That the guard is the best trap for catching bigger, heavier, younger and stronger opponents by surprise, you saw last Saturday in the UFC 152 marquee fight between Vitor Belfort and Jon Jones.

Today, GRACIEMAG.com reinforces the lesson with Michael Langhi, the owner of one of the sharpest guards in competition Jiu-Jitsu.

A two-time lightweight world champion (2009/2010), the Alliance black belt returned to the battle lines during the first month of August, joining the dispute at Rickson Cup in Japan, where he bagged four submissions and two gold medals that included the absolute.

In so doing, Langhi had to get past the revelation DJ Jackson, a monster from Professr Lloyd Irvin’s stable of slick Jiu-Jitsu stylists who stormed onto the black belt scene with his conquest of the absolute at the Atlanta Open this September.

“In Japan I had four matches and got the tapout in all of them. It was my first time in the country, and I had so much fun. I love the culture and cuisine. I want to holiday there at the end of the year,” said Langhi, whose mother’s side of the family is Japanese.

Check out Michael Langhi in action against DJ and some highlights from his other matches. Use his sweeps and finishes as inspiration to sharpen up your guard at training today.