Guard passing is a critical component of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that requires a combination of technique, strength, and strategy. The ability to pass the guard is a key factor in determining the outcome of a BJJ match, given that success with a pass is rewarded 3 points. It is a skill that takes time and effort to master. In this article, we’ll explore the best drills for improving your guard passing skills.
Why Drilling Is Important For Guard Passing
Drilling is essential to BJJ training and is one of the best ways to improve your guard passing skills. By repeating specific techniques and movements over and over again, you can develop muscle memory and fine-tune your form and timing. In addition, drilling allows you to train in a controlled environment, where you can focus on specific skills and receive feedback from your training partners.
Drilling allows your body to repeat patterns and motions, while getting no, or very controlled resistance. The more repetitions of drills you perform, the more automatically you’ll be able to do the actual passes in rolling or matches under extreme pressure.
The 15 best drills for guard passing in BJJ will help you achieve all of this in record time if you start doing them today.
Best Drills For Improving Guard Passing
The best way to do BJJ drills is to do them. It does not matter if you do them for reps or time, as long s you put in the work and do them deliberately and with focus, instead of just going through the motions.
The best drills for passing guards include BOTH solo and partner drills, so make time to integrate both into your training routines and schedule.
Partner Drills To Accelerate Your Guard Passing Progress
Drilling with a partner is invaluable in actually learning how to use passing in relation to another person. Start by having the partner aid in your movement, and later, you can instruct them to add just a bit of resistance to give your drills a dose of reality.
Remember the best drills for passing are just that – drills, not positional sparring, so make sure you don’t go overboard with the level of resistance.
The Toreando Pass Drill
The Toreando pass is a fundamental and widely utilized guard passing technique in BJJ Gi training. In order to master this technique and improve your guard passing skills, it is essential to practice it through various drills.
The drill involves your partner lying on the mats in a guard position. You set up grips on their Gi pants at the knee point and throw past their legs on either side in a repetitive motion while stepping so that your feet end up by their hips on each repetition.
Drill Execution Tips:Â
- Start with your partner lying supine with bent knees;
- Grab the Gi at the side of both knees;
- Push the legs to one side to open up space;
- Move your body to the other using side-stepping to pass the legs;
- Place the shoulder on to the partner’s belly;
- Repeat this drill on both sides.
The Leg Drag Pass Drill
The leg drag is a more advanced technique that involves controlling an opponent’s hips via just one leg. It starts similarly to the Torreando pass, but instead of controlling both legs, you focus only on dragging one across your belly, creating support using your lead leg for their leg to rest on.
The key to success in this technique is to keep the opponent’s leg near while maintaining control of the tight space and applying weight.
Drill Execution Tips:Â
- Start with your partner lying supine with bent knees;
- Set up the grips on the shin and side of the knee;
- Drag the leg on the shelf position for hip control;
- Step in to apply pressure and change the level to complete the pass;
- Repeat this drill on both sides.
The Over-Under Pass Drill
The over-under pass drill is one of the best drills for developing the skills and techniques required to pass any opponent’s guard. This technique is highly effective in preventing an opponent from re-establishing their guard, making it one of the best guard passing options.
Drill Execution Tips:Â
- Start in your opponent’s guard;
- Place your arms in the over-under position to control their hips;
- Put pressure forward, raising your butt towards the ceiling;
- Step over to get to side control;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AgSbTYn8PM
- Repeat this drill on both sides.
The Double Under Pass Drill
The double under pass drill is a powerful drill that helps you to develop the strength and technique required to pass your opponent’s closed guard. This fundamental move enables you to bypass the opponent’s legs and is utilized by everyone from white to black belts.
Drill Execution Tips:Â
- Start in your partner’s guard;
- Open the closed guard by using your preferred method;
- Place both arms behind the partner’s knees (and level change if standing)
- Put your body in a push-up position to place pressure on the partner;
- Circle to a side of your choosing to finish in side control;
- Repeat this drill on both sides.
The Staple Back Step Pass Drill
The leg staple is a basic guard pass that is widely taught in Jiu-Jitsu. To perform this technique, you will control their lower body first, before switching to upper body control to complete the pass. It is a great option to use against both closed and open guards, making this one of the very best drills for passers:
Drill Execution Tips:Â
- Start in the staple position, with your shin across one of the partner’s thighs;
- Hug their free leg with your arms to establish complete hip dominance;
- Drop the hips to the mats towards the stapled leg;
- Use your free leg to backstep in a wide motion and control the partner’s head;
- Repeat this drill on both sides.
Solo Drills To Become a Guard Passing Pro
Solo drills work best when you don’t have a partner, but they are also a crucial component of training, as they will teach you motion and develop all-important muscle memory that will only make your partner drills a much more useful tool for improving guard passing skills.
The following 10 drills are the very best drills for passing guard that you can do solo:
Deep Squats
Holding the deep quat position with flat feet is essential to developing flexibility and dexterity needed for guard passing.
