RI BJJ Tutorial: Counters to a Handful of Guard Passes

Guard Passes: The Offense and the Defense

Besides all the celebrating around here, the focus on this blog, lately, has been on passing guard.

We’ve recently revisited the knee cut pass in gi and no-gi versions, and we also had another look at the double over pass.

But, since Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a game of countering and countering again, our work wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t also look at the defensive options available when your opponent is trying to pass your guard. We started that project with a post on getting back to guard; today, we continue that work with a series of counters to guard passes.

In particular, we’ve got one counter to the knee cut and two counters to the 0ver/under. And if those tutorials aren’t enough for you, here’s Damian Maia demonstrating a counter to the double under pass:

Counter to the Knee Cut Pass

Remember the knee cut pass? It looks like this. Here’s a good way to counter it, supposing your opponent is trying to pass to your right side over his right knee:

1. Keep control of one of your opponent’s legs. Keep your right heel hooked inside your opponent’s right leg. If he gets past your legs, it’s over.
2. Pop up to your right hip. It’s no good being flat on your back.
3. Hook your right hand under your opponent’s knee. In fact, when your opponent’s knee hits the mat, you want to already have your arm under it.
4. Bump your opponent forward with your top leg. As your opponent drives forward, add to his momentum with a shove from your left knee.
5. Get your underhook. Reach across your opponent’s back with your left arm.
6. Get up to your base. Switch your hips so that you have both knees and one arm on the ground. Your other arm

At this point, you’re more or less in the “dogfight” position, and, from there, you’re free to advance in any number of ways. (sweeps, takedowns, etc.). One solid way to proceed is to stand up, maintain control of the leg, and go for a takedown.

One Counter to the Over/Under Pass: Spin Behind for Back Mount

This time, we assume your opponent’s trying to pass his hips to your left side.

1. Pop up to your left hip.
2. Push your opponent’s head to your opposite armpit.
3. Sit up.
4. Lock your grip around your opponent’s head and arm.
5. Get your legs out behind you. Keep your weight through your opponent’s back.
6. Switch your grip.
7. Take the back.

Another Counter to the Over/Under Pass: The Guillotine Choke

1. Pop up to your left hip.
2. Push your opponent’s head to your opposite armpit.
3. Sit up.
4. Lock your grip around your opponent’s head and arm.
5. Switch to the arm-out grip.
6. Throw your right leg across your opponent’s back.
7. Lock up your guillotine grip.
8. Finish the choke.
1. Keep your left shoulder hunched forward. Do not lean back. Leaning back to finish the choke is an almost surefire way to let your opponent pull his head out.
2. Lean to your left, towards your opponent.
3. Fold your opponent’s head towards his own bellybutton.
4. Get the tap.

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