Guard Passing Basics for New Grapplers

Introduction

Passing the guard can feel tough when you’re new to grappling. Opponents grab your sleeves, pull you around, and lock you in place before you even start your pass. But once you learn a few basic concepts, guard passing becomes much easier and far less overwhelming.

You don’t need advanced moves to start passing effectively. With good posture, steady pressure, and clear movement, you can create openings and move into stronger positions. Below are simple fundamentals every new grappler should understand.

Why Guard Passing Matters

Guard passing is one of the most important skills in BJJ and MMA grappling. Good passing helps you:

• Stay balanced and avoid sweeps
• Move from defense into a dominant position
• Control the fight instead of reacting
• Score points in grappling competitions
• Set up submissions from strong top control

Even a few solid passing habits can quickly improve your confidence on the mats.

Start With Good Posture

Before you think about passing, fix your posture. This prevents your opponent from controlling you or breaking your balance.

A few simple cues:

• Keep your head up
• Keep your spine straight
• Keep your elbows tight
• Don’t let your opponent pull your wrists or collar
• Stand or kneel with a strong base

Good posture makes it harder for the other person to break you down or lock you into submissions.

Control the Hips

Guard passing becomes much easier when you control your opponent’s hips. If the hips can’t move, the guard can’t do much.

Easy ways to control the hips:

• Place your hands on their torso, hips, or biceps
• Keep your weight centered
• Use your knees to block their hips
• Keep your elbows close to avoid arm drags or triangles

Think of it as “pinning the engine.” The hips drive almost everything in guard.

Break the Guard Open First

Most beginners struggle because they try to pass before opening the guard. Always create space first.

Simple ways to open the guard:

• Stand up with a strong base
• Push your hips forward
• Use your elbows to widen their legs (safely and with good posture)
• Step back once the guard opens

Once the legs separate, you have space to start your pass.

Choose a Simple Passing Direction

Once the guard opens, you can pass:

• Around the legs
• Through the legs

Starting with just one or two simple passes helps you progress faster.

Below are beginner-friendly options.

Over-Under Pass (Around the Legs)

A great pass for beginners because it’s slow, controlled, and uses pressure instead of speed.

Basic steps:

1. Control one leg under your arm
2. Control the other leg over your arm
3. Keep your head low and pressure forward
4. Walk around the legs while keeping tight
5. Settle into side control

This pass works well for bigger fighters or anyone who prefers pressure.

Knee Slice Pass (Through the Legs)

A clean, straightforward pass that works in gi, no-gi, and MMA.

Basic steps:

1. Control the opponent’s shin or knee
2. Step one leg up and cut your knee across their thigh
3. Keep your elbow tight to prevent underhooks
4. Slide through and secure the pass

The knee slice is especially good for fast-paced rolling.

Torreando (Bullfighter) Pass (Around the Legs)

This pass uses movement instead of pressure.

Basic steps:

1. Control both ankles or pant legs
2. Push the legs to one side
3. Circle around quickly
4. Enter side control

This is great for lighter fighters or anyone who likes mobility.

Keep Pressure Steady

Pressure passing isn’t about strength—it’s about staying close.

Tips for good pressure:

• Keep your chest low
• Stay connected to your opponent
• Move slowly and steadily
• Use your bodyweight instead of arm strength

Good pressure makes passing much easier and tires your opponent quickly.

Avoid Common Mistakes

New grapplers often struggle with the same errors:

• Leaning too far forward
• Reaching with the arms
• Passing with no hip control
• Standing with narrow feet
• Moving too fast and losing balance

Stay patient and keep your posture solid.

Simple Guard Passing Routine

Use this short drill sequence before or after class.

Warm-Up (2 minutes)

• Hip mobility
• Light stance movement

Technique Drill (8–10 minutes)

1. Knee slice entry → 5 reps each side
2. Over-under pressure walk → 5 reps each side
3. Torreando steps → 20–30 seconds

Positional Work (5–8 minutes)

• Start inside open guard
• Goal: maintain posture, control hips, attempt one pass
• Reset when guard is passed or you get swept

This keeps training simple and focused.

Final Thoughts

Guard passing doesn’t have to be complicated. With solid posture, steady pressure, and a few reliable passes, you’ll start to feel much more confident on top. Stick to the basics, drill consistently, and add new passes slowly over time.