Diary > Guard Passing
11/23/2009
Passing the guard is one of the fundamentals of BJJ but so many people focus on the ´ techniques´ of passing rather than looking at how and what to control and the way I look at it might help simplify things for you.
I break the body into four ´ sections´.
1. Feet to knees 2. Knees to hips 3. Hips to chest 4. Chest to top of head
When passing, other than defending attacks and keeping balance I look to control each section in the order its closest to me. Once I have control of that section then I look to control the next and so on until Im where I want to be.
too many beginners especially try and jump or miss out a section, lose control and get swept or submitted. By thinking of these sections it allows you to focus on control and not the ending you want, i always say ´ You cant climb everest looking at its peak or youll fall in a crevasse!´
Control whats nearest and slowly work your way through their guard bit by bit and before you know it youll be in mount, cross side or submitting your opponent from dominant positions. Also while its possible to submit an opponent from half guard/ half mount I dont recommend it, its not dominant enough and really its only half a position. Hope this helps.
