Body Lock Pass

The Body Lock Pass is a fundamental pressure passing technique that uses upper body control to bypass the half guard. This high-percentage pass relies on establishing a tight body lock (also called a bear hug or body triangle with the arms) to nullify the bottom player’s frames and mobility. The technique is particularly effective in no-gi grappling where grips on clothing are unavailable, though it remains highly effective in gi training as well.

The pass works by creating a connection that removes the bottom player’s ability to create space or maintain defensive structure. Once the body lock is secured, the passer uses systematic pressure and hip movement to flatten the opponent, clear the trapped leg, and establish side control. The beauty of this technique lies in its simplicity and reliability - it requires less finesse than many other passes and instead relies on proper positioning, pressure application, and methodical execution.

This pass is especially valuable against opponents with strong half guard retention, as the body lock neutralizes many common defensive reactions. It’s a staple in modern no-gi competition and forms a cornerstone of systematic pressure passing approaches used by elite competitors.

Starting Position: Half Guard Ending Position: Side Control Success Rates: Beginner 45%, Intermediate 60%, Advanced 75%

Key Principles

• Establish tight upper body connection before attempting to pass
• Use chest-to-chest pressure to eliminate opponent’s frames
• Control opponent’s head and shoulders to prevent re-guard
• Apply systematic hip pressure to flatten bottom player
• Clear trapped leg methodically without rushing
• Maintain connection throughout entire passing sequence
• Transition weight distribution as you progress through positions

Prerequisites

• Opponent in half guard bottom with one of your legs trapped
• Ability to establish upper body control (over-under or double unders)
• Hip mobility to create pressure angles
• Upper body strength sufficient to maintain tight connection
• Understanding of weight distribution and pressure application
• Ability to post and create base when needed

Execution Steps

1. Establish upper body control: From top half guard, secure a body lock by threading one arm under the opponent’s near armpit and the other over their far shoulder, clasping your hands together behind their back. Your chest should be tight to theirs with no space between your bodies. (Timing: As opponent attempts to create frames or distance)
2. Create head control: Drive your head to the mat on the opposite side of where your leg is trapped, positioning your forehead or temple against the mat. This prevents the opponent from turning into you and creates a heavy crossface pressure on their jaw and neck. (Timing: Immediately after securing body lock)
3. Flatten the opponent: Using your chest-to-chest connection and head pressure, drive your weight forward and down, forcing the opponent’s back flat to the mat. Simultaneously sprawl your hips back slightly to create downward pressure through your torso while maintaining the tight body lock. (Timing: Maintain steady pressure for 2-3 seconds)
4. Clear the trapped knee: With the opponent flattened, begin walking your hips toward the trapped leg side. Use small, controlled steps to methodically move your knee line past the opponent’s knee shield or lockdown. Keep constant pressure throughout - don’t give space. (Timing: Progress gradually, resetting pressure after each hip movement)
5. Extract the trapped leg: Once your knee is past the opponent’s knee line, use a combination of hip pressure and leg movement to free your trapped foot. You may need to adjust your angle slightly or use a small hop to clear the leg completely. Maintain upper body connection throughout. (Timing: Execute with smooth, controlled motion)
6. Establish side control: As your leg clears, immediately transition your body weight to consolidate side control. Release the body lock and establish proper side control positioning with cross-face, near-side underhook, and chest pressure. Secure your position before pursuing further attacks. (Timing: Transition smoothly without giving opponent recovery time)

Opponent Counters

• Opponent frames against your hips to prevent being flattened (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Anticipate the frame by securing the body lock extra tight and using your head pressure more aggressively. Walk your hips in small increments to bypass the frames rather than trying to drive through them directly.
• Opponent locks down your trapped leg with lockdown position (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Don’t try to rip your leg free immediately. Instead, focus on flattening the opponent first, which reduces their ability to control your leg. Once flat, methodically work to break the lockdown by controlling their far knee and creating separation.
• Opponent turns into you to prevent being flattened (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Use your head position to prevent the turn. If they succeed in turning, adjust your pass to address the new angle - you may transition to a different passing approach or re-establish your body lock from the modified position.
• Opponent uses whizzer on your underhook arm (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: The whizzer is generally ineffective against a tight body lock. Maintain your connection and continue applying pressure. If needed, adjust your body lock configuration but don’t abandon the connection.

