Marcelo dials in on an overlooked aspect of breaking the Closed Guard from standing: [I] When your opponent decides to uncross his ankles and drop down into an Open Guard after you pick up his Closed Guard from the mat, immediately switch your base to Sugar-Foot, i.e. one leg leading and the other behind and trailing. This is to mitigate any pulling or pushing pressure the opponent can employ once he races to his Open Guard. [II] If the opponent grabs onto your ankles when he drops, quickly kick your planned trail leg forward first, then circle it back behind for base.