The human body has limits in its movements. Some limbs have broader possibilities, such as the spine, shoulder, or wrist, while others are more limited, like the knee and elbow, for example. However, the combination of these movements makes the possibilities infinite. Our hand can reach our back through a combination of movements: the shoulder rotates backward, and the elbow flexes, making it possible for the wrist and fingers to touch to relieve a hypothetical itch.

Jiu-Jitsu is like a puzzle of the body, where we seek combinations and fits with the opponent to achieve the goal in a fight, whether it's dominance or submission. Techniques in Jiu-Jitsu stem from a solid foundation, with great variety, but simplicity.

Just as "scratching your back" is done by the combination of simple movements, the combination of these basic techniques allows for an infinite variety of positions that can lead to the development of a new way of seeing an aspect of the fight, whether it's the intention to takedown (throws), dominate from the top (guard passing), or escape from the bottom (playing guard).

My experience on the mat has allowed me to have moments of "vision" or creation of these possibilities, which set me apart from opponents. In each technical sequence that emerged while fighting, I thought more deeply about it, whether by repeating them in training or even in thoughts off the mat, until I began to succeed in the gym and finally put them to the test in tournaments, where it could be considered that it pierced the bubble of my circle to prove effective in the "real world" of competition.

Like an inventor, or even a poet, who is inspired and who improves, many practitioners have these moments of "epiphany", making it possible for their creations sometimes to revolutionize some aspect of the sport, as long as they are not lost in time until someone, elsewhere or under different circumstances, discovers them again.

I consider the Y Guard a contribution, a new way and alternative to see guard defense. One of these combinations of revolutionary techniques, serving as a defensive or offensive transition for those who find themselves underneath someone in a fight.

Mentally going back to when I started using this combination, I realized it was a slow and evolutionary process from my early years as a black belt, still in 2002. Being pointed out as a specialist in "half guard" since that time, I realized that I felt trapped every time my opponent managed to balance their weight on top of me or began to stand up. Even seeking a transition to the X guard, originally coming from the commonly called "Joga-fora-no-lixo" sweep, due to my physical abilities, I would lose control or have difficulty getting up and completing the inversion (sweep). In an exhaustive process of trial and error, I eventually realized that moving my opponent's leg from one shoulder to the other, unlocked movements that were previously impossible and that simple adaptation opened up a new range of possibilities that couldn't be seen. It was as if I had been trying to scratch my back without using shoulder rotation and then had added that possibility. Now I had access to all the points on my back that were previously unreachable.

Seeing that door wide open, I was able to combine aspects learned from many other training partners, such as details about the 50/50 guard learned from Ryan Hall, or other situations like a closed guard, the "lock-down" control, half guard (with strong influences from Comprido, despite our difference in size), among other aspects of consolidated knowledge, uniquely and creatively that I had never seen anyone else use.

I surprised my first opponents with this unique combination since competitions in 2005, still timidly, in a process of evolution, and I gradually taught it in my seminars, as I added details myself until I had a "complete system", with reactions and possible solutions to every move by the opponent.

Naturally, the idea spread. The name "Y Guard" was given by my Belgian friend and student Ken Van Gilbergen, around 2012, who jokingly compared it to the X guard, justifying that my body was positioned in a way that looked like a Y. In the absence of another name, this one became popular.

When I realized that I had developed a unique style, I tried to find other people who might be doing similar things but the more I looked, the more I understood that I had a rare and valuable solution in my hands. I noticed that even athletes of the highest levels when they found themselves in the position that would allow them to use that sequence, followed another path because they couldn't see the possibilities I saw.

I won several medals with the help of the Y Guard and the more I taught and tried to spread that understanding, the more specialized I became in the subject, while at the same time, I had the satisfaction of seeing training partners, direct or indirect students gain advantages over athletes who still didn't understand what was being done. Even today, whether in competitions or just in the gym training, I see that those who dedicate themselves to understanding the steps and possible stages with the Y Guard can surprise opponents or training partners.

Time will pass and I don't care if one day they won't know that I was the first to put this sequence together. That may be happening right now. In Jiu-Jitsu techniques, there are no copyrights, thankfully. I prefer techniques to be like motivational phrases that spread around, in quotes, written underneath "author unknown". That's okay, as long as I find out that one day, someone, maybe on the other side of the world, won a local tournament in their city with the Y Guard, even if it's not called that there, but the winds blew strongly enough to enter the mind of a new practitioner who had never heard of my name.

