An easy step from the closed guard to an open guard.
Romulo Barral thoroughly teaches the cross collar sleeve guard. It is a great guard to start your open guard (GI) journey, as you can easily return to the closed guard when things don’t go to plan. Additionally, this is a simple, but effective guard, is easy to learn and it doesn’t require above average flexibility or athletic abilities. In my opinion the structure of this instructional is good. Romulo Barral firstly teaches the guard, guard retention for this guard (a 16 minute chapter) and two effective submissions (i.e., triangle and armbar – from the knees and standing) so you can quickly start to see your own progression. Other chapters cover additional armbars, several chokes, omaplatas, collar drags, sweeps, kneebars and gaining the back. Importantly you are also taught when you should choose specific submission techniques. Romulo Barral teaches techniques commencing from the standard leg position for cross collar sleeve guard (i.e., one leg on the opponent’s hip and the other on their biceps), butterfly guard and de la riva guard. This instructional has a total runtime of 2 hours and 9 minutes. Romulo Barral is clearly knowledgeable, easy to understand, presents well and kept me engaged with the content. Demonstrations were clear and is the practice demonstrations were repeated from different angles. Romulo Barral coaches you through the techniques. It is the sort of instructional that can be easily watched several times. The instructional has been filmed with a fixed camera. The quality of the video is good (i.e., lighting and focus), as is the range. Sound is generally good, however there are occasional moments where the microphone, which is clipped to Romilo Barrals’s GI is knocked and for short moments there is some distortion. For me this was not a problem as it was a minor issue, but I am disclosing it for completeness. In my opinion it is good that the instructor and uke are wearing different coloured GIs as it makes it easier to clearly see the instructor’s limbs. The available previews are consistent with the whole instructional. In summary, if you are wanting to start your journey to the open guard (GI) what a great way to start by using the cross collar sleeve guard. The cross collar sleeve guard is not a complex guard and it will work for you, as it has for me, provided you absorb the content of the instructional and importantly practice the techniques.
