Rodolfo Vieira getting back control at Pan 2011 / Photo: GRACIEMAG.com

The 2012 World Championship is going off in Long Beach, California. Last year, the aces below made it atop the podium. While we wait to see if they can pull it off again this time around, learn some of the tricks from the best in the gentle-art business.

Bruno Malfacine doing physical conditioning

Pass guard with Guilherme Mendes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tq9MfIfvfA

Rafa Mendes’s armbar on Cobrinha at Pan 2012

Durinho’s finish in MMA

Words and pointers from Marcelinho Garcia

The day Sérgio Moraes put the brakes on Kron Gracie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0X_Hw6A0K0

X-guard sweeps with Rodolfo Vieira

Half-guard pass with Léo Nogueira

Gabi will be defending a long unbeaten streak in the gi. GRACIEMAG archive photo.

All of the mat wizards below made it to the top of the World Championship winners podium in 2011. This Saturday, some of them stepped onto the mats at the pyramid-shaped gymnasium in Long Beach. While we await the results of this year’s contest, take the chance to learn some from these golden girls.

A bit of Letícia Ribeiro

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xegMrR6lNe8

Michelle Nicolini’s triangle

Pumping up with Luanna Alzuguir

Hannette Staack teaches a clock choke

Talita Treta vs Tammy Griego

Gabi Garcia doing physical conditioning

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.

Andrezinho Nogueira / Photo: Junior Samurai/GRACIEMAG.com

Andrezinho Nogueira (Fighter Sport/MG Jiu-Jitsu) put in a stellar performance this past May 4 in Rio de Janeiro. The Jiu-Jitsu black belt went through and won the Bitetti Combat Rocinha GP with authority. Reminiscent of the early days of the UFC, young Nogueira won three fights on the same night in capturing the under-70 kg GP title.

Andre is also a handful when it comes to combat in the gi, and he’s all set to show it at the World Championship coming up late this May in California.

To put on a good show in Long Beach he’s training hard in the Northeastern Brazilian city of Fortaleza, where he sent in this demonstration of how to escape a clock choke exclusively for GRACIEMAG.com readers.

“The opponent thinks I’m going to get up, but I’m going to grab his leg and sit instead,” he teaches. What about you, how do you defend this notorious Jiu-Jitsu move?

Bernardo Faria applies pressure to pass Lovato's guard at 2010 Brazilian Nationals. Photo: Carlos Ozório/GRACIEMAG.com.

The 1st of May is Labor Day, an international holiday honoring the day-to-day battle of the working man. Like so many other laborers, dedicated Jiu-Jitsu teachers (and journalists) deserve their due tribute too.

So how about making the most of the holiday to have fun and work on sharpening up your guard pass? We unearthed five videos on how to traverse your opponent’s guard, be you a seasoned gentle-art worker or a white belt trainee.

Keep in mind that you should maintain your posture and always keep your elbows tucked in, as we are taught in the videos.

1. L-base in Jiu-Jitsu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j89IjztdIF8

2. Cross grip for pass

3. Topside pressure in Jiu-Jitsu

4. Swing foot around to “hop fence” and pass guard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-ysbkWQxF8

5. Control the enemy knee

There isn’t much that’s more common to see in Jiu-Jitsu than fighters turning on all fours as their guard is getting passed, to avoid getting stuck in side-control—and in championships, to not give up three points.

Balled up on his knees, the opponent defends as best he can. In the following video, MG team black belt Hugo Botelho demonstrates a trick to snagging a turtling opponent. As Hugo explains, post a hand on their back and do a spin. Your opponent will get choked with the help of the collar.

João Crus / Publicity photo

Direct from the academy of our GMA in Texas João Crus, here’s a neck hold stemming from side control. Besides squeezing out the choke, the Jiu-Jitsu teacher shows in detail how to keep control and not lose the position. Attention: trap the opponent’s shoulder when squeezing; that way he won’t be able to scramble out.

Cobrinha always stood out for his lithe movement. Photo: John Lamonica.

Before the career that netted him four Jiu-Jitsu World Championship titles, Rubens “Charles” Cobrinha was a msaterful capoeira stylist, having gotten his start in the martial arts by practicing the native-Brazilian style developed by slaves prior to emancipation.

In the video below, our GMA at Alliance Los Angeles demonstrates how he incorporated the capoeira “ginga” into the gentle art. The exercises build strength and improve movement.

Marcos Schubert / Publicity photo

Knowing how to defend yourself is a fundamental part of the gentle art. Getting out of danger lends confidence, even for going on the attack.

Master Marcos Schubert is a regular on GRACIEMAG.com. The teacher Gracie Barra Curitiba has already posted scores of techniques on youtube.

In the video below, Schubert demonstrates a good way of defending one’s back.

Cobrinha always stood out for his deft movement. Photo: John Lamonica.

If tying your belt is the first thing you need to know in Jiu-Jitsu, the second is to roll. At his Los Angeles academy, our GMA Rubens Charles “Cobrinha teaches that the movement is as important for cushioning a fall as for gaining mobility for getting stacked and escaping sticky situations. The trick is to roll over the shoulder and cushion the fall with your hand, as you can see in the video below.

Juan Pablo teaches at GB JWoodland Hills. Photo: personal archive.

It doesn’t matter what belt a practitioner has reached, the basic moves accompany Jiu-Jitsu stylists throughout their entire evolution. Tight moves and freely moving hips, for example, are of the essence both for the basics and for the more intricate techniques. Holds taught ever since white belt, like the armbar, get honed over the years and become deadly.

In the video below, Professor Juan Pablo Garcia of Gracie Barra Woodland Hills demonstrates a good way to perfect hip motion for attacking an opponent’s arm. However, the “clinic” also helps make a fighter’s movement effective in a variety of different training situations.

Practice!

Jiu-Jitsu starts on the feet. Photo: GRACIEMAG.com archives.

The main fundamentals of Jiu-Jitsu are on the ground, there’s no denying it. But since every match starts standing, to be a well-rounded practitioner one needs to polish up their takedown techniques.

At Gracie Barra Dana Point, Flávio “Cachorrinho” Almeida demonstrates a good option GRACIEMAG.com readers can use in their training.

Watch, learn, practice and, most importantly, enjoy your training!