Xande Ribeiro is known across the world as the man with the unpassable guard and he’s proven this reputation time and time again. Over an incredible thirty years of active competition, Ribeiro’s guard has only been passed a grand total of four times and only twice since being awarded his black belt all the way back in 2001. Not just this, but Ribeiro has only ever been mounted once in his entire competitive career, back when he was a ten year-old competing as a yellow belt. The only two men to pass the legendary guard of Xande Ribeiro at black belt were Roger Gracie and Braulio Estima, neither of whom are anything to be ashamed of, that’s for sure.
As Ribeiro is now approaching his forties, he has been competing less and less often until taking an apparent break altogether in 2018. Since then, Ribeiro has only competed twice with both times being in 2020. The first was at Fight 2 Win 145 where he managed to submit Gabriel Almeida with a beautiful Armbar and this was quickly followed by a competitive draw against Vagner Rocha at BJJ Bet. It’s incredible that Ribeiro can still compete and defeat the modern generation of elite grapplers at the age of 39 and that serves as a true testament to his incredible skills.
Xande Ribeiro shared the BJJ drill he has used over the years to become the competitor he is with Bernardo Faria, the latter of whom posted the below video on his official YouTube channel:
