Roger Gracie vs. Marcus Bochecha at Metamoris Pro / Photo by Ivan Trindade/GRACIEMAG

The main event at Metamoris Pro, a Jiu-Jitsu event held last Sunday in San Diego, California, headlined with a true Jiu-Jitsu clinic by Marcus Bochecha and Roger Gracie, featuring a guard pass, hook sweep and plenty of spot-on defenses.

At 8:30 min in the following video, for example, you get to learn about guard replacement technique from Bochecha.

At 18:30, the current absolute world champion yanks out an armbar that Roger masterfully defends.

Watch and learn from the pros!

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

Demian Maia at 2010 seminar in São Paulo / Photo by Carlos Ozório/GRACIEMAG

This Saturday, fans who visit Rio de Janeiro’s HSBC Arena will get treated to the third UFC Rio show, and among the stars of the evening is Jiu-Jitsu champion Demian Maia, who takes on Rick Story in a welterweight pairing.

In the following video taken at a seminar of his in São Paulo, Maia teaches how to replace guard. Give it a watch and see if you can pull off one of the moves that helped springboard Demian to UFC stardom.

UFC Rio 3
HSBC Arena, Rio de Janeiro
October 13, 2012

Anderson Silva vs Stephan Bonnar
Rodrigo Minotauro vs Dave Herman
Glover Teixeira vs Fábio Maldonado
Jon Fitch vs Erick Silva
Wagner Caldeirão vs Phil Davis
Demian Maia vs Rick Story
Rony Jason vs Sam Sicilia
Gleison Tibau vs Francisco Massaranduba
Diego Brandão vs Joey Gambino
Serginho Moraes vs Renée Forte
Luiz Banha vs Chris Camozzi
Cristiano Marcello vs Reza Madadi

Junior Assunção attending a Jiu-Jitsu event in Recife / Photo: Junior Samurai/GRACIEMAG.com

After rattling off seven triumphs in a row, just one of which came in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Jiu-Jitsu black belt Junior Assunção suffered a setback at the hands of Ross Pearson at UFC 141, in December, 2011. The misfortune yielded him his walking papers. Not having fought since, Assunção spoke with GRACIEMAG.com at a Jiu-Jitsu championship in the Northeastern Brazilian city of Recife, where he addressed his “temporary” exit from the world’s most recognized cage, broke down the TUF Brazil scenario and offered up a pointer for our reader/practitioner’s.

“THINK ABOUT THE POSITION, AND THE FINISH WILL COME”

Assunção, who is looking over some career offers at the moment, urges practitioners to conceptually analyze positions before rushing for the submission. “You don’t finish a guy before securing the position on him. So let’s think about the position, and the result will be the finish,” he preaches. Portuguese speakers can get the pointers straight from Junior Assunção’s mouth in the video below.

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.