This week at Renzo Gracie Online Academy, you get access to an arsenal of attacks starting from the X-guard, a position favored by giants like Marcelo Garcia, Leandro Lo and Erberth Santos. Multiple sweeps, a submission, a back-take. For example, instructor Rafael Costa teaches this powerful triangle onset:

Another fundamental tackled this week is the double attack. If your opponent is able to foil your first attack from the X, you will keep surprising them with a series of traps, as shown by Rafael Costa here:

In your lifestyle lesson, judo teacher Jimmy Pedro extols positive thinking to help you fulfill your dreams. Check out this inspiring video:

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Esta semana, o curso de Jiu-Jitsu da Renzo Gracie Online Academy aborda uma das técnicas mais comentadas nos campeonatos de Jiu-Jitsu: a guarda-x. Trata-se de uma posição que já garantiu a medalha de ouro a muitos craques, como é o caso do ídolo Marcelo Garcia.

Acesse a RGOA e confira o professor Rafael Costa ensinando cinco transições que levam à guarda-x e, claro, os detalhes de ajuste para você raspar com a dinâmica da levantada técnica, como é o caso desta posição, confira:

Neste outro caso, Rafa considera a possibilidade de variar para a guarda-x no momento em que o oponente tenta passar a guarda deslizando o joelho na diagonal:

Na aula sobre qualidade de vida, Romero Jacaré conta como o praticante de Jiu-Jitsu deve lidar com as derrotas, tirando bom proveito do resultado negativo, e mantendo-se motivado para perseverar.

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Seja aluno da Renzo Gracie Online Academy (RGOA).

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In this video the 22-year-old shows a pass aimed at surprising the guard player who likes doing the X-guard. Note how Marcio always keeps a firm grip on the collar in order to cross the knee without getting swept.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Egu8urfBNF8

The man on the cover of GRACIEMAG 226, Marcelo Garcia teaches one of his favorite attacks using his trademark X-guard.

Learn how to set up a back take in simple and easy to learn steps.

Catch a class with one of the best competitors of all times and also one of the greatest professors in Jiu-Jitsu history.

Claudio Calasans Jr. had a great year in 2015.

He finally won his first world title as a black belt and then crowned the season with the ADCC open class gold medal.

In this video, he teaches a nice sweep using the X-Guard, but with a few modifications.

Notice that he does not put one of his legs on the same place you’d usially do in a traditional X-Guard.

Instead, he keeps his foot on the opponent’s groin area so he can prevent the adversary from hugging his head.

Pay attention and add the technique to your bottom game.

Gianni Grippo is one of the most inventive black belts of the new generation.

Featured on the cover of GRACIEMAG #219, the 2015 Pan featherweight champion teaches a sweep that starts in the inverted DLR and goes to the X-guard.

Watch closely and add it to your game.

Rafael Formiga had a great showing at the 2015 Worlds Master, this weekend, in Las Vegas.

He won the master 1 lightweight division and finished second at the open class.

The main weapon he used in all of his matches was a sweep from the x-guard.

We found this video where he explains how he does it.

Here’s the translation to his instructions in Portuguese:

“Playing the sit up guard, I control his belt and his arm. As I try to sweep using my hooks, he steps forward. So I change my grip from his arm to his heel. At the same time, I push him back and make him get up as I place one hook behind his knee and the other on his groin area. I put his other leg close to my shoulder. As he tries to take my hook out, I’ll push his hip back and slide the other hook down as I trip his leg and make him fall backwards. I follow his movement and come on top for the two points.”

Check it out:

Learn more about Professor Bruno Fernandes and the team at GMA Gracie Barra Montreal but visiting www.gbmontreal.ca

Check it out and learn more at www.robsonmoura.com

Lucio Rodrigues against Rafael Lovato Jr. at the 2014 European Open. Photo: Ivan Trindade

At the 2014 IBJJF European Open Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Lucio “Lagarto” Rodrigues took home the gold in the black belt super heavyweight division, his tenth time at the event. In the final he met with American world champion Rafael Lovato Jr. After spending most of the time on bottom, he was able to secure the sweep, two points and the gold.

Seeing Lagarto compete is a rare occasion given that he does not travel to the World Championship and Pan American Championship. With Europeans as his way to shine, the Gracie Barra black belt represented well, proving he is still a top competitor.

During the final match with Lovato, a lot of guard were used by Lagarto, showing off his eclectic and flexible style. See what he has to say about both in this interview:

GRACIEMAG: What made you decide to pull guard with Lovato?

LUCIO RODRIGUES: I just thought that was the best thing to do at the moment, in order to avoid his game plan!

You played many guards in the match: leg lasso, spider guard, single leg x, even a butterfly hook or two and x-guard. What do all of these guards have in common and why did you choose to use all of them against him?

Yes, in my game I use a lot of different guards and my main idea is to get underneath as soon as possible. If I can’t, then I start to use variations of open guard. But all the positions can connect really well as long you know what to use in the right time.

You play a flexible game for such a big guy. What advice can you offer bigger guys about being flexible?

With everything I do in life I think about being as healthy as possible. I took the example of my master, Carlos Gracie Jr: Every day he used to stretch at least 30 minuntes before training, and after. So it’s not just the big guys but every single person should worry about flexibility. The other big point is, you will lose a lot of positions if you are not flexible!

Watch the full match between Lagarto and Lovato to see the flexible guards in action:

Roger Gracie plays X-guard against Xande Ribeiro at the 2006 Pan. (GRACIEMAG archive photo)

One of the most important parts of Jiu-Jitsu is posture, especially when you’re on top and your opponent’s a savvy sweeper.

And if he’s got a modern game, X-guard is certainly one of the weapons he’ll have up his sleeve to slap you with a reversal and land on top.

So what do you do when he traps your thigh between his crossed feet (hence the “X”) and gets under you? How do you keep from getting swept?

Keep cool, GRACIEMAG.com dug up a simple and well-explained position to help you out. See if the following video doesn’t do the trick.