Guard Pass

Guard passing represents one of the fundamental challenges in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu - the art of moving from an opponent’s guard position to a dominant top position. The guard pass is not a single technique but rather a category of movements that share the common goal of safely navigating past the opponent’s legs while maintaining control and balance. Successful guard passing requires a combination of technical precision, timing, pressure management, and strategic decision-making based on the opponent’s guard type and defensive responses.

The modern approach to guard passing encompasses multiple philosophies: pressure passing prioritizes weight distribution and grinding control, speed passing emphasizes quick footwork and timing, and systematic passing combines both elements based on opponent reactions. Elite competitors like Gordon Ryan have demonstrated that understanding when to apply each passing style - and smoothly transitioning between them - creates an unstoppable passing game. The guard passer must simultaneously break the opponent’s grips, neutralize their hip movement, control their legs, and advance position while defending submission attempts and sweep threats.

Mastering guard passing fundamentals creates the foundation for all top game development in BJJ. Whether passing closed guard, open guard variations, or modern leg entanglement guards, the core principles remain consistent: establish dominant grips, control distance and angles, break the opponent’s structure, and advance through stages of control before settling into a dominant position. This systematic approach, combined with the ability to read and counter opponent reactions, separates effective guard passers from those who struggle to advance position.

Starting Position: Open Guard Ending Position: Side Control Success Rates: Beginner 30%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 70%

Key Principles

• Establish dominant grips before attempting to pass - control of sleeves, collar, or pants prevents opponent from establishing strong guard retention frames
• Break opponent’s posture and structure first - disrupting their base and hip alignment creates passing opportunities
• Control the distance and angle - staying too close invites submissions, too far allows guard recovery
• Pass in stages through progressive control points - rushing directly to side control often results in re-guard
• Combine pressure and mobility - pure pressure can be swept, pure speed can be countered with frames
• Anticipate and counter opponent’s defensive reactions - guard passing is a dynamic conversation between passer and guard player
• Maintain stable base throughout the passing sequence - losing balance invites sweeps and position reversals

Prerequisites

• Opponent is in guard position (closed guard, open guard, or guard variation)
• Passer has established top position with at least one hand contact on opponent
• Passer maintains good posture with head up and spine alignment
• Passer has stable base with feet positioned for weight distribution and mobility
• Opponent’s offensive grips are broken or controlled to prevent immediate submission threats
• Clear awareness of opponent’s guard type and primary retention mechanisms

Execution Steps

1. Establish dominant grips: Secure control of opponent’s collar, sleeves, or pants depending on guard type. For closed guard, control the collar and break posture. For open guard, control sleeves or pants to limit mobility. Grip fighting is essential - deny opponent their preferred grips while establishing your own control points. (Timing: Initial contact - spend 2-5 seconds establishing grip dominance before advancing)
2. Break opponent’s guard structure: Disrupt the opponent’s base and alignment. For closed guard, stand up to open the guard. For open guard, address the specific retention mechanism (hooks, frames, or leg entanglements). Use a combination of grip control, weight distribution, and angle changes to compromise their structure. (Timing: 3-8 seconds - patience here prevents rushing into bad positions)
3. Control opponent’s hips and legs: Pin the opponent’s hips to the mat or control their legs to prevent guard retention. This may involve stapling the knee, controlling the shin, or using heavy pressure to limit hip mobility. The specific control depends on the guard type being passed. (Timing: Simultaneous with structure breaking - 2-4 seconds to establish control)
4. Create passing angle: Move off the centerline to one side, creating an angle that allows you to navigate around the opponent’s legs. The angle prevents them from using frames effectively and positions you to advance. Keep your head on the side you’re passing to for better pressure and control. (Timing: Quick transition - 1-2 seconds to establish angle once control is secured)
5. Advance position through stages: Progress through control points: from guard to knee slice position or headquarters, then to a transitional position where opponent’s near leg is controlled, finally settling into side control or other dominant position. Each stage should be consolidated before advancing. (Timing: Variable 5-15 seconds total - rushing causes re-guard)
6. Secure dominant position: Establish side control, mount, knee on belly, or north-south with proper weight distribution and control points. Immediately address any remaining guard retention attempts by controlling the far hip, establishing crossface pressure, and securing underhooks. Consolidate position before looking for submissions or further advancement. (Timing: 3-5 seconds to fully stabilize the position)