Drill Execution Tips:
- Squat as low as you can;
- Keep your knees over your ankles as much as possible:
- Move around in the deep squat position, left and right;
- Spend as much time as possible holding the position.
Cossack Squats
Cossack squats are one of the best drills for guard passing because they provide you with a side-to-side motion that also features dexterity and flexibility, as well as training balance.
Drill Execution Tips:
- Start with straight legs placed wider than hip-width apart;
- Bend one knee to go low to one side, keeping the foot flat and the other leg extended;
- Switch to the other side by trying to avoid going completely back u to the starting position;
- Alternate sides.
The 1-2 Step
An essential motion for guard passers, the 1-2 drill is an entry motion into a variety of different guard passes. If you don’t have a stability ball you can use a chair or whatever else can give you an anchor for your arms.
Drill Execution Tips:
- Start in front of the ball, both palms resting on it;
- Step to the side, leading with the leg further to the direction you’re going;
- After stepping across with one leg, follow up with the other:
- Get back into the starting position in reverse (cross-stepping again);
- Alternate sides.
The Shuffle Step
The Shuffle Step gets you to the side of an opponent’s guard quicker than the 1-2, but it is easier to counter for guard players. the key with this one is speed, so once you get the hang of it, make sure you execute the drill as fast as possible. Again, use a stability ball or chair or whatever you can find.
Drill Execution Tips:
- Start in front of the ball, both palms resting on it;
- Step to the side, leading with the leg closer to the direction you’re going;
- As it lands, shuffle the other leg as well to end up on the side of the ball;
- Get back the same way, leading with the closer leg;
- Alternate sides.
Leg And Arm Shuffle
Another version of the leg shuffle, this is one of the best drills simply because it will allow you to be comfortable when you lose balance, or opponents try to sweep you as you pass. You’re simply adding the use of your arms to the leg shuffle.
Drill Execution Tips:
- Start in front of the ball, both palms resting on it;
- Step to the side, leading with the leg closer to the direction you’re going;
- As it lands, place the same side arm on the mats, like doing a pushup;
- Get back to the starting position;
- Alternate sides.
The Step And Kick
An essential way of passing open guards with the Gi is to use the X-pass. A slight drawback is that it requires you to balance on one leg for a short while. This drill will help you master the balancing and dexterity aspects of it, as well as switching your weight from one leg to another.
Drill Execution Tips:
- Start in front of the ball, both palms resting on it;
- Step to the side, leading with the leg closer to the direction you’re going;
- As it lands, placekick back with the other leg, extending it behind you and keeping it off the ground;
- Lift the arm opposite of the leg that is extended backward off the ball;
- Get back to the starting position;
- Alternate sides.
Long Step
You won’t need any props for this one. Once again a motion that is crucial to developing a diverse guard passing game and one of the best drills you can do to ensure you’re never swept.
Drill Execution Tips:
- Start on your knees and elbows;
- Lift one leg behind you and allow it to fall backward over the other leg;
- As your foot lands on the ground, lift the opposite side arm off the ground so your hip can fall on the mats as well;
- Get back to the starting position;
- Alternate sides.
Knee Drops
Whether you like to do knee slices, staple passes or knee smashes, this drill is going to be invaluable in providing you with both speed and knee stability for those types of techniques.
Drill Execution Tips:
- Start with your feet and palms on the ground and your butt in the air (bear walk position);
- Drop the knee of one leg to the mats, sliding it sideways in toward the foot of the planted leg;
- As you execute the motion, lift the opposite side arm off the ground;
- Get back to the starting position;
- Alternate sides.
Hop Over Drill
A fun-looking, seemingly daunting but easy-to-perform drill that is a must for anyone interested in using pressure passing as the centerpiece of their guard passing game.
Drill Execution Tips:
- Start on all fours, with the top of your head planned on the mats;
- Use both arms for added balance, by placing them extended on both sides of the head;
- kick your legs up, so that you’re balancing only on your head and arms;
- Shift both legs to one side, touching the ground with the cross leg;
- Alternate sides.
Elbow Cartwheel
The most advanced solo drill on the list but one of the best drills if you truly want to become a proficient guard passer in BJJ. Cartwheeling on your elbows is a lot safer, quicker, and much more applicable in passing than doing gymnastic-style cartwheels.
Drill Execution Tips:
- Start on your knees;
- Bend your arms at the elbows and place one forearm on the mats, swinging for momentum beforehand;
- Follow the momentum with your body, lifting the legs so that you cartwheel;
- Land on your knees on the other side;
- Alternate sides.
Conclusion
In conclusion, guard passing is a critical component of BJJ, and drilling is one of the best ways to improve your skills. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced practitioner, these select solo and partner best drills will help you to develop your guard passing abilities and take your game to the next level. By incorporating these drills into your training regimen, you can become a more effective guard passer and achieve greater success on the mat.
