3 Part Lesson — Marcelo diffuses several attacks from Closed Guard: [I] Peel off your opponent's control before anything else can go wrong. Don't trust even the most innocuous of touches or contact, especially after getting manipulated into a new posture; e.g. getting broken down in Closed Guard and conceding Double Underhooks. Immediately get out of Overhooks or Underhooks, as well as hand holds to your inner thigh. Pop up and kick your shin through the gap to take away his plans. [II] If your opponent reaches under your leg but also climbs his legs high up onto your shoulders for a High Guard, keep your base first and deal with his grip before shimmying your arm free. [III] Always have a follow-up prepared after you respond to your opponent's attacking movement. Even match their eye blinking. Something as little as seeing the opponent's head shift in De la Riva Guard should incite a neutralizing reaction. Move first if you can; if you don't, your opponent might. If you're successful in stopping his attack, be ready to answer back before he or she can readjust. "If you ain't first, you're last."