Guard passing is one of the most important aspects of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and grappling, and it can be difficult to figure out how to develop a system of guard passing that works best for you.
Defining guard passing:
To pass the guard is to get passed the legs of your opponent, when you are on top of them on the ground. The guard can be a dangerous place to be, so the more efficiently you pass it the better.
The 2 Basic Methods of Passing:
- Pressure Passing: These are guard passes where you apply all of your weight to your opponent, eliminating space and smothering them. You can do this from your feet or your knees, depending upon which pass you’re using.
- Speed Passing: These passes rely on quick movement and changes in direction. Typically done from the feet, think of these passes like sprinting, where pressure passes are more like long distance runs.
Examples of Pressure Passes
- Stack pass
- Leg Pin
- Knee cut
- Leg weave
- Over-Under
Examples of Speed Passes
- Bullfighter AKA Matador
- X-pass
- Long-step
- Leg drag
- Back-step
Combing Guard Passes
You can improve the overall effectiveness of your guard passing by combining passes. This is done most effectively when you combine 1 of each style (pressure and speed). Check out a few common passing combos:
- Stack Pass to Leg drag
- Knee cut to X-pass
- Bullfighter to Over-Under
Finding Your Best Guard Passes
It takes time, and you will constantly make adjustments, as well as add and remove passes. What you’ll need to do is continue to drill new guard passes, learned in class and from watching world class competitions, and experiment with them while training live AKA rolling.
Learn more about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Chester County’s biggest and most successful academy, Paramount BJJ. With more International medals than all other area schools combined, there is no better place to earn your black belt.
Click HERE or call 610-269-1127 for more info.