Guard Pass

The guard pass is a movement when a fighter struggles out of the opponent's grasp to assume a more dominant position or a full mount. Passing a guard is difficult to do, but fighters must master it and the different moves that can help them gain a position of control and dominance.

How Guard Pass Works?

The fighter who is trying to do a guard pass will do everything he can to unseat the fighter who is on top of him and pressed down on his body. He has to use all his strength and dexterity to unseat his opponent and stop him from recovering his full mount position.

On the other hand, the fighter blocking the guard pass has to make sure to stop the opponent's attempts to buck him off or push him away. He can do this by curling his wrists over and down the opponent’s biceps. His elbows should be parallel to and squeezing against the opponent’s sides. He should also keep his head low to prevent to evade blows and strike.

How to Avoid Guard Pass?

While they are grappling, the offensive fighter or the fighter in the top position should lift his body partially on one leg, while keeping one knee down and driving against the opponent’s thighs. This move will effectively pin him to the mat.

Meanwhile, the opponent will be doing his best to free his legs and arms so he can rear up. The offensive fighter can shift his body to pry the opponent’s legs open and then bring down the weight of his knees and legs on them.

Moving quickly, the offensive fighter should move to get both his knees and legs tightly around the opponent, pressing on his torso and immobilizing his arms.

The fighter on top should then move to encircle the opponent’s head with his forearms, bearing down on the opponent’s chest. This also prevents the opponent from moving because the fighter on top is also beginning to squeeze his upper body.

A move that can effectively force a fighter to break his closed guard is to get up on one’s feet and deliver strong blows on his body. The fighter on guard will not be able to help but open his legs so he can resist and push away the opponent.