Open Guard Passing Macro Mechanics

Jon Thomas' mechanical principles for entering, controlling, and passing various open guards into stable chest-to-chest pins.

Flow outline

  1. Chest Over Chest

    • Final passing checkpoint with chest over chest pinning both shoulder blades.
    • Drive sternum directly over opponent’s upper chest, not over hips
    • Angle ribcage down so shoulder blades are flattened into mat
    • Keep hips slightly back so weight funnels through chest, not knees
    • Maintain head over centerline to prevent them turning onto their side

  2. Tight Entry Distance

    • Entry phase where your torso stays close so cleared legs cannot reframe easily.
    • Step in so hips are within arm’s length of opponent’s hips before engaging grips
    • Lean torso forward so chest hovers above their thighs, not over your own knees
    • Track your knees inside their feet line to shorten distance to upper body
    • Avoid backing your hips away as you clear legs so frames meet floor, not space

  3. Into-Them Knee Cut

    • Knee cut phase where force drives into their torso instead of drifting away laterally.
    • Point cutting knee toward far hip line rather than out toward the mat edge sideway
    • Drop hip of cutting leg toward their stomach to channel weight through thigh into core
    • Keep chest over their sternum as knee travels so frames drive themselves into mat
    • Use trail leg toes posted wide to steer angle and prevent being pushed away

  4. Over-The-Top De La Riva

    • De La Riva passing phase where your torso stays over hips while clearing hook line.
    • Step non-hooked leg close to their hip so your belt line hovers above their navel height
    • Angle shoulders slightly toward their head so chest points down their centerline, not sideways away
    • Use outside hand to pummel or stuff hook leg behind your butt while keeping elbow tight to ribs
    • As hook clears, drop knee line across their thigh while chest stays over their torso

  5. Side Control Shoulder Pin

    • Side control configuration emphasizing chest-driven shoulder blade pin rather than head control alone.
    • Place sternum slightly above their near-side pec so weight spreads across both shoulders evenly
    • Float hands on mat or near hips so chest can slide and follow their torso rotation quickly
    • As they turn toward you, shift chest higher toward their chin to flatten near shoulder back down
    • As they turn away, slide chest toward far shoulder blade while hips step toward their head

  6. Straight-Leg Guard Entry

    • Standing entry posture using straighter legs and hip hinge to stay mobile and hard to hook.
    • Keep knees only slightly bent with hips pushed back like a hamstring stretch, not deep squatting downwards
    • Hinge from hips so chest leans forward over opponent’s shins while feet stay further away from their hooks range
    • Maintain feet light and narrow enough to step laterally without shifting weight deeply into either leg
    • Avoid dropping hips below knee line, which brings thighs close to their De La Riva hooks

  7. Leg Distance Management

    • Configuration where upper body is close but legs stay outside immediate hooking range.
    • Reach hands to control ankles, shins, or lapels while keeping your knees slightly behind their heel line initially
    • Project chest forward until shoulders are almost above their knees while feet stay planted further back
    • Angle toes outward slightly so if they try to hook, you can retract or circle leg outside easily
    • Keep hips higher than their knees so their hooks slide down your leg instead of catching deep

  8. Explosive Knee Cut Launch

    • Dynamic launch position where high knee and light base enable fast knee cut entries.
    • Keep cutting leg relatively straight and unweighted so hip flexors can lift knee quickly on trigger
    • Shift majority of bodyweight momentarily onto posting leg and upper body to free cutting leg path inwardly
    • Start with knee outside their thigh, then drive diagonally across toward far hip in one explosive motion forward
    • Synchronize chest drop with knee travel so impact lands chest-first, not foot-first

  9. Strong Thoracic Posture

    • Spinal alignment where upper back extends and chin retracts to resist posture breaks and drive pressure.
    • Retract chin slightly toward throat while lengthening back of neck to avoid head being pulled forward easily
    • Actively push upper thoracic spine upward so chest opens and shoulder blades draw slightly together behind ribs cage area
    • Maintain hip hinge at waist while keeping spine from mid-back to head in one solid line of tension structurally
    • Engage lower ribs down toward pelvis so collar pulls feel resisted through whole torso, not just neck muscles

  10. Postured Knee Cut Pressure

    • Knee cut finishing phase using extended thoracic posture to drive strong downward knee and chest pressure.
    • Keep chin tucked and chest open as you drive knee so force vectors travel from shoulders through hips into shin downwardly strongly
    • Press top of shin into their thigh while simultaneously dropping sternum toward their far-side ribs to pin hips and shoulders together firmly
    • Avoid rounding upper back during cut so you can keep pushing knee line forward instead of absorbing push into spine flexion inefficiently
    • Use posted foot on mat to drive off and continue sliding knee until hips clear their thigh fully