Opponent Counters

• Opponent establishes strong frames and creates distance (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Transition to pressure passing - collapse the frames by controlling the elbows, bringing weight onto the opponent’s chest, and using shoulder pressure to flatten their defensive structure
• Opponent uses hip escape (shrimping) to recover guard (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Follow the hip movement, maintain connection with chest-to-chest pressure, and redirect your passing angle to address their new positioning. Control the near hip to prevent further shrimping.
• Opponent attacks with submissions (triangle, armbar, omoplata) during passing attempt (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Immediately posture up, extract trapped limbs, and reset grips. Address the submission threat before continuing the pass. Sometimes abandoning the current pass and resetting is the safest option.
• Opponent inverts or performs granby roll to create scramble (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Maintain top pressure, follow the rotation while staying heavy on their hips, and look for back exposure or turtle position as they complete the movement. Do not allow space for them to re-establish guard.
• Opponent re-establishes guard retention hooks (butterfly hooks, De La Riva hook, etc.) (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Address the specific retention mechanism - clear the hooks with grip control and hip positioning, prevent them from replacing guard by controlling their hips, and accelerate the pass before they can fully recover their guard structure.

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Rushing the pass without establishing proper grips and control
  • Consequence: Opponent easily re-guards, sweeps, or catches submissions during the rushed passing attempt
  • Correction: Slow down and pass in stages - establish grips, break structure, control hips, then advance. Each stage should be solid before proceeding to the next.
• Mistake: Standing up too straight or leaning too far forward during the pass
  • Consequence: Standing too straight allows opponent to retain guard easily; leaning forward invites triangles, guillotines, and sweeps
  • Correction: Maintain balanced posture with slight forward lean from the hips, head up, and weight distributed through connection points rather than overcommitting in either direction.
• Mistake: Ignoring opponent’s grips and allowing them to control sleeves, collar, or pants
  • Consequence: Opponent uses their grips to control distance, set up sweeps, and prevent passing progress
  • Correction: Actively break opponent’s grips before they can be used effectively. Prioritize grip fighting in the early stages of guard passing.
• Mistake: Passing without controlling the opponent’s hips
  • Consequence: Opponent uses hip mobility to follow your movement, recover guard, and nullify passing attempts
  • Correction: Pin the hips to the mat using pressure, grips, or knee positioning. Limit hip mobility before attempting to navigate around the legs.
• Mistake: Crossing feet or bringing knees together while passing
  • Consequence: Narrow base makes you vulnerable to sweeps and off-balancing, especially against butterfly guard and elevation sweeps
  • Correction: Maintain wide base with knees apart, weight distributed evenly, and feet positioned for stability and mobility throughout the passing sequence.
• Mistake: Abandoning passing pressure when close to completing the pass
  • Consequence: Opponent escapes at the last moment, re-establishes guard, or creates scramble situations
  • Correction: Maintain heavy pressure and connection throughout the final stages. Only release pressure once you have fully secured the dominant position with proper control points.

Training Progressions

Week 1-2: Foundational Mechanics - Basic passing principles and positional understanding Practice guard passing against cooperative partner who maintains guard structure but doesn’t actively resist. Focus on proper grips, posture, base, and moving through stages slowly. Drill individual components: grip establishment, posture breaking, hip control, and position advancement separately before combining. (Resistance: None)

Week 3-4: Progressive Resistance - Passing against basic guard retention Partner begins using frames, hip escapes, and basic retention but does not attempt sweeps or submissions. Passer works on maintaining control through opponent’s defensive movements. Start recognizing when to use pressure vs. speed passing based on opponent’s reactions. (Resistance: Light)

Week 5-8: Dynamic Passing - Passing against active guard retention with submission threats Partner actively tries to retain guard using full range of defensive techniques including frames, hip escapes, re-guarding, and submission attempts. Passer must recognize submission threats, defend appropriately, and continue passing sequence. Introduce multiple passing styles and learn to switch between them. (Resistance: Medium)