Wasn't it always like this? Could it be that, through one of those winds, it reached my mind? I almost hope so.

After all, surely the wheel wasn't discovered in just one place.

Text written by Felipe Costa (@FelipeCostaBJJ)

Introduction

In recent times, the traditional kimono, or gi, has seen a decline in popularity within the grappling community.

However, it's crucial to recognize the significant role the gi plays as a teaching tool in our sport.

I will bring some arguments as to why I believe that your grappling journey should include plenty training wearing pyjamas.

Of course, if you are a professional athlete competing in ADCC you should spent most of your time training without a gi, preferably with body lotion. The same as you would add all the lapel stuff for a black belt IBJJF competition.

The no-gi spectrum

Before delving into the benefits of gi training, let's briefly define what no-gi entails.

The options for no-gi attire are diverse, ranging from shorts, rashguards, and wrestling singlets to various accessories like knee pads and wrestling shoes.

Even within this seemingly streamlined wardrobe, decisions about shaving limbs and using body lotion play a role.

The variety emphasizes that even in a no-gi setting, numerous clothing decisions must be considered.

Hopefully the following arguments will help you in your grappling clothing decisions.

Arguments in favor of pyjamas training

• Under the same ruleset, training with a gi is more difficult than training without a gi. You basically have to know the same moves plus all the additional knowledge that is needed to deal with the gi. That's why you often see gi champions do well in no-gi competition, but not the other way around. As rulesets starts deviating more, we might see this less prominent but I strongly believe it will always be there. Just the same way as good wrestlers will always have an edge competing in either gi or no-gi.
• No-gi is more slippery than gi, and because of this it's less safe, except maybe for your fingers. The mats get wet very fast and there are no cotton jackets or pants to help dry up things. It will go faster and sliding accidents will happen.
• Kimonos are not as sexy as underwear. I believe we should not underestimate the success of no-gi, because our social evolutional sexual behavior. No-gi prefers athletic body types. Pyjamas hide the body, which actually helps people with some of their insecurities. I would like to nuance that as a teacher I often remove my jacket as it also might hide the gripping details of certain techniques.
• Training with a gi allows to train within a no-gi ruleset, the other way around is obviously not possible. It's all about communication, you need to talk to your training partners. Nothing wrong with rolling and agreeing before to not grab any of the clothing. Just the same as you might decide to roll without leglocks (cause you have old and weak knees) or rolling wihtout chokes (as you recently fainted and understand it's not safe to go unconsious multiple times in a short time period)

Additional differences

• I would say that for no-gi it's important to have a strong grip, but it's hard to train this while rolling as most grips will be easily prevented. Training with a gi makes gripping easier and therefor you have more opporunities to improve your grip strength.
• For hip movement development I would argue the same. Often when trying to choke your both hands are stuck in the lapels. This gives you no option to base with your hands, and therefor your hips need to take over your core stability.
• No-gi for sure teaches you a more offensive game, which is very important. However when starting out it makes more sense to first develop your defensive skills which will create more offensive opportunities or at least reduce the fear of going from an offensive into a defensive cycle. Submissions are much easier with a gi, except for naked chokes.
• The belt provides for an indication of skill, which depending on the culture of the gym might help or reduce the overall game improvements. Some schools believe this is important and therefor introduced rash guards with belt colors.
• Athletic students will have it much easier in no-gi training, adding the kimono will add friction and level out some of the physical attributes. Slowing down the rolling also helps in thinking about techniques.

It's also good to be reminded that these people spent 10+ years training in the gi: Eddie Bravo, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Lachlan Giles, Craig Jones, Mikey Musumeci, Gordon Ryan, Marcello Garcia, Roger Gracie, ... maybe Nicky Rod is the only one that never trained in pyjamas... maybe.

In the end I prefer people to show up for class, no matter what they are wearing. I would recommend training in a gi with the focus on a no-gi game, and especially paying attention to communicating with your training partners.

Comparison

Should I wear a rash guard under my gi?

I don't know, I guess if you feel like. So far I haven't found any proof that rash guards actually help preventing rash more than a cotton kimono. But seen that there is a lot of plastic in them, there might be some truth in it. In any case, probably nicer for your training partners?