- make sure it's blocked

returning to standing- 101 pass

they are about to wrap up sitting bf, you disengage

don't approach with hands! you'll get armdragged

in one move- step between legs
elbow/knee together w/underhook- deep underhook!
SIT, stay low- don't come high
hand blocks knee
force knee on his chest, cross, lock up underhook/crossface

don't push back- just drive knee to the side
take advantage of him not being ready- catch them off guard

another option from standing- shoulder plant pass
elbow/knees together, get underhook

they scoop hips to block knee

hand weaves in to block leg, walk it up- must open the leg- takes away leverage- don't CARRY leg- just put on ground and push back
move head to other side

back step over leg, complete the pass

detail- get them flat, knee comes over before you start to pass-don't do it all at once or your base isn't as good

fighting open guard- you can only get one side

they are weaving the legs and preventing you from doing much

ideally- you get to bf guard, but if you can't, you go here

wait for them to open the leg
come in with your leg, drive with pressure
don't drive in the middle, drive to the SIDE
come to ground, put elbow/knee together, keep LOW
they scoop hips away from you, you GO- gives you momentum to come around

if you come straight in while squared up- they start going de la riva, etc

not just using your leg, using all your body weight

leg on shoulder variation
people spend too much energy and start to carry someone with this pass

good detail- swing hand through, drive other arm, kick leg out, get to position

get as close to them as possible- stay tight- go deep so you don't get triangled
lift leg, make lock on leg- just over one leg- keep lock so you don't get triangled- outside arm comes all the way around
step up knee (join to elbow)
sprawl back- use shoulder to drive leg

wrap up over head- hook over

when you put weight on them, they can roll easily
they kick, create space, and roll out

Saulo Ribiero- Jiu Jitsu Revolution- Passing the Guard

principles
Passing the guard is one of the most important things in jiu jitsu.

Balance, Distribution of weight --> lots of things before you're able to enforce your jiu jitsu.

Defending sweeps, protecting submissions.

Standing pass vs. ground pass- two different approaches.

most people- first thing they look for- GRIP

legs vs. arms- legs always win- much stronger

don't want to be fighting against legs. spends too much energy.

first- get close to him, but not squared up in front.
must approach from the side
lock that side- drive elbow to knee- always keep this grip, otherwise BAD things happen
power comes from legs- leverage, strength, weight, gravity from top
knee stays in contact with his legs at all times

even if they pull your sleeve, drive with knee.

how to stand

stuff arm under lapel gripping arm (locking down chest and arm with same arm)

standing- common mistake- shifting weight forward
makes it easy for opponent to pull you forward into guard and break down posture.

body weight shifts to the SIDE
step FAR on same side of trapped arm- diagonally- not straight forward

keep sleeve with same side arm

to open guard- don't fight with the leg.

don't stay squared up- step back and rotate body- creates lots of leverage
need minimal pressure if you are angled

as soon as you open- knee/elbow posture

HOLD the legs, but never FORCE the legs with arms

toriani- you drive leg forward, they react, you step out and toriani- keep legs until you are all the way passed.

toriani detail- block hip with lead foot.
relaxed and loose, not tight and rigid.

redirecting momentum
don't fight against arms either
wait for his momentum
they pull you in- not concentrating on hips as much

single leg on shoulder
force with knee
elbow/forearm weaves under knee if they don't react to pressure

keep other leg, but TUCK ELBOW TIGHT- protects against triangle
don't grab with elbow OUT, rotate it IN

grab lapel, go leg on shoulder pass.
stay on toes
drive with shoulder.

Saulo's 101
driving on leg, they react and try to hook your leg, try to spin into you
step back and change angle
elbow/knee posture
CRUNCH body- stay low
don't drive knee forward, drive at an angle (prevents block)

your body prevents him from turning- shoulder/side heavy on them

slide out, shift base and lock up side control

grabbing arm is an option, but not necessary- you stay a little too high if you do it exaggeratedly

Secret guard opener

opening the guard on the ground is not easy.

have to find the right spot to save your energy while still being effective- efficiency!

important- elbow/forearm connected to leg. soft grip with hand.

knee in middle- difficult, you are off-balance mostly, base not correct.

knee to the side (not middle exactly)

big step back
circle back with back foot- make sure base is good
pressure on knee, open guard with back
ONE MOVE

relatively safe once you're back- they don't have angle for the armlock

armlock counter from previous guard opener
they are desperate and go for armlock- they have to open legs slightly
DROP your elbow/body (stay tight), step over leg, complete the pass

killing one side and passing from the knees
if you stay in front of him, he has TOO MANY WEAPONS
he can move too much

T-REX ARMS

always block one leg- main concern- leg you are passing
don't worry about other leg!

most important thing- TIMING of pass

switch arm- drop over the thigh and weave underneath the knee
stretch leg, hips drop ON KNEE, not on the shin- important detail
head down on oppposite side - they hip out, makes your job easier
big step- bridge backwards
switch base back
replace side control

jumping around like leo vieira- flashy, but gives way too much space

butterfly- double underhooks

they have sitting up underhooks and bf hooks

first thing- have to drop weight DOWN
can't pass the plane of his hips

grab over the underhook- but not too extreme- just on the side with elbow down (or you can get swept)
grab opposite knee (don't force, just hold)

fall to side (not back, or you go into their BF sweep)
step out and clear BF hook
switch hips, complete the pass

butterfly with under/over
they have under/overhooks

push them to underhook side (go against the sweep
drive to side/diagonally with shoulder and LIFT LEG (prevent half guard)

use knee to block hips

turtle to side control

put weight down

feed gi to otehr side arm
free hand weaves under armpit, over neck
gator roll them to side control

maintain grips! they are locked up

good when they try to reach for your leg (single leg takedown setup)

scissor pass
they have bf half guard

get to side angle
hold knee and stuff down (raise body a bit to adjust), use other arm to weave through- BODY DRIVES DOWN
shoulder must lock over the knee
weave deep and hold over the thigh

pressure with shoulder on leg
get off knees and on toes- if you put your knees on ground- you transfer half your weight to the ground! make them feel all your weight

walk around
complete the pass

you don't need to trap the arm
locking the legs is more important- if this is strong, they can't do much

figure out where your base is best

use their momentum against them, like usual

more details for the scissor pass
they push your head- the power is being able to scoot hips out, not necessarily the hands pushing

you do the move incorrectly- they can push you away

they move anywhere- you move with them!

all weight on your shoulder
they react and reach out, you just reach over and lock up side control!

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thoughts- very good concepts.

most useful stuff-
-using their momentum against them
-efficiency- not fighting against their strong points, using your strong points to maximum
-creating the right angle
-keeping the elbow and knee together
-minding your base
-timing of the passes

Saulo's Cross Body game- keeping the hips connected

from the dvd-

most important aspect of his philosophy-
keep your hips connected to his hips always
easiest way to control without spending a lot of energy

follow them wherever they go

if you miss the connecting of the hips, you create space

crossface/underhook creates a lot of space

use elbow to control opposite hip

learning to switch to other side is important- switching hips- kesa gatame, n/s, etc.

submissions-
have to wait for momentum to get to position, can't always fight through opponent- take what they give
lay and prey

knee on belly-
continuous position from cross body
sit on side of hip and slide up- stay connected to hip line- don't let them connect elbow to knee
fake collar choke to set up- ties hands up

his knee on stomach is a lot more loose, not using hands to pressure- using to attack
must develop balance and fluidity