Learn from one of the most skilled Gracie Barra black belts.

Flavio Almeida teaches the secrets of his favorite guard style.

Here’s what you nee dto know about the butterfly guard.

See the full technique of how Flavio wraps his arm around his opponent’s leg to complete the move:

Learn more about Flavio Almeida and GMA Gracie Barra Dana Point at www.gbdanapoint.com

Black belts Flavio Almeida and Philipe Della Monica are on the cover of GRACIEMAG #210 this month.

They are teaching all you need to know about the butterfly guard.

As a bonus, they also prepared this video with a great way to get the opponent’s back when he blocks your sweep.

Watch and add this technique to your game.

Butterfly guard in use at the 2013 No-Gi World Championship. Photo: Erin Herle

In no-gi, the butterfly guard is a go-to move. It sets up many options from sweeps to submissions, back-takes and more.

Here are two ways that you can be on the attack in the butterfly guard and submit your opponent:

Ricardo Almeida offers a way to submit with the guillotine or the anaconda choke:

If you’re on the opposite end of the butterfly guard and you want to get around it, here is a way to defend:

Robson Moura teaches how to escape the butterfly guard:

Try these moves and let us know if your butterfly guard defense and attacks have improved!

Here, Bastos and Dantas offer a way to capitalize on that mistake and get the pass for any body type:

Learn more about Bruno Bastos at www.bastosbjjmidland.com and Gustavo Dantas at www.gdjiujitsu.com

Check out how both black belts use their distance and space to sweep, pass, defend and submit. And some other stuff:

Florida and was a student of the legendary Rolls Graice, not to mention having trained and helped Rickson Gracie and Carlos Gracie Jr.

Here Simas teaches how to safely pass butterfly-guard. The trick is to neutralize the underhook and grab the opponent’s collar before taking a firm grip on the enemy leg. Next it’s just a question of passing to the side you have locked down.

Caio Terra sinks a triangle in 2009 Worlds final. Photo: Regis Chen/GRACIEMAG.

In the early days of the UFC, Royce Gracie took the world by storm with his Jiu-Jitsu and guard, leaving a string of bigger, heavier opponents in his wake. In December 1994, at UFC 4, the commentator for the fight between the Brazilian black belt and Dan Severn said: “He wants to get out of there; he’s got nothing.” A slight misjudgment, as Royce was in the process of introducing the world to the triangle choke. Within mere seconds, the lumbering wrestler was tapping out, signaling he’d given up.

The guard continues to draw awe to this day. In the latest issue of GRACIEMAG, for example, Jiu-Jitsu stars take a close look at the details involved in mastering the guard and the triangle. We made the most of the occasion to offer up some more ins-and-outs of the move, here. Just don’t forget: never rest in anyone’s half-guard; it could be your undoing.

1. Caio Terra & Co. teach tricks to the spider-guard

2. Ricardo de la Riva teaches sweep

3. Vinicius Canevari “Magoo” ensina a ir para as costas ou finalizar

4. João Santos demonstrates choke

5. Rubem Patrick teaches forearm choke

Otavio Sousa against Clark Gracie (green-and-yellow marker belt) in the middleweight final / Photo: Cristian Buitron

Otávio Sousa was the big name at the New York Open Jiu-Jitsu Championship last Saturday. The relentless teacher at team Gracie Barra put in a splendid performance at City College’s Nat Holman Gymnasium, winning both the middleweight and absolute divisions.

“At this championship I managed to let my game flow a lot more than last championship, where I didn’t do so well. This time my performance was excellent. I was more aggressive, without holding back on attacking. I’m really pleased to have been able to let my game flow,” Otávio told GRACIEMAG.com. “The event in New York couldn’t have been better. I got to face really tough opponents in my division and the absolute, and I managed to get the finish in three of my four matches. To boot, I got revenge on Clark Gracie, who I lost to at the Pan. This time I got back on track.”

JIU-JITSU MEANS LEARNING EVERY DAY

There was also a lot that the Zé Radiola student learned at the IBJJF tournament. “I got at least one good lesson: when I manage to let my game flow, without putting so much pressure on myself to get results, my chances of doing well go up considerably. I feel that when the time comes it’s all in your head. You have to be focused, of course, but you have to go out there calm, without demanding so much of yourself. That’s the big difference between a great champion and a fighter who doesn’t take any risks,” said the fighter, who offered a pointer on how you can up your game.

“I always seek to understand Jiu-Jitsu and try my all to perfect my game as a whole, not just get good at one specific aspect. One of the things I like best in Jiu-Jitsu is that we’re learning every day, even at black belt. Every day there’s a position to adjust, a different grip, a way of positioning yourself and making things harder on your opponent,” said Otávio, who teaches the guard pass in the following video.

“The pointer I have to offer is this: be persistent, never give up on your objectives, and believe in yourself; that way you’ll go far. Through Jiu-Jitsu I learned that this applies to real life, not just training,” he said, the Worlds in California already in his sights.

“I want to do one more championship before the Worlds in late May. I’ll be at Long Beach for sure. Winning the Worlds as a black belt is one of my dreams. I’ve won it at all the other belts, but this title is the only one missing. That’s why I won’t let up until I get it.”

Ricardo Cachorrao practicing No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu / Personal archive photo

Nearly a decade teaching Jiu-Jitsu in New Jersey, retired UFC star Ricardo “Cachorrão” Almeida is big on training both in and out of the gi. According to his teachings, Gi Jiu-Jitsu training is ideal for smoothing out your guard and defenses, while No-Gi training is best for working on passes, control and submissions.

FOCUS ON BREAKING OPPONENT’S POSTURE IN JIU-JITSU

In this video, the teacher from Rio de Janeiro demonstrates how to sweep from butterfly-guard. The main detail is in breaking the opponent’s posture and controlling one of his shoulders, forcing his head down with your forearm. Enjoy your training!

Marcelo Garcia sets up sub on Léo Vieira at ADCC 2011. Photo: John Lamonica.

Let the five-time Jiu-Jitsu world champion and four-time ADCC winner show you how to use the butterfly guard to control the distance by using your feet on the hip, before yanking the opponent’s arm for the attack.

From there, as Marcelo Garcia demonstrates, you choose whether to go for the omoplata or to sweep and land in the mount.

How about a guard pass?