Pass The Best Guards In BJJ With This Simple System

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through a simple system to pass guards effectively in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). Mastering guard passing is essential for progressing in your BJJ journey, as it allows you to gain dominant positions and control over your opponent. Follow these steps to enhance your guard passing skills and improve your overall game.

Step 1: Understand Guard Types

Before you can effectively pass guards, it's crucial to recognize the different types of guards you will encounter.

• Closed Guard: The opponent wraps their legs around you, limiting your movement.
• Open Guard: The opponent has their legs open, allowing for more mobility.
• Half Guard: One of your opponent's legs is trapped between yours, creating unique challenges.

Practical Tip

Familiarize yourself with these guard types during sparring sessions. Pay attention to how they affect your movement and positioning.

Step 2: Establish Your Base

A strong base is essential for successful guard passing. This means maintaining balance and stability while engaging with your opponent.

• Lower Your Center of Gravity: Bend your knees and keep your stance wide.
• Stay On Your Toes: This allows for quick adjustments and movements.
• Control Your Opponent's Hips: Use your hands to establish grips on their hips or pant legs.

Common Pitfall

Avoid leaning too far forward; this can lead to losing your balance and becoming vulnerable to sweeps.

Step 3: Choose Your Passing Technique

Select an appropriate passing technique based on the guard type your opponent is using.

• For Closed Guard:

  • Use the knee slice pass.
  • Keep your posture and pressure down.

• For Open Guard:

  • Try the over-under pass.
  • Control the legs with your hands.

• For Half Guard:

  • Use the knee slice or the back step pass.
  • Focus on creating frames to move past their leg.

Practical Tip

Practice these techniques in drills to build muscle memory.

Step 4: Execute the Pass

Once you've chosen a technique, it's time to execute the pass.

1. Engage Your Opponent: Use pressure to make them react.
2. Move with Intention: Transition smoothly into the pass, maintaining control over their legs.
3. Secure the Position: Once past the guard, establish side control or mount.

Real-World Application

In competition, timing your pass when your opponent is off-balance can lead to successful guard passes.

Step 5: Recover and Maintain Control

After passing the guard, it’s important to maintain your position and be ready for your opponent’s reactions.

• Stay Heavy: Keep your weight distributed to prevent them from regaining guard.
• Look for Submissions: From side control or mount, set up submissions or transitions to back control.

Common Pitfall

Don’t become complacent after passing. Always be aware of your opponent's escape routes.

Conclusion

Mastering guard passing is a fundamental skill in BJJ that requires understanding guard types, establishing a solid base, choosing the right techniques, executing passes effectively, and maintaining control. Practice these steps regularly to enhance your BJJ game and become more proficient in passing guards. Consider joining a community like HPU Athletic for additional training and mentorship opportunities to further your skills.