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Maintaining too much space between your chest and opponent’s chest when establishing body lock
  • Consequence: Opponent can create frames and prevent being flattened, nullifying the entire passing sequence
  • Correction: Focus on eliminating all space when initially securing the body lock. Your chest should be glued to theirs before attempting to flatten them.
• Mistake: Trying to pass the leg before fully flattening the opponent
  • Consequence: Opponent retains mobility and can re-establish frames, recover guard, or transition to other defensive positions
  • Correction: Be patient and ensure the opponent is completely flat before attempting to clear the trapped leg. Flattening is the prerequisite for successful leg clearing.
• Mistake: Raising your hips too high when attempting to clear the leg
  • Consequence: Creates space underneath for opponent to re-guard or escape, and reduces your pressure advantage
  • Correction: Keep your hips relatively low throughout the pass. Use small, controlled hip movements rather than large motions that create gaps.
• Mistake: Abandoning head control to look at the trapped leg
  • Consequence: Opponent can turn into you, create frames, or escape the position entirely
  • Correction: Maintain head position and pressure throughout. Feel for the leg clearing rather than looking - your head position is more important than visual confirmation.
• Mistake: Releasing the body lock too early during the transition to side control
  • Consequence: Opponent can create immediate space and potentially recover guard before you consolidate position
  • Correction: Only release the body lock once your trapped leg is completely free and you’re ready to immediately establish proper side control grips and pressure.

Training Progressions

Week 1-2: Connection Mastery - Establishing and maintaining tight body lock connection Practice securing the body lock from various half guard positions with no resistance. Focus on eliminating all space and maintaining connection while moving. Partner should be compliant, allowing you to develop feel for proper tightness and positioning. (Resistance: None)

Week 3-4: Pressure Application - Learning to flatten opponent with systematic pressure Partner provides light resistance by maintaining frames but not actively preventing being flattened. Practice using head control and chest pressure to methodically flatten the bottom player. Develop understanding of weight distribution and pressure angles. (Resistance: Light)

Week 5-8: Leg Clearing Mechanics - Methodical clearing of trapped leg while maintaining pressure Partner maintains moderate resistance through knee shield and attempts to prevent leg clearing. Practice the hip walking progression and timing of leg extraction. Learn to maintain connection throughout clearing sequence. (Resistance: Medium)

Week 9-12: Counter Defense - Dealing with common defensive reactions and counters Partner actively uses frames, lockdown, whizzer, and attempts to turn into you. Practice recognizing and countering each defensive response. Develop ability to maintain dominant position despite opponent’s best defensive efforts. (Resistance: Medium)

Month 4-6: Competition Integration - Executing technique against full resistance in live rolling Implement the body lock pass during positional sparring and live rolling. Partner uses full resistance and all defensive techniques. Focus on recognizing optimal timing for the pass and chaining it with other passing approaches. (Resistance: Full)

Ongoing Refinement - Advanced details, pressure refinement, and situational adaptation Continuously refine pressure application, timing, and transitions. Develop ability to adjust technique based on opponent size, flexibility, and defensive style. Practice flowing between body lock pass and complementary passing systems. (Resistance: Full)

Variations

Double Unders Body Lock Pass: Instead of traditional over-under body lock, both arms go under the opponent’s armpits, hands clasped behind their back. This variation provides even tighter control and prevents them from using whizzer defense. (When to use: Against opponents who consistently defend with whizzer against traditional body lock, or when you have exceptional upper body strength to maintain the connection)

Body Lock to Leg Drag Transition: When opponent successfully prevents the traditional pass by keeping their knee shield strong, transition from the body lock into a leg drag position by using your body lock to lift and redirect their legs to one side. (When to use: When encountering strong knee shield retention that prevents traditional clearing, or against flexible opponents who can maintain frames despite pressure)