Week 9-12: Specialized Guard Passing - Passing specific guard types (closed, open, half, butterfly, leg entanglement) Deep dive into passing strategies for each major guard category. Learn guard-specific grips, breaking mechanisms, and common traps. Practice recognizing guard types quickly and selecting appropriate passing approach. Develop counters to guard-specific sweeps and submissions. (Resistance: Medium)

Month 4-6: Competition Application - Guard passing under full resistance and time pressure Full resistance guard passing with emphasis on efficiency and control. Practice passing chains where failed passes lead to alternative passing approaches. Develop ability to pass while managing fatigue. Simulate competition scenarios with time limits and point scoring. (Resistance: Full)

Ongoing: Refinement and Specialization - Developing personal passing style and high-level details Refine timing, pressure application, and grip fighting nuances. Develop signature passing sequences that fit your body type and style. Study high-level competition footage and integrate advanced concepts. Continue drilling fundamentals while exploring new passing innovations. (Resistance: Full)

Variations

Pressure Passing: Emphasis on heavy weight distribution, grinding pressure, and using body weight to flatten opponent’s guard retention. Slower, more methodical approach that prioritizes control over speed. Effective against flexible opponents and those who rely on frames. (When to use: Against opponents with good mobility and flexibility, when you have significant weight advantage, or when opponent is tired and pressure will drain their energy further)

Speed Passing (Toreando Style): Quick footwork, rapid direction changes, and explosive movements to pass before opponent can establish retention. Minimal time in any single position, constant movement to prevent opponent from setting up defenses. Less pressure, more agility. (When to use: Against larger opponents where pressure passing is difficult, when opponent has strong pressure defense but struggles with mobile passing, or when you have superior conditioning and speed)

Long Step Passing: Maintain distance while controlling opponent’s legs, step far around the guard, and use length to navigate past retention attempts. Keeps you safe from most submission threats while advancing position. (When to use: Against dangerous submission artists (leg lockers, triangle specialists), when opponent has sticky guard retention, or as initial passing approach to assess opponent’s reactions)

Knee Slice Passing: Drive knee across opponent’s thigh while controlling their upper body, cutting through their guard structure. Combines pressure and angle creation effectively. Very high percentage passing method when executed properly. (When to use: Against half guard, butterfly guard, or when opponent’s legs are separated. Excellent as follow-up to initial guard break or when opponent attempts to re-guard)

Leg Drag Passing: Control opponent’s leg and drag it across their body while moving to the opposite side, creating severe angle that prevents guard recovery. Exposes the back or allows clean passing lane to side control. (When to use: Against De La Riva, reverse De La Riva, and other leg-based guards. Effective when opponent commits heavily to one-sided guard retention)

Stack Passing: Elevate opponent’s hips and drive their knees toward their shoulders, stacking their weight on their upper back. From this folded position, step around to side control or mount while they struggle to un-stack. (When to use: Against closed guard, when opponent pulls guard aggressively, or when you want to tire opponent and limit their hip mobility for extended period)

Test Your Knowledge

Q1: What are the three main categories of guard passing and when should each be applied? A: The three main categories are pressure passing (using weight and grinding control, effective against flexible opponents), speed passing (using footwork and rapid movements, effective against larger opponents or strong pressure defenders), and systematic/combination passing (switching between pressure and speed based on opponent reactions, most effective at high levels). The best passers recognize which style to use based on opponent’s body type, guard type, and defensive responses.

Q2: Why is it critical to pass in stages rather than rushing directly to side control? A: Passing in stages allows you to consolidate control at each checkpoint, making it much harder for opponent to recover guard. Each stage (breaking guard structure, controlling hips, creating angle, advancing position, securing dominant position) addresses specific defensive mechanisms. Rushing causes you to skip critical control points, allowing opponent to use hip escapes, frames, or re-guarding techniques to nullify your passing attempt. Staged passing also allows you to defend submission attempts and adjust to opponent’s reactions at each checkpoint.

