Double Unders Top Position is a dominant pressure passing position where the top practitioner controls both of the bottom player’s legs by threading their arms underneath, typically securing a grip behind the opponent’s back or on their belt. This position represents a critical transition point in guard passing, offering exceptional control over the opponent’s hip mobility and creating intense chest-to-chest pressure that makes guard retention extremely difficult. The position is characterized by the top player’s ability to stack the opponent’s weight onto their shoulders while controlling their legs, effectively neutralizing most guard recovery attempts and creating a crushing pressure that fatigues the defensive player rapidly.
The Double Unders position excels at breaking down various open guard styles, particularly butterfly guard, half guard, and seated guards where the opponent’s legs are elevated. By controlling both legs simultaneously, the passer eliminates the bottom player’s ability to create effective frames or establish threatening guard positions. The crushing pressure and limited mobility make this an extremely fatiguing position for the defensive player, often forcing them into poor defensive decisions or creating opportunities for the pass to complete. High-level competitors frequently use this position as a pressure-passing gateway, transitioning smoothly to side control, mount, or back control depending on the opponent’s defensive reactions. The position typically resolves within 20-45 seconds as the top player advances to a scoring position or the bottom player executes an escape to deep half guard or turtle.
Position Definition
- Both arms positioned under opponent’s legs with hands meeting behind their back or gripping the belt/pants, creating a tight control loop that restricts hip movement and leg separation
- Chest making heavy contact with opponent’s thighs or knees, driving forward pressure that stacks their weight onto their shoulders and upper back while limiting their ability to create space
- Top player’s posture angled forward with hips driving into opponent’s legs, creating downward pressure vector that prevents guard recovery and forces defensive player into compromised spinal alignment
- Opponent’s hips elevated off the mat with legs controlled and compressed together, eliminating their ability to establish effective frames with feet or create separation with knee shields
Prerequisites
- Successful engagement with opponent’s open guard (butterfly, seated, half guard variations)
- Control of opponent’s legs with both arms positioned underneath
- Forward pressure established with chest contact on opponent’s thighs or knees
- Opponent’s guard broken or sufficiently opened to allow double underhook positioning
- Base established with knees and feet positioned to drive forward pressure
Key Offensive Principles
- Maintain tight connection between both arms under opponent’s legs, keeping hands clasped or gripped to prevent leg separation
- Drive constant forward pressure through the chest into opponent’s thighs, stacking their weight onto shoulders to limit mobility
- Keep elbows tight to your own body to prevent opponent from creating frames or inserting their arms to break the connection
- Control opponent’s hip mobility by preventing them from turning to either side or creating angular escapes
- Advance position methodically by walking knees forward or transitioning weight to complete the pass when opponent’s defenses weaken
- Use head position strategically, either on chest for maximum pressure or on hip to prevent turning and prepare for side control transition
- Maintain active base with feet positioned to drive forward, preventing opponent from off-balancing or creating sweep opportunities
Available Attacks
Double Under Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 55%
- Intermediate: 70%
- Advanced: 85%
Transition to Mount → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Transition to North-South → North-South
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Transition to Back Control → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 60%
Stack Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 50%
- Intermediate: 65%
- Advanced: 80%
Knee Slice Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 45%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent keeps legs together and attempts to frame with hands on chest maintaining flat back:
- Execute Stack Pass → Side Control (Probability: 75%)
- Execute Transition to North-South → North-South (Probability: 55%)
If opponent turns to their side trying to face away and escape the crushing pressure:
- Execute Transition to Back Control → Back Control (Probability: 70%)
- Execute Smash Pass → Side Control (Probability: 65%)
If opponent attempts to separate legs or insert butterfly hooks between your arms:
- Execute Leg Weave Pass → Side Control (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Transition to Mount → Mount (Probability: 50%)
If opponent extends arms to create frames or push away from chest pressure:
- Execute Kimura from Side Control → Kimura Control (Probability: 45%)
- Execute Double Under Pass → Side Control (Probability: 70%)
Optimal Submission Paths
Shortest path to submission
Double Unders Top → Side Control → Kimura Control → Kimura
High-percentage mount path
Double Unders Top → Mount → S Mount → Armbar Control → Armbar from Mount
Back control path
Double Unders Top → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke
North-South submission path
Double Unders Top → North-South → Kimura Control → Kimura from North-South
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 60% | 55% | 15% |
| Intermediate | 75% | 70% | 30% |
| Advanced | 85% | 85% | 45% |
Average Time in Position: 20-45 seconds before pass completion or escape
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
The double unders position represents one of the most mechanically sound pressure passing positions available in jiu-jitsu. The bilateral control of both legs eliminates the opponent’s primary defensive tools—their ability to create frames with their feet and establish distance with their knees. By securing both arms underneath and connecting them behind the opponent’s back, you create a closed system of control that is extremely difficult to break. The key mechanical principle is the stacking angle: you must drive your chest forward and downward into their thighs, forcing their weight onto their shoulders. This creates a compression that not only limits their mobility but also taxes their breathing and energy reserves significantly. The position is most effective when you understand the relationship between pressure angle and hip control. Your goal is not merely to hold the position but to progressively advance your knees forward, claiming hip territory until you achieve the critical threshold where their guard can no longer be retained. At that moment, the transition to side control becomes inevitable. The locked hands must climb as high as possible up the opponent’s back, ideally reaching mid-back or higher, which creates maximum leverage for the stack pass while simultaneously preventing hip mobility through superior mechanical advantage.
Gordon Ryan
Double unders is my go-to position for passing most open guard styles because it’s extremely high percentage at the highest levels of competition. When you get those double underhooks and secure the grip, you’re basically deciding when the pass happens, not your opponent. The beauty of this position is that it’s incredibly draining for the bottom player—they’re carrying your weight on their legs while stacked in a terrible breathing position. In competition, I use this to wear opponents down in the first few minutes, making them exhausted for the rest of the match. The key is being patient enough to maintain the pressure until they make a mistake, then exploding to side control. Most guys try to pass too early before the opponent is really cooked. If you feel them trying to turn or hip escape, that’s your signal to drive forward hard and complete the pass. I also look for the back take constantly—if they turn away from the pressure, I’m immediately transitioning to back control. This position has probably given me more passing success in ADCC and no-gi worlds than any other control position. The critical detail is hand position height - get those hands locked at mid-back or higher, not just at their hips. When they defend the stack by pushing my face or creating frames, I immediately transition to knee slice - that defensive choice opens the passing lane perfectly.
Eddie Bravo
From a 10th Planet perspective, double unders is crucial for shutting down a lot of the guards we typically play—butterfly, half butterfly, rubber guard attempts. When someone gets that double under control on you, you’re in serious trouble because all your leg dexterity is neutralized. That’s why we spend a lot of time training counters and escapes from this position. But when you’re on top with it, man, you can really impose your game. The stacking pressure is brutal, especially in no-gi where it’s harder for the bottom player to grip and create frames. I like to use the double unders as a gateway position—you can go to side control, but you can also transition to more creative options like truck position if they try to turn away. The head position is key: if you put your head on their chest, you get maximum pressure, but if you slide it to their hip, you’re setting up the leg weave or preparing to step over into mount. It’s a versatile position that fits well into an aggressive, submission-hunting style. Don’t be so focused on passing that you miss submission opportunities - collar chokes in the gi, shoulder pressure chokes in no-gi, even arm attacks when they create frames. The double unders position creates so much pressure that they often get desperate with their defensive framing, and desperate frames create submission opportunities.