Gi Body Lock with Lapel Control: In gi, supplement the body lock by controlling opponent’s lapel with one hand while maintaining connection with the other arm. This provides additional control and prevents certain escapes while maintaining core passing mechanics. (When to use: In gi competition where lapel grips provide additional control options, particularly against opponents who are skilled at creating space in no-gi contexts)

Test Your Knowledge

Q1: What is the most critical element to establish before attempting to flatten the opponent in the body lock pass? A: The most critical element is establishing a completely tight body lock with zero space between your chest and the opponent’s chest. Without this tight connection, the opponent can create frames and prevent being flattened, which is the foundation for the entire passing sequence. The connection must be so tight that the opponent cannot get their hands or arms between your bodies.

Q2: Why is head position so important in the body lock pass, and where should your head be positioned? A: Head position is crucial because it creates crossface pressure that prevents the opponent from turning into you and disrupts their ability to create effective frames. Your head should be driven to the mat on the opposite side of your trapped leg, with your forehead or temple on the mat. This creates downward pressure on their jaw and neck while also serving as a stable base point for applying chest pressure.

Q3: What is the correct sequence of actions in the body lock pass, and why must this order be followed? A: The correct sequence is: (1) establish tight body lock, (2) create head control, (3) flatten the opponent, (4) clear the trapped knee, (5) extract the trapped leg, (6) establish side control. This order must be followed because each step creates the conditions necessary for the next. Most importantly, the opponent must be fully flattened before attempting to clear the leg - trying to pass the leg while they retain mobility will fail against competent opponents.

Q4: How should you respond when your opponent locks down your trapped leg, and why is trying to immediately rip it free a mistake? A: When your opponent locks down your trapped leg, you should first focus on flattening them completely rather than immediately trying to free your leg. This is because a flattened opponent has significantly reduced ability to maintain the lockdown effectively. Trying to rip your leg free immediately typically fails and wastes energy, while also potentially creating space for the opponent to recover their position. Once they’re flat, you can methodically work to break the lockdown by controlling their far knee and creating separation.

Q5: What is the most common error that causes the body lock pass to fail, and how does it create vulnerability? A: The most common error is maintaining too much space between your chest and the opponent’s chest when establishing the body lock. This creates two critical vulnerabilities: first, it allows the opponent to create frames against your body, preventing you from flattening them; second, it gives them the mobility necessary to turn into you, recover their guard structure, or execute sweeps. The body lock must be so tight that there is literally zero space between your bodies - this is non-negotiable for the technique to work against skilled opponents.

Q6: How does the body lock pass exemplify the principle of systematic pressure passing, and what makes it particularly effective in no-gi contexts? A: The body lock pass exemplifies systematic pressure passing through its methodical progression from connection to control to completion, with each phase removing more of the opponent’s defensive options. It’s particularly effective in no-gi because it creates control without relying on gi grips - the body lock itself becomes the control mechanism. In no-gi, where opponents have more mobility and fewer grip points, the body lock provides a reliable connection that can’t be easily broken. The pass also minimizes the athleticism gap by relying more on proper positioning and pressure application than on speed or explosiveness.

Safety Considerations

The body lock pass is generally a safe technique for both practitioners when executed properly. The passer should be mindful of applying chest pressure gradually rather than explosively to avoid causing rib injuries or breathing difficulties in their partner. When flattening the opponent, avoid driving your head into their jaw with excessive force, as this can cause TMJ issues or neck strain. For the bottom player, tap early if you experience any breathing difficulty or neck pain. When practicing with training partners of significantly different sizes, the larger practitioner should modulate their pressure to match their partner’s size and experience level. During drilling phases, communicate clearly about pressure levels to ensure both partners can train safely and effectively.