Q3: How should grip fighting be prioritized during the guard passing sequence? A: Grip fighting should be addressed immediately at the beginning of the passing sequence before attempting to advance position. The passer must break opponent’s grips on collar, sleeves, and pants while establishing their own dominant grips. Allowing opponent to maintain their preferred grips gives them distance control, sweep setups, and submission opportunities. Effective grip fighting creates a significant advantage in the passing exchange and should be revisited throughout the pass if opponent re-establishes problematic grips.

Q4: What is the relationship between hip control and successful guard passing? A: Hip control is fundamental to guard passing because the opponent’s hips are their primary tool for guard retention, re-guarding, and creating angles. By pinning, controlling, or limiting hip mobility, the passer removes the guard player’s ability to follow the pass, execute hip escapes, or use shrimping to recover guard. Every effective guard pass incorporates some method of hip control - whether through pressure, grips, knee positioning, or weight distribution - before advancing to the dominant position.

Q5: How does base width affect guard passing success and what common mistake do beginners make? A: Wide base is essential for guard passing as it provides stability against sweeps, allows weight distribution without overcommitting, and enables mobility for angle changes. Beginners commonly bring their knees together or cross their feet during passing, creating a narrow base that makes them highly susceptible to elevation sweeps (especially butterfly sweeps), off-balancing, and being swept. Maintaining knees apart and feet properly positioned throughout the pass is a fundamental principle that prevents many common passing failures.

Q6: What should a passer do when their guard passing attempt triggers a submission attack from the guard player? A: The passer must immediately address the submission threat before continuing the pass. This typically involves posturing up, extracting any trapped limbs, breaking opponent’s grips related to the submission, and resetting to a safer position. Trying to complete the pass while defending a submission usually results in getting submitted. Once the submission threat is neutralized, the passer can re-establish grips and either continue the original passing approach or select a different passing strategy that avoids the submission threat. Sometimes the best response is to fully disengage and reset rather than forcing a compromised pass.

Q7: How does passing strategy differ between gi and no-gi guard passing? A: Gi passing allows for more grip-based control using collar and sleeve grips, enabling slower pressure passing with strong controls. No-gi passing requires more emphasis on body positioning, underhooks, and overhooks since grip options are limited. No-gi passing typically involves more speed passing and leg control since opponents can’t use gi grips for retention. However, the fundamental principles (control hips, break structure, pass in stages) remain the same regardless of gi or no-gi - only the specific grips and techniques used to implement these principles change.

Safety Considerations

Guard passing is generally one of the safer aspects of BJJ training when practiced with control. However, several safety concerns should be addressed: avoid slamming or dropping weight suddenly onto opponent’s chest or ribs as this can cause injury; be careful when stacking opponent to not drive excessive pressure onto their neck or spine; when passing near the legs, be aware of potential leg entanglement submission positions and tap if caught; maintain awareness of training space to avoid passing out of bounds and into walls or other practitioners; communicate with partner during drilling if pressure is too intense or if any discomfort occurs; progress resistance gradually rather than jumping immediately to full-speed, full-resistance passing which increases injury risk; finally, when opponent is attempting submission during your pass, respect the submission and tap rather than forcing through the position and risking injury to prove a point in training.

Position Integration

Guard passing is the fundamental transitional skill that connects bottom position defense to top position dominance in BJJ. Every advanced position - mount, side control, knee on belly, back control - is accessed through successful guard passing. The guard pass sits at the center of positional hierarchy: it is how the top player advances from neutral or disadvantaged positions to point-scoring dominant positions. Understanding guard passing requires studying both the mechanical execution of specific passes and the strategic decision-making about when to employ pressure versus speed passing, when to switch passing approaches, and how to chain multiple passing attempts together. Elite competitors build their top game around a core passing system that they can execute against all guard types, supplemented by specialized passes for specific situations. The guard pass is also intimately connected to submission offense from top - many submissions (kimura, arm triangle, darce) emerge from passing opportunities when opponent overcommits to guard retention. Defensively, understanding guard passing mechanics makes you a better guard player as you recognize passing setups and can retain guard more effectively. Finally, guard passing fitness and drilling builds the positional awareness, pressure management, and scrambling ability that translates to every other aspect of BJJ.

