The passer in a black rash guard stands over the bottom player in a pink T-shirt, one knee wedged between his legs and both hands pinning his knees, in the headquarters position before a knee-cut pass.

Guard Passing

Strong passers build around a few control positions and switch between speed and pressure as the opponent reacts. Each variant below is one of those systems.

154 lessons

Also called passing, passing guard, guard passes, passagem de guarda, how to pass guard.

Standing and Speed Passing

Passing on your feet by moving the legs faster than they can follow.

Standing Passing Concepts Distance, angles and grips for passing on your feet. 13
Passes Toreando, long step, X-pass, cartwheel and stepping round to the leg drag. 26
Handling Counters Staying safe from DLR, RDLR, SLX and X-guard entries while standing. 3

Pressure Passing

Passing from the knees with weight and connection.

Pressure Passing Concepts Where to put your weight, working from the legs to the hips to the chest. 14
Passes Over-under, stack, double under, smash and knee cut passes. 38
Staying Safe Under Pressure Passing Head and arm position so pressure does not get you triangled, armbarred or swept. 3

Headquarters (HQ)

One knee up and one down, with their leg pinned between yours.

Establishing HQ Stepping in from standing, killing the hooks and pinning the leg. 7
Passes from HQ Knee cut, leg drag, smash or backstep, chosen by how they frame. 21
Handling Guard Recovery from HQ Beating the knee shield, RDLR hook and inversions. 2

Body Lock Pass

Hands locked around their waist inside the guard while you walk round the legs.

Getting the Body Lock Entries from half guard, butterfly and open guard, and grips that hold. 6
Finishing the Pass Walking round the knees and switching hips to side control, mount or the back. 10
Defending the Body Lock Frames, hip movement and wrestling up to stop the body lock pass. 5

Leg Drag Position

One of their legs dragged across your hips and pinned.

Leg Drag Control Entering from standing and HQ, and pinning the leg so they cannot recover. 4
Finishing from the Leg Drag Side control, mount, or the back when they turn away. 12
Defending the Leg Drag Hip movement, frames and inversion to recover guard. 5

Open Guard What you are passing
Side Control Where passes end