Bruno Ramos demonstrates a sweep with the help of the lapel. (Photo by Junior Samurai/GRACIEMAG)

Middleweight black belt Bruno Ramos is training balls to the wall to put on a show in the land ruled by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. To be sure he shines in Abu Dhabi this April, the Gracie Barra black belt is picking up steam, and to do so he took to the mats at last weekend’s Open Ceará tournament, where he one two gold medals–one at adult, the other at master.

Bruno made the most of the trip to Fortaleza to teach one of the sweeps he uses most. Check it out!

When the opponent tries passing guard, the GB Pernambuco representative sets a trap.

First he pushes one of his opponent’s legs and sits, grabbing the other leg and securing the opposite lapel, as you can see at the 1:05 mark of the video.

The opponent tries to advance, but Bruno sinks a hook and wraps the lapel around the opponent’s waist (1:20).

There the opponent starts to feel the treat and tries to grab his head. That’s when Bruno sinks an underhook to impede him (1:32).

To complete the movement he turns his hip and makes a swaying motion with his leg to achieve the sweep (1:44). From there the lapel comes in handy to help him move to mount.

What do you say? How did that work for you?

Nivaldo Oliveira plays top position on William Martins at 2012 Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu Championship. Photo by Gustavo Aragão/GRACIEMAG.com.

The city of Barueri, Greater São Paulo, will be hosting the São Paulo International Open this weekend at José Corrêa Gymnasium. Among the aces set to take to the mats is Brazilian national champion Nivaldo Oliveira, who’s gunning for top spot on the podium. “My outlook is always the best possible; I always try to be at my best when I compete. And as this competition is in São Paulo, I expect there to be good fighters. In the end each competition is just a good way of preparing yourself,” Nivaldo told GRACIEMAG.com.

With medium heavyweight and absolute titles from the Brazilian National Championship on his record, the CheckMat black belt forges ahead in training, with his priority on physical conditioning. “I’m doing the usual daily training, nothing special. I’m going to use this competition as a way of keeping in shape for the Worlds. I want to return to competition in the second half of the year, and this is a good opportunity to keep focused,” he said, going on to elaborate on what he’s concentrating on in training.

“I’ve been working on guard passes, a really important Jiu-Jitsu fundamental—when you have a good pass, other positions arise during the match, like taking the back, for example,” the São Paulo native added. “To sharpen up my pass, I work on using my hip weight more,” he explained.

The São Paulo International Open rgoes down this weekend in Barueri, São Paulo. Stay tuned to GRACIEMAG.com to find out how the IBJJF tournament went.

Fernando Tererê in seminar at Gracie Barra Vitória / Publicity photo

Last March 14, Jiu-Jitsu ace Fernando Tererê paid a visit to Gracie Barra Vitória, in the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo, to share his Jiu-Jitsu wizardry with 80 students of all age groups.

The techniques clinic at Fred Zaganelli was such a hit that GRACIEMAG.com figured it would dig up a position taught by Tererê to post here: an intriguing and effective guard pass trapping the hip. Watch and share your thoughts in the comments field below.