Smash Pass from Leg Drag

Smash Pass from Leg Drag is a passing sequence that clears the legs built around a handful of repeatable controls. Headquarters position with the opponent's foot between the passer's legs and a hand cupping the top of the knee. Another common starting shape: top player has wedged the lead knee in the middle and pinned the bottom player's hips to face one side, but the bottom player is actively framing and trying to high pummel. It is worth attempting once opponent's foot is between the passer's legs in headquarters. The ideas that hold it together are smash-or-drag-dilemma, knee-replacement, and back-step-entry.

The smash pass chain is a sequence of small controls, not one athletic burst. Push the cupped knee down and try to drive the lead shoulder in front of the opponent's knee to threaten a smash pass. When the opponent opens the knee wide to defend the smash, back step the lead leg out and replace the pinning calf with the trail knee. Step the trail leg back so the trail knee touches the lead knee, then drive the lead knee into the hip to set the leg drag. Beat the knee line and finish from the leg drag position. Wedge the lead knee in the centerline to anchor the hip pin. Walk the upper body off toward the open side while keeping head over the bottom player's far shoulder. Use the inside hand on the hip and the outside hand on the knee or shoulder to maintain orientation. When their high pummel lifts the hips off the mat, drive in to beat the knee line and grab the hip. Past the foot line in a leg drag with the knee pinning the hip after the opponent opens the knee to defend the smash.

Later in the smash pass, walk off to the open side, hips lifting opens the knee line, and leg drag and smash pass complement each other tend to decide whether the position stays on track. Watch for these mistakes: Letting the opponent hook the trapped leg, which forces a return to smash pass instead of leg drag. Failing to keep the lead knee pinching the calf when stepping out, losing the pinned leg. Letting the head drift too far across, losing the leg drag side. Standing static while they framed, allowing a spider grip into the bicep that ruins the pass. The high-percentage version of smash pass from leg drag is the one you can still chain when the bottom player recovers a hook.