Related Techniques

• Toreando Pass - Specific speed-passing technique
• Knee Slice Pass - Specific pressure-passing technique
• Leg Drag Pass - Specific technique for leg-based guards
• Double Under Pass - Specific pressure-passing variation
• Long Step Pass - Specific distance-passing technique
• Smash Pass - Specific pressure-passing from half guard
• Stack Pass - Specific technique for closed guard
• X Pass - Specific technique for X-guard and leg entanglements
• Over-Under Pass - Specific pressure-passing technique
• Headquarters Pass - Passing from headquarters position
• Guard Passing - Conceptual framework for passing
• Pressure Passing - Passing style category
• Side Control - Common ending position after successful pass
• Combat Base - Common position for initiating passes from closed guard
• Closed Guard - Guard type requiring passing

Expert Insights

• Danaher System: Guard passing represents the most systematic aspect of positional advancement in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and it must be understood through the lens of mechanical advantage and sequential control. The fundamental error most students make is viewing the guard pass as a single explosive movement rather than a series of connected control points that must be systematically dominated. Every guard pass, regardless of style or specific technique, progresses through identifiable stages: grip establishment and control, structural disruption of the opponent’s guard retention mechanisms, hip immobilization or control, angular advancement past the legs, and finally consolidation of dominant position. Skipping any of these stages creates vulnerability to re-guarding, sweeps, or submissions. The most efficient guard passers understand that time invested in early-stage control - particularly grip fighting and hip control - pays enormous dividends in the later stages by removing the opponent’s defensive options before they can be employed. Additionally, guard passing must be trained as a fluid conversation between pressure application and mobility, with the ability to seamlessly transition between these modes based on opponent reactions. The passer who rigidly commits to pure pressure or pure speed will be countered by competent guard players who exploit the limitations of single-dimensional passing approaches.
• Gordon Ryan: In competition, guard passing separates winners from losers more than any other single skill. I’ve built my entire game around the ability to pass any guard type through a systematic approach that combines heavy pressure with strategic mobility. The key insight that changed my passing game was understanding that you don’t need to be the best at every passing style - you need to be elite at one or two core passing approaches and competent enough at others to prevent opponents from exploiting gaps in your passing game. For me, that meant developing world-class pressure passing with leg drags and body locks while maintaining adequate speed passing ability to prevent opponents from simply backing away. The modern guard passing meta requires you to address leg entanglement guards differently than traditional guards - you cannot use the same passing approaches against a De La Riva player as you would against closed guard. My competition strategy involves forcing opponents into guard positions where my A-game passing techniques work best, rather than accepting whatever guard they want to play. Against elite opponents, the guard pass is won or lost in the first 10 seconds based on grip fighting - if you allow them to establish their preferred grips and guard structure, you’re already behind. Finally, the connection between passing and submission hunting is critical; my best submissions come directly from passing sequences when opponents overcommit to guard retention and expose their necks or arms.
• Eddie Bravo: Traditional guard passing approaches have been evolving rapidly with the rise of leg lock games and inverted guard positions, requiring passers to develop new solutions to modern guard retention problems. At 10th Planet, we’ve pioneered guard passing strategies that specifically address rubber guard, lockdown half guard, and other unconventional guards that shut down traditional passing. The critical insight is that many modern guards are designed to nullify conventional pressure passing, so you need creative angles and unexpected approaches to succeed. One principle we emphasize is the importance of clearing the legs completely before settling into side control - half-ass passing where the opponent still has one leg in creates constant re-guarding battles that waste energy and time. Another 10th Planet innovation is using wrestling-style leg attacks during the passing sequence, treating the pass as a submission itself where you attack the knee line and create pain compliance that forces guard players to abandon their retention. We’ve also developed specific counters to inverted guard and berimbolo attempts that traditional BJJ schools struggle with because they don’t train these positions regularly. The future of guard passing will require addressing increasingly athletic and mobile guard players who can invert, granby, and create scrambles from seemingly controlled positions - static pressure passing alone won’t cut it against modern guard retention at the highest levels.