Guard Passing
Guard passing is the art of getting past the bottom player's legs to a dominant pin. It splits broadly into pressure passing that flattens and smothers, and speed or floating passing that moves around the legs before they can connect.
Pressure versus speed
Pressure passers beat the guard by making it miserable to hold: heavy crossfaces, staple the legs, and grind through. Speed passers beat it by movement and timing, getting around the legs before the bottom player can off-balance them. Most complete passers can do both and switch based on the guard in front of them.
Pass to a pin, not just past the legs
A pass is not finished until you have a stable pin. The strongest passing games chain the pass directly into side control, knee-on-belly, or mount, and treat the bottom player's recovery attempts as the next branch rather than a surprise.
Community flows for Guard Passing
- How Lachlan Caught Marcelo with the Lachy Lock — This flow chart breaks down the key moments of how Lachlan Giles defeated Marcelo Garcia at ONE Fight Night 38. Marcelo brought his signature forward-pressure…
- Bodylock Pass: Full System Map — Navigate the six-volume Lachlan Giles body lock pass. One grip, five stages, six real counters, one closed-guard opener, and six rolls of live reps. Pick your…
- Bodylock Pass, Vol 6: Live Rolling Patterns — Narrated rolling with six partners. Not new techniques: the patterns that actually repeat when the body lock meets a real opponent. The reset habit after…
- Bodylock Pass, Vol 5: Sao Paulo Open to Body Lock — Lachlan Giles' closed-guard opener that hands off directly into the body lock entry. Four-stage sequence: posture and ankle grip, trap both feet, isolate one…
- Bodylock Pass, Vol 4: Finishing the Pass — Lachlan Giles' last two stages of bodylock passing: free the knee, free the foot. Half-guard base mechanics with the body lock still on. Counters for…
- Bodylock Pass, Vol 3: Clearing the Knee Line — Lachlan Giles' The middle stage of the pass. Arm past the knee line first, then leg. Flatten a vertical thigh before you step. Butterfly-hook handling with the…
- Bodylock Pass, Vol 2: Setups & Entries — Every path into the body lock. Force them to sit up by squaring and pulling knees from chest. A flat-on-back grip for opponents who refuse. Wrist-grip breaks…
- Bodylock Pass, Vol 1: Framework & Fundamentals — Lachlan Giles' five-stage framework of the body lock pass, plus the principles that run through every volume: low grip, weight back until you beat the knee…
- Half Butterfly Passing Interplay — A system for switching between half butterfly outside passing and flank passing based on opponent reactions.
- Half Guard Kimura And Leglock Dilemma System — A half guard system that chains leg attacks, kimura, and armbar while addressing kimura prevention and top half guard passing options.
- Open Guard Passing Macro Mechanics — Jon Thomas' mechanical principles for entering, controlling, and passing various open guards into stable chest-to-chest pins.
- Toreando, High Step, And J-Point Camping System — Step-by-step guard passing for Gordon Ryan's system of combining toreando, high stepping, and J-point camping with specific head, grip, and leg mechanics to…
Frequently asked questions
What is the best guard passing style?
Neither pressure nor speed is strictly better; they answer different guards. Pressure suits a heavier, methodical game, speed suits a mobile one, and strong passers blend the two.
How do I pass an open guard?
Beat the grips and hooks that off-balance you, control the hips or a leg to take away the bottom player's angle, then move to a pin. Forcing posture and connection before you move is the common thread.
Why do I get swept when I try to pass?
Usually because you commit your weight while the bottom player still controls a grip or hook. Clear their connection first, keep your base, and pass to a pin rather than lunging past the legs.
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