Jiu Jitsu's Weirdest Technique? | The Floating Guard Pass
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Floating Pass·Justin Lesko
What is the floating guard pass and why do I like it so much? Let's take a look. If you enjoyed this video make sure t…
Floating Pass
SubFamilyFloating・パス(Floating Pass)
Translation: floating pass
Overview
History & Origin
The Floating Pass is a guard passing technique detailed in Saulo Ribeiro's systematic BJJ approach. [1]
Effectiveness
Effective guard passing technique taught as part of a comprehensive passing system. [1]
Lineage
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guard passing methodology. [1]
Competition Record
Used in UFC and professional MMA competition
Images
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Guard passing mechanics specific to floating pass
Joints Involved — Hips, knees for passing movement
Force Vector — Lateral or downward pressure to bypass the guard
Position & Entry
From opponent's guard — Execute the floating pass
Variants
Not yet documented
Videos
Float Passing: Hip Switch Pass
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Floating Pass·Tarik BJJ
🔗 Links: Follow me on Instagram for more jiu-jitsu content: https://www.instagram.com/tarik_bjj/ Discover top-qualit…
Floating Pass from Headquarters 🌊🏄♂️ #jiujitsu #grappling #martialarts
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Floating Pass·玉木強 / YOSHI JIU-JITSU TECH
Learn Gordon Ryan's UNSTOPPABLE Guard Pass 👑 | JIU JITSU BREAKDOWN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_H1B40WK8ps Middle…
Floating Pass (BJJ): 5 Variations for Passing Butterfly Guard (in Real Time with Shintaro Higashi)
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Floating Pass·Brian Glick
The floating pass is one of our favorite methods of guard passing whenever we can get inside position with a leg from th…
Technique Of The Week: Floating Pass
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Floating Pass·BETA Academy - Washington D.C.
- Technique Of The Week - Floating Pass. With Prof. Chris. Catch his Gi And Nogi class every Saturday morning. 🎥: @sou…
Jeff Glover Jiu-Jitsu | Floating guard pass| www.JiuJitsuPedia.com
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Floating Pass·thejiujitsupedia
http://www.JiuJItsupedia.com Jeff Glover, JiuJitsupedia contributor demonstrates the advanced floating guard pass which …
Float Passing💥So many options💥Pass the guard and shut down the leg locks!
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Floating Pass·Still Rolling
Don't forget to Subscribe 🤙 www.leviathanacademy.com @leviathan_academy Multiple float passing options
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7 videosWhat Instructors Say
The floating guard pass is an unconventional passing technique where the passer maintains hands on the mat while keeping their legs light and mobile, allowing the defender to elevate and move the passer's hips while the passer simultaneously entangles and manipulates the defender's legs. Tarik BJJ emphasizes the positional setup, describing how the passer transitions from a failed knee-slice or blocked entry into a low, balanced squat position with weight distributed to the hands, then uses shin hooks and leg weaving to transition under the defender's guard before establishing side control. Justin Lesko characterizes floating passing as the inverse of pressure passing—intentionally appearing vulnerable to sweeps while leveraging leg entanglement to ultimately stay on top—noting it works most safely in the gi due to heel hook restrictions. Still Rolling provides systematic detail on leg pummeling mechanics (mirroring hand pummeling for grip fighting) and multiple passing options: hip bumps for quick passes, weaving entries with one leg secured first, windshield-wiper leg positioning to displace the guard, knee-slice transitions with critical underhook placement, and tight clamping strategies against high-level leg-lock threats. All instructors agree the technique requires counterintuitively accepting near-sweep positions while maintaining composure and base, and that practitioners can abandon the float and return to pressure passing if opportunities don't materialize.
Synthesized from 4 instructors
- Tarik BJJ — Float Passing: Hip Switch Pass: Detailed the transition into floating position from a blocked knee-slice, emphasizing low squat posture with butt low, weight on hands, shin hook mechanics, and the crossing-leg transition into side control.
- Justin Lesko — Jiu Jitsu's Weirdest Technique? | The Floating Guard Pass: Framed floating passing as conceptual opposite of pressure passing, highlighted the counterintuitive psychology of appearing swept while using leg entanglement to pass, noted gi-specific viability due to heel hook rules, and discussed high-step and leg-weave mount variations.
- Still Rolling — Float Passing💥So many options💥Pass the guard and shut down the leg locks!: Provided systematic breakdown of leg pummeling mechanics, detailed entry variations (hip bumps, single-leg-in entries), weaving sequences with steering mechanics, windshield-wiper leg positioning, knee-slice transitions with underhook emphasis, and clamping/locking strategies for defensive leg-lock prevention.
- Brian Glick — Floating Pass (BJJ): 5 Variations for Passing Butterfly Guard (in Real Time with Shintaro Higashi): No usable audio transcript provided.
Learn This Technique
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
2
Low2/10
Guard passing — positional technique, not a strike or submission
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— IBJJF — Legal, guard pass scores 3 points
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— IJF — Legal — transitioning past opponent's legs is part ...
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— ADCC — Legal, guard pass scores 3 points
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Drill the passing motion with progressive resistance (Ribeiro & Howell, 2008)
Common Mistakes
!Rushing without controlling grips
!Allowing guard re-composition
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Control grips → Floating Pass → Establish side control or mount
Sources & References
Primary Source
Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro & Howell, 2008)
1Book[1] Ribeiro, S. and Howell, K. (2008). Jiu-Jitsu University. Victory Belt Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9815044-3-8. Technical Editor: John Danaher.
description, historyOrigin: sourced from Ribeiro, S
2Citation[1] Ribeiro, S. and Howell, K. (2008). Jiu-Jitsu University. Victory Belt Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9815044-3-8. Technical Editor: John Danaher.
description, historyOrigin: sourced from Ribeiro, S
Community
Athletics
Good hip mobility and pressure
Balance
Notes
The floating pass uses light pressure and movement rather than smashing — the passer 'floats' around the opponent's guard attempts rather than driving through them. A speed-based alternative to pressure passing. (BJJ instructionals; competition strategy)
Frequently Asked Questions
How does floating pass help me avoid leg lock attacks?
The floating pass keeps you elevated and prevents your opponent from easily entering leg lock positions. According to Still Rolling, by getting one leg in and staying elevated, you avoid giving them the space they need to drop into leg lock entries, and you can dictate which direction to move once you have inside space control.
What's the mental challenge of learning the floating pass?
It takes time to get used to the feeling as the passer—Justin Lesko emphasizes that you'll feel like you're 90% swept and about to be swept, but that's intentional misdirection that creates the pass opportunity.
What's the key to transitioning from floating to finishing the pass?
According to Still Rolling, you have to go from floating loosely to getting really close and tight; this transition is critical, and you can use multiple finishing options like knee slice or underhook passes once you've created the right positioning.
Why is it important to enter with one leg in during the float pass?
Still Rolling explains that getting one leg in gives you stability, allows you to drive with a hook, and prevents your opponent from easily dropping into leg lock entrances—it's especially useful when entering rather than coming in square.
How does the Floating Pass work?
The Floating Pass involves hovering above the opponent's guard without committing weