The driver of the BMW in this video below drove off the 405 freeway while the larger male followed and caught up with him at a light of a busy intersection. Both dressed in suits without their jackets, the larger male punched the other. After walking back to his vehicle, the victim jumped on the attacker’s back in what looked like a hold similar to a rear naked choke (he didn’t get the four points for hooks) and was able to keep him contained until the police could arrive and formally charge the man (who is also a successful attorney) with assault and battery.

We learn here that not only can anyone be attacked in any scenario but that Jiu-Jitsu works in those situations. Even if a punch is suffered before hand, justice was served because the man used something seen in Jiu-Jitsu, although we don’t know if he trains or not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAiM7h_pSFQ

Tarcísio Jardim in blue against Alexandro Ceconi at 2012 Brazilian Nationals / Photo: Carlos Ozório/GRACIEMAG.com

South American Championship-winning heavyweight Tarcísio Jardim is yet another fighter adding broth to the melting pot at the 2012 Jiu-Jitsu World Championship, coming up the end of this month in Irvine, California. The CheckMat rep is one of Antonio Carlos “Cara de Sapato’s” training partners, and he’s currently in Santos, where he’s going through his preparations for the biggest IBJJF tournament of the year alongside Rodrigo Cavaca. Direct from the port city in São Paulo State, Tarcísio demonstrates two plenty-effective attacks against the berimbolo.

“First I wrap up the foot with the help of my lapel. Next, I like crossing my leg over the opponent’s body and thrusting myself towards his belly. Then I just squeeze out the lock,” he teaches.

Watch, learn and let us know what you liked or didn’t like about it in the comments field below.

Warmup at Prime Jiu-Jitsu Center, in Colorado Springs, Colorado / Photo: Publicity/GRACIEMAG

Having officially opened its doors for business last weekend, Prime Jiu-Jitsu Center is bringing the finest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to Colorado Springs, in the US state of Colorado. And the new school headed by Carlos Santos and Marcelo Motta is even offering free classes to those interested in getting their feet wet in the gentle art. Drop by the school and say you’re a GRACIEMAG reader; you’ll get a freebie.

And check out Marcelo Motta, otherwise known as “Guardinha,” teaching two finishes from the guard. “The key point is to trap the opponent’s arm with your leg,” Guardinha elaborates. Find the moves to be effective? Debate them with us and the other pracitioners on this board.

Isaque Paiva chokes Bruno Frazatto using his legs at the Gramado tryouts for the WPJJC last March. Photo: Ivan Trindade/GRACIEMAG.

Every month, you find GRACIEMAG at the news stand with a thousand and one tips for sharpening up your Jiu-Jitsu. Here on GRACIEMAG.com we just look to provide complementary lessons. Today’s is on the guard, those legs that keep a fighter’s arms and neck safe.

As Carlos Gracie Jr. puts it, “The guard is a Jiu-Jitsu fighter’s fortress.” And that’s the straight truth. Starting from the position, gentle-art practitioners have millions of options for keeping an aggressor at bay, not to mention the myriad attacks that can prove decisive in a match, in or out of the gi.

GRACIEMAG.com hunted down seven gi-wearing beasts who were ready and willing to share some moves for efficiently attacking from guard position. Heed their words, and when you’re done fathoming what they have to say, share with us: What is it that you do to make your guard more efficient and become a well-rounded fighter?

1-COMBINE DEFENSE AND ATTACK FROM GUARD

For Isaque Paiva of Saikoo team, the secret is in upholding the defense position while, at the same time and ever more efficiently, launching attacks like, for instance, chokes from there.

2-ATTACK TO NOT NEED TO DEFEND

To 2012 Pan champion Lucas Leite it’s all about making your guard offensive, never static. “From guard the hint is to attack—the more you attack, the less you’ll need to defend,” is the teacher from CheckMat’s advice.

3-BREAK THE ENEMY’S POSTURE

According to Marcel Fortuna of Ralph Gracie academy, “One of the main tricks to closed guard is undermining your opponent’s posture. Train to break his grips and pull him to you, cracking his posture. That’s a key detail. After that you can start going for sweeps and finishes.”

4-CLIMB THE OPPONENT USING THE LAPEL

The next lesson comes direct from Pennsylvania, USA. Black belt Daniel Beleza of SAS team has a lesson exclusively for GRACIEMAG.com readers, a choke from guard using the adversary’s lapel.

5-COLLAR AND SLEEVE GRIPS

To André Galvão the key is in control. “Control your opponent’s collar and sleeve and you’ll have plenty of options for attack from guard,” says the teacher from team Atos. “By sinking those grips you can snag an arm, triangle or omoplata. It’s a basic grip but it offers lots of finishing options, control and attacks.”

6-PRACTICE PLENTY OF OMOPLATAS AND TURN ON AUTOMATIC PILOT

To Lucas Lepri of Alliance, doing lots of omoplata repetitions makes guard playing smooth sailing. “I really like the omoplata lock; I feel it works really well from any guard, and it always catches the opponent by surprise,” preaches Lepri. “You just need to practice it plenty so it’ll be on automatic, and after that you iron it out in training.”

7-HAVE A STRONG STARTING POSITION IN JIU-JITSU

Controlling the opponent’s posture is crucial when you attack from guard,” says Gracie Humaitá’s Zak Maxwell. “With a firm grip on the lapel and another on the sleeve I feel more comfortable to start going for most of my attacks. Have a strong initial position that you trust, and go for it.”

Robert Drysdale atop Bráulio Estima as brown belts at the 2003 World Championship / Photo: Gustavo Aragão/GRACIEMAG.com

When you let a Jiu-Jitsu fighter make it to side-control,it’s an indication that he’s heading in the right direction—and that you’ve got problems on your hands. He has passed your guard, amounting to three points on the scoreboard, and now he’s all set to mount and/or finish you. Both at tournaments and in training, the chest-on-chest position causes discomfort, and if the guy on top drops his hips the pressure becomes all the greater.

To review the position, start by studying the attack, as our GMA in Texas João Crus did, teaching two attacks from side-control and even a trick to thwarting an attempt at a reversal.

Now, GRACIEMAG.com lays out 5 important lessons for you to get out from between a chest and a hard place, provided by some stars of gi-clad combat.

1. DON’T CLUTCH YOUR OPPONENT TO YOU

As pointed out by João Paulo Marques, a black belt from Mossoró Combat and training partner to the UFC’s Gleison Tibau, “Ideally you wouldn’t let your opponent get to that position. But once he’s there, never clutch him to you. Try hiding your neck and arms, and try to get him away from you so you can replace guard.” Should your opponent clutch your neck, João Paulo suggests you pummel your arm under for an underhook and slide to his back. “It’s a clever and really efficient escape.”

2. DON’T JUST SIT THERE, GET MOVING

“Always keep moving so as not to let your opponent be at ease,” recommends Rodrigo Comprido. “Shrimp out your hips to open up the room needed for escape,” says the two-time absolute world champion, one of the main draws of the 2012 Pan and inaugural World Jiu-Jitsu Expo.

3. ELBOWS NEAR YOUR KNEES

“The most important thing to do to not get trapped in side-control is to use your elbows and knees as protection,” asserts Renato Tavares of ATT Vero Beach. “Always keep your elbows near your knees, not leaving room for your opponent to exert control, and making room for you to escape or sweep.”

4. STRING TOGETHER SEVERAL ESCAPES

“In side-control, the best hint I can give is for you to not stop moving when your opponent is passing,” says Jonatas Novaes, winner of the absolute division at the Chicago Winter Open. “Don’t let him settle in just because he’s got your side. At that moment that he’s arriving there he’s still not firm in the position, so it’s easier for you to get out. Now if he’s already passed and scored the points, you’d best take a breath and wait for the right moment to explode out of there. Try combining several escapes, making him defend a lot and open up room for you to replace guard or half-guard. Don’t forget to protect your neck and arms to keep from getting tapped out.”

5. WATCH HOW TO PRESS FOR GUARD REPLACEMENT

Professor Marcos Schubert of Gracie Barra Curitiba has posted a number of techniques on YouTube.com, and in the video below he shows how to wriggle out of side-control. Schubert highlights the importance of placing one hand on the shoulder and the other on the hip, pressing away to open up room with which to shrimp out your hip and replace guard.

What do you think, gentle reader, what’s the best escape route for this predicament? Share with us in the comments section below.

Xande Ribeiro defeats André Galvão at the San Diego tryouts for the WPJJC. Photo: GRACIEMAG.

The big name at the World Professional Championship Trials in San Diego last weekend was Xande Ribeiro. The two-time absolute world champion (2006/2008) won the under-92 kg and open weight divisions, beating Rômulo Barral and André Galvão, respectively.

BRING ON JIU-JITSU’S NEW GENERATION

Having had a great campaign, the 31-year-old black belt showed he’s still full of piss and vinegar, and now he goes into the main event in Abu Dhabi as one of the favorites to take gold. The Jiu-Jitsu hardcore are already awaiting showdowns between Xande and Bernardo Faria and Rodolfo Vieira.

Check out the video below, the highlights from the Ribeiro/Gracie Humaitá headmaster’s campaign.

Bruno Frazatto attacking from back control in sport Jiu-Jitsu / Photo de Ivan Trindade

Another European Jiu-Jitsu Championship comes to a close, and yet again the most oft-used finishes were chokes from back mount, as basic as they are effective.

If you’re into mixing it up in competition, it’s worth keeping in mind that getting back mount is worth four points in sport Jiu-Jitsu—that is, when an athlete puts both hooks in at the opponent’s thights after gaining back control.

The basic escape for this recurring technique is well known. You have to protect your neck, bridge backwards and remove one of the hooks, slipping your hip out to the side where the hook was removed.

What about when it goes wrong?

GRACIEMAG.com took the back of three wizards of the gi, who were swift in intercepting the attack, and they asserted: nothing is more vital than to defend the neck with care.

Check out how they go about doing that:

1. SIMULTANEOUS MOVES ARE A SALVATION IN JIU-JITSU

“My pointer for you,” Vinicius Cruz (Carlson Gracie) begins, “is to move your arm, the arm of the hand on the side of the hand holding your collar for the choke, to the other side of the neck. At the same time, you need to remove the hook with your other hand, keeping in mind that you have to bare the weight of your hip down on the opponent’s leg, and creep your back out to the side.”

2. EVEN WHEN DEFENDING, MAKE YOUR OPPONENT UNCOMFORTABLE

“The important thing is to cause your opponent discomfort by baring your weight back on him, never letting him feel at ease. And defend your neck the whole time. Then it’s all about getting one of the hooks out and trying to flounder out,” recommends Thiago Maia (SAS-Ceará).

3. DON’T TURN YOUR NECK IN AGAINST THE LAPEL

To wrap up, Abraão Amorim (Evolution) put together a video showing how he escapes back control. He recommends never turning your neck towards the lapel pressing against it, and shows a hip move often used by Kron Gracie.