Counter Guard Passing

Patiently dismantling an opponent's guard by capitalizing on their reactions and mistakes. Reading defensive movements and switching between passing options to keep pressure.

Flow outline

  1. Guard Passing

    • Key detail: most of the time the starting point. wait for their guard to reveal its weaknesses—whether they're seated or supine—then exploit the openings they give you

  2. Supine Guard

    • Most of the time They're on their back, legs up. Let them commit to a guard type or defensive frame, then counter with a pass that capitalizes on their posture

  3. Seated Guard

    • If it shows up, They're sitting up, looking to engage. Wait for them to overextend or lean in, then force them flat or catch them off-balance. Don’t force it

  4. Toreando Pass

    • When they open their legs or push into you, use their momentum to step around and control their hips from the side

  5. Diving Over Under Pass

    • Often If they try to create space or shrimp away, dive into their legs, securing an overhook and underhook to smother their movement

  6. Bodylock Starting Position

    • From here, they're heavy with collar ties, trying to control your posture. lock their body tight, wait for them to shift weight, then transition to a pass

  7. Shin Pin Pass

    • When they're pinned and can't create space, control their shin and step over, using their immobility to pass. Angle matters

  8. Spinning Bodylock Pass

    • Key detail: from here, if they keep making space, spin around their bodylock, using their momentum to switch sides and secure the pass. timing beats strength

  9. Opposite Side Over Under Pass

    • Key detail: when they throw their legs high over you, switch to the opposite side, securing over and under hooks to pass from a new angle

  10. Closed Guard

    • Once set, they've locked their legs around you. wait for them to open or adjust, then break their guard and capitalize on the opening

  11. Standing Guard Break

    • Stand up to break their closed guard. Let them react—if they try to pull a leg out or keep it shelved, counter with the appropriate pass

  12. Staple Pass

    • If they frame, often if they keep one leg shelved, staple it to the mat and pass around it, using their limited mobility to your advantage

  13. Sao Paolo Pass

    • If they frame, often when they overhook an arm, use that grip to spin around and pass to the other side, turning their control into a vulnerability

  14. Knee Cut Pass Position

    • usually they've gotten a hook inside your legs. control their knee, wait for them to frame or resist, then cut through with pressure. timing beats strength

  15. Knee Cut Pass

    • Most of the time From the knee cut position, slide your knee through their guard when they're off-balance, securing side control

  16. Over Under Pass

    • If they use annoying frames, secure an overhook and underhook, then smash through their defenses when they overcommit

  17. Leg Weave Smash Pass

    • Usually When they deny the near leg or go for deep half, weave your leg through and smash them flat, passing from top pressure

  18. Half Guard

    • From here, they've secured half guard. wait for them to try to recover guard or sweep, then pass using pressure or leg weaves. switch if it stalls

Branch conditions