2 Part Lesson — Marcelo evades danger before and after breaking the Closed Guard: [I] While kneeling inside your opponent's Closed Guard (Front Body Scissors, Do-Osae, etc.), you cannot let them control your head and/or arms. Fight to win grips over the opponent's wrists or hands so that you can stand up to your feet without an immediate threat to your base. When you release their hands, bring both arms up and away from control as you dig your arm underneath the legs and break open the guard. If you cannot find the opponent's hands before popping up, at the very least, pin down their biceps/triceps without using your thumbs in order to pop up to your feet. You can buy a lot of time and save yourself grief from a potential sweep by stepping directly on top of the opponent's upper arm above the elbow. If you prefer to dig under their legs with your right arm, Marcelo suggests stomping with your left foot so as to avoid an unnecessary twisting of your posture. [II] Beware of any follow-up attacks to your leg after you plant your foot on the opponent's arm. Be prepared to pull your leg straight up and out of danger. Since Marcelo prefers to use his right arm to break open the Closed Guard, and also chooses to lead with his right leg forward, he only needs to clear the left leg out of the arm pin. If you happen to prefer to keep the same leg that you stomped the arm with as your lead leg, make sure to pull it back and step back one more time with the opposite leg to resume your attacking stance.