TFS#25: Three Pillars To Passing

Guard passing is one of the most difficult parts to develop in Jiu-Jitsu.

It can be extremely tiring.

When rolling with someone with a strong guard, it can be near impossible to pass.

A good way to develop a well-rounded passing game is to have a conceptual approach.

Some of the most important concepts for passing include posture, pressure and timing.

Much like other positions in Jiu-Jitsu, posture may be the most important.

To be comfortable moving, you must be able to defend against sweeps and maintain stability.

Different guards will require different postures.

…and within every guard, depending on how your opponent is moving will require you to adjust your posture.

The second concept of passing would be pressure.

Anytime you are passing the guard, it is important to implement pressure.

How and where you put pressure on your opponent’s body will affect what they have available to defend with.

Pressure can come in a few forms: the “smash” and also pace.

Using your weight/gravity and pinning key parts of your opponent’s body is the commonly known smashing effect.

You can also add pressure to your opponent by forcing them to constantly react to your movements.

By constantly moving and connecting various techniques, you will be dictating the pace.

This method will wear down their guard over time.

You can also even use your posture to apply pressure.

You can make yourself difficult to move without smashing your opponent.

For example, if you are in an open guard, squatting into combat stance will put pressure on your opponent and give you more stability.

The last concept to understand would be timing.

To execute any technique, timing is key.

Timing separates world champions from the rest of the competitors.

Not only should you practice techniques, but how to create reactions to be able to hit those techniques.

To have a well-rounded passing game, adapt these three concepts of posture, pressure, and timing.

Techniques & Tips

1. 4 Passing Techniques To Become Unstoppable
You’ll notice in this video that there are only a few passing techniques which makes the system very simple. But knowing how to get to your favorite position will take more time and effort.

2. 2 Options When Opponent Defends The Leg Drag
These options shown by Rafa Mendes are great counters to the guard player’s defense. Let them pick their poison.

3. Exterminate That Spider Guard
The number one comment on this video: “It’s never going to look pretty” is a crucial point. Dealing with a strong Spider Guard might require more work than usual.

Resources For The Dedicated

→ It’s necessary to learn about the evolution of passing if you want to understand the current guard passing techniques. Listen here.

→ You don’t need to know every Guard Pass our there. Read here to learn these 5 techniques to give you a solid game to work with.

→ Having beef with your ego? Here are 8 effects of your ego and 1 solution on how to manage it.

Closing Thought

There are plenty of articles that talk about passing.

But I wanted to share with you not just how to get better, but understanding the journey of passing.

Passing isn’t easy.

As you start to get better at passing, the passing game you’re entering becomes more intricate.

The grips will matter more, placement of your feet matter more, and your ability to adjust will matter more.