  11. Collar-Grab Posture Retention

    • Posture maintenance when opponent grips collar, using thoracic extension and collar tension instead of conceding head pull.
    • Grip your own collar or fabric near their hand and pull downward toward your ribs to shorten slack between chest and grip point effectively
    • Simultaneously retract chin and extend upper back so pull on collar meets a rigid frame rather than a curved spine segmentally weakly
    • Keep hips slightly back and knees bent enough that if they tug forward you can step to re-center base under shoulders accordingly
    • Only initiate knee cut or stack once you feel their pulling force dissipate against your solid posture line

  12. Postured Side Control Pin

    • Side control variation using thoracic extension and chest angle to stay heavy while following their torso turns.
    • Pull chin back and puff chest forward so sternum presses down through their diaphragm region solidly centrally located area wise
    • Keep spine long so as they bridge, your chest slides over their ribcage instead of collapsing into their frames easily compromisedly structurally speaking
    • Adjust chest angle from near shoulder to far shoulder depending on which way they rotate, always covering top of their torso effectively precisely
    • Use toes of both feet actively posted so small hip steps can follow their hip escapes without lifting chest off

  13. Leg Height Assessment

    • Scanning phase where you read opponent’s leg elevation to choose between stacking, knee cutting, or lateral passes.
    • Observe whether their heels are above, level with, or below their hips before committing your torso direction strongly intentionally purposefully chosen wise
    • When feet rise high toward your shoulders, angle your spine more vertical and step closer to stack their knees toward face regionally directly exactly targetedly
    • When feet stay low near mat, drop level slightly and align chest over shins to threaten knee cuts or torreando style passes realistically immediately feasibly
    • Constantly re-check leg height after each grip exchange since their hip movement can rapidly change optimal passing lane

  14. Leg Width Assessment

    • Scanning phase where you read how wide or tight their knees are to select inside or outside style passes.
    • When their knees flare wide and legs extend, square hips closer and thread your shin between thighs for inside knee cut style entries decisively efficiently effectively functionally speaking overall wise
    • When their knees pinch tight toward chest, step slightly back and angle torso to one side to start circling for torreando or leg drag passes accordingly situationally adaptively appropriately wise strategically
    • Use your forearms and shins to gently widen or narrow their knees and observe how their hips react before fully committing directionally tactically thoughtfully intentionally chosenly
    • Adjust your foot placement outside or between their legs based on whether you plan to slice through center or circle around perimeter

  15. Grip And Hip Assessment

    • Scanning phase reading opponent’s grips and hip orientation to choose which guard family you must solve first.
    • Check whether they control your collar, sleeve, or pants before stepping deeply so you know which limb is being anchored or threatened immediately precisely specifically accurately diagnostically speaking wise overall
    • Note if their hips are square, rotated to one side, or scooted out so you can predict likely guard forms like De La Riva or collar-sleeve immediately accordingly appropriately contextually strategically adaptively wise
    • When they lie centered on back with hips flat, step in more symmetrically; when they lie on a hip, angle your approach toward exposed side instead adaptively situationally intentionally wisely
    • Use small stance adjustments rather than immediate big passes until you clearly identify which guard configuration is forming

  16. Forearm-Based Leg Control

    • Open guard engagement using forearms as primary frames to disrupt leg swings and feel alignment changes.
    • Keep elbows bent around ninety degrees with forearms angled across their shins like rigid bars preventing easy leg looping around outside significantly effectively reliably structurally robustly
    • Place forearm bone just above their ankles or across lower shins so any attempt to circle feet meets a long lever, not just your hands defensively strongly structurally advantageously firmly wisely
    • Keep wrists relaxed and hands light while shoulders and triceps provide main pressure, allowing quick grip changes without losing leg blockage entirely completely wholly fully maintainingly
    • Shift forearm angle slightly inward or outward to steer their knees where you want, creating predictable reactions for knee cuts or stacks

  17. Hinged Forearm Entry Stance

    • Default engagement stance combining hip hinge, thoracic posture, and forearm shields before committing to a specific pass lane.
    • Stand with legs relatively straight, hips hinged back, and chest projected forward so shoulders hover above their knees while feet stay outside hook range generally safely effectively optimally defensively advantageously robustly
    • Maintain chin tucked and upper back extended while lifting forearms in front of torso so bony surfaces meet their shins instead of soft biceps tissues vulnerably weakly undesirably suboptimally precariously
    • Use small lateral steps with both feet while keeping forearm contact, letting you feel when their legs become light or misaligned for a pass entry momentarily opportunistically tactically advantageously
    • Only drop level or commit knee forward once you sense through forearms that their leg structure is weakened or misdirected

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