Guard Passing

What it is

Guard passing is the top person's job inside a guard: get past the bottom person's legs to a pin. A pass is complete when you are past the legs in side control, north-south, knee on belly or mount, and it scores 3 points once the position is held for 3 seconds. Until you pass, you cannot score and most of your attacks are shut off.

Where it shows up

• You are inside a closed guard: the pass starts by standing up or posturing to open the lock.
• You are in front of an open guard: you strip grips, control the hips or legs, then go around or through.
• You are in half guard on top: free the trapped leg and slide through to side control or mount.

Key details

• Around or through. Every pass goes around the legs (the toreando, the leg drag) or through them (the knee slide).
• Posture first. Head up, hips under the shoulders, elbows in, before you do anything else in a closed guard.
• Control the hips. The guard runs on hip movement; a pinned hip cannot shrimp or recover.
• Finish past the legs with chest pressure, and hold it. A pass that is not held for 3 seconds does not score.
• The guard player will answer with hips away, knee in and frames. Expect it, and take away the knee.

Common mistakes

• Mistake: leaning forward into a closed guard. Your posture breaks and the sweeps and submissions start.
• Mistake: passing with no grips on the legs or hips. The legs come back in front of you every time.
• Mistake: stopping halfway through the legs. Half guard swallows the leg and the pass goes backward.
• Mistake: standing up to pass with your head down and your arms straight. Your arms are isolated for the triangle, armbar or omoplata.

What they will try

• Retention: hips move away, a knee comes back in and a frame keeps your chest off.
• Recovery: if you get past, they shrimp, frame and bring the knee back between you.
• Sweeps: as you stand or shift your weight to pass, the guard player attacks your balance.

Gi and no-gi

No-gi passing relies on wrist control, the underhook and body locks instead of collar, sleeve and pant grips. The legs are slippery, so hip control matters more.