Position Integration

The body lock pass is a cornerstone technique in modern pressure passing systems and integrates seamlessly with multiple guard passing approaches. It’s particularly valuable as part of a systematic half guard passing game, where it can be combined with underhook passes, knee slice variations, and leg drag options. The technique serves as an excellent foundation for developing pressure passing skills because it teaches fundamental concepts of connection, pressure application, and systematic progression that apply across all passing scenarios. Within the broader BJJ positional hierarchy, mastering the body lock pass provides a reliable method for advancing from the half guard battleground to the dominant side control position. It’s especially important in no-gi contexts where it often serves as a primary passing option when gi-specific grips are unavailable. The pass also integrates well with back attack systems - if the opponent turns away to defend the pass, the passer can transition to taking the back.

Related Techniques

• Half Guard - Starting position for this technique
• Side Control - Ending position and primary goal
• Knee Shield Half Guard - Common variation of starting position
• Lockdown - Primary defensive counter to address
• Underhook Pass - Complementary passing technique from similar positions
• Knee Slice Pass - Alternative passing option to chain with
• Leg Drag Pass - Follow-up technique when body lock pass is defended
• Double Under Pass - Related passing technique using similar control concepts
• Pressure Passing - Core principle underlying this technique
• Guard Passing - Theoretical framework governing execution
• Bernardo Faria Pressure System - Strategic system incorporating this pass
• Gordon Ryan Passing System - Modern competitive system using this technique

Expert Insights

• Danaher System: The body lock pass represents a perfect example of systematic connection-based passing. The fundamental principle is simple: establish a connection that cannot be broken, then use that connection to methodically remove the opponent’s defensive options. What makes this pass particularly effective is that it reverses the normal dynamic of guard passing - instead of you having to maintain multiple grips while the opponent only needs to break one, the body lock creates a singular connection point that requires their entire body to escape. From a biomechanical perspective, the pass works because it eliminates the opponent’s ability to create the frames that are essential for guard retention. When executed properly, you’re not fighting against their frames - you’re preventing the frames from ever being established. The key technical detail that separates successful execution from failure is the absolute elimination of space between your chest and theirs. Even a few inches of space allows them to create structure, but zero space removes that possibility entirely. The pass also demonstrates proper pressure application - you’re not using strength to smash through their defense, you’re using positioning to make their defense impossible.
• Gordon Ryan: The body lock pass is one of the highest percentage passes in modern no-gi competition, and it’s a technique I use constantly at the highest levels. What makes it so effective in competition is its reliability - it doesn’t require perfect timing or catching the opponent off-guard, it just requires proper execution of the fundamental mechanics. Against elite competitors with incredible guard retention, this pass works because it gives them nothing to work with. They can’t push your hips, they can’t create angles, they can’t establish their knee shield effectively - all their normal defensive tools are neutralized by the tight connection. The key to using this in competition is understanding that it’s a patient pass, not an explosive one. Trying to rush through the steps will fail against good opponents. Instead, you need to be comfortable spending time in the position, maintaining heavy pressure, and waiting for the right moment to advance. I also use this pass as a way to tire opponents out - the person on bottom carrying all that pressure while being unable to create effective defense is exhausting. Often they’ll make a desperate escape attempt that opens up the pass or gives me their back.
• Eddie Bravo: What I love about the body lock pass is how it completely shuts down the dynamic movements that make half guard dangerous. In the 10th Planet system, we spend a lot of time developing our half guard game with lockdown, electric chair, and all these sweeps, but the body lock pass done correctly takes all of that away. The innovation I’ve added to this technique is understanding how to use it as a starting point for other attacks. If someone’s defending the body lock pass well and you’re stuck there, you’re not really stuck - you have incredible control and you can transition to darce chokes, anacondas, or even give up the pass attempt and go for guillotines if they try to turn in. The body lock position itself becomes a control position rather than just a passing position. For no-gi specifically, this pass is gold because you’re not relying on fabric grips that can be broken. Your hands are locked together behind their back, and that’s an incredibly strong connection that doesn’t require grip strength to maintain. I teach my students to think of the body lock not as a quick pass but as a dominant position where you have multiple options, and the pass is just one of them.