How to deal with a high-level Capoeira passer

Just some thoughts, experiences, discussion on how to handle a top-end Capoeira passer when working from quarter guard. Any and all thoughts/feedback are greatly appreciated.

So in watching warm-ups E, MTS episode #69 where they polish warm-up E, and attending a few 10p classes over the last few months w/ Eddie & Denny, I've isolated a direction and set up principles to abide by as I make my way to the quarter clinch. Obviously using your knee-shield smartly to get an entry, but if Eddie's seminar in Chicago branded anything into my mind, it was, "DON'T LOSE THE UNDERHOOK!!!!"

In gi, the quality of the clinch along with the necessity for a good head-tuck and high underhook are given a little leeway since you can grab the cloth. I've found that when a really good capoeira passer steps over (and mind you, does NOT step back to the knee slice), it underlines the importance of preserving those underhooks, since the guy is looking to no hand pass and get his foot out of your quarter guard.

In warm-up E, it makes perfect sense to go to lockdown if the guy steps back over because you're taught to switch your feet across his calf once he goes Capoeira. Once in a blue moon, if I time it just right, I've found that I can do a backward somersault the moment he goes Capoeira. This is easier if I have good underhooks and am on my side when he dances over. In general, after enough MTS, drilling, rolls, I feel like I'm starting to chip away at the iceberg known as the quarter clinch. Capoeira reaction is the biggest hole right now.

My question for Capoeira passers out there (any and all): if you yourself capoeira pass, what are you looking to exploit in the bottom guys defenses?

Question for half-guard clinchers is: how are you fancy-feeting your feet when he's stepped over like that in that reverse cross position? Any MTS's, youtube, thoughts, suggestions, philosophies on what to consider in a dance-off with a Capoeira passer would be greatly appreciated

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0cRb-0GSh8

Cyborg's change in foot position at 3:45 is the best way to go in my opinion. If you don't feel comfortable trying to take the back from there like he does, you can try to bring your head under the trapped leg and end up in deep half. Or if you wanna try to be cool, you can berimbolo.

The best thing is to tie up that free leg or be able to time the capoeira and berimbolo. I capoeira at every opportunity either as a pass or to transition to the honeyhole. If you tie up that leg you take away a lot of options. Also Andrew Alexander learned a technique from someone at 10th Planet San Francisco to where you time the capoeira and take the back. No idea how the technique works but it stopped me from capoeira-ing out of fear of the back take.

Originally Posted by Brent Smith

The best thing is to tie up that free leg or be able to time the capoeira and berimbolo. I capoeira at every opportunity either as a pass or to transition to the honeyhole. If you tie up that leg you take away a lot of options. Also Andrew Alexander learned a technique from someone at 10th Planet San Francisco to where you time the capoeira and take the back. No idea how the technique works but it stopped me from capoeira-ing out of fear of the back take.

Paul Nikhinson taught us that technique. His philosophy was that if you have the free leg trapped (with an underhook for example) then you can cross your feet. However, if you don't have the free leg trapped (there is the possibility of the capoeira) just clamp down your 1/4 legs right on top of each other. When your opponent attempts to capoeira you kick the top leg straight up stopping them. You can push them as well, taking the back or use it to sweep and come up on top.

Be able to disengage and recover a seated guard during his step.

This gets you to the back, if not, nothing lost.

Originally Posted by Brent Smith

The best thing is to tie up that free leg or be able to time the capoeira and berimbolo. I capoeira at every opportunity either as a pass or to transition to the honeyhole. If you tie up that leg you take away a lot of options. Also Andrew Alexander learned a technique from someone at 10th Planet San Francisco to where you time the capoeira and take the back. No idea how the technique works but it stopped me from capoeira-ing out of fear of the back take.

I remember learning a berimbolo from when the guys Capoeira's. To my understanding, you'd switch the 'punch-blocking' hand (hand that would go under his legs if you were to establish the electric clinch) to underhook his ankle that's still trapped in your quarter guard, allowing you to go inverted. In my experience, a problem arises if he is savvy with how to use his weight. If my upper chest gets pinned, and just as important he has the cross face, I feel like my best option is to keep my double-underhook clinch on his body for all dear life. I've played around with switching my legs on his trapped leg and looking for hooks that may allow me to kick him off, while simultaneously trying to pull his collar bone in the direction I want his chest to fall. This is inconsistent however, and I'd like to be on a quest to prevent this before it happens. .... To one day, perhaps...become UNCAPOEIRA-able :P

Also to be fair, I've been hitting up a good spread of schools lately and 10th planet guys are the ONLY ones to go for the honey hole

Originally Posted by Kevin Hughes

Paul Nikhinson taught us that technique. His philosophy was that if you have the free leg trapped (with an underhook for example) then you can cross your feet. However, if you don't have the free leg trapped (there is the possibility of the capoeira) just clamp down your 1/4 legs right on top of each other. When your opponent attempts to capoeira you kick the top leg straight up stopping them. You can push them as well, taking the back or use it to sweep and come up on top.

I'll definitely play with that. It seems like a timing thing, for sure, and not sure I was aware of it. Thx

Originally Posted by Arman Fathi

I'll definitely play with that. It seems like a timing thing, for sure, and not sure I was aware of it. Thx

Perhaps use the knee in the butt to compromise the integrity of his capoeira and then use the momentary lapse in the move to berimbolo??? Might just be enough space. Damn can't wait to drill it now.

Originally Posted by Micah Giron

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0cRb-0GSh8

Cyborg's change in foot position at 3:45 is the best way to go in my opinion. If you don't feel comfortable trying to take the back from there like he does, you can try to bring your head under the trapped leg and end up in deep half. Or if you wanna try to be cool, you can berimbolo.

That seems like it'd work better than grabbing the collar bone. Yea it's weird because he's teaching a deep-half guard video but that position you mentioned is a dead-eye capoeira. It feeds the necessity for a deep, deep underhook as far as you can go so that you're able to win the hand fight.