Master Fabio Gurgel teaches an important lesson on breaking the Closed-Guard: Place your opponent in a position in which you are at rest, while they are expending energy, so that you can anticipate their next step and gain tempo. Fight for inside position with your hands and bring your opponent off the mat; when they tire and release their clinch, find your preferred grips for maintaining posture and begin to stand. If your opponent doesn't allow you to grab onto their sleeve, make a grip at their hip and stand up in a staggered stance so that they cannot readily both of your legs. The moment your opponent uncrosses their ankles, connect your elbows and knees together, filling the inside space and disallowing your opponent any meaningful contact for playing an offensive Open-Guard. Continue forward with any number of passes that can be implemented from your standing position against their now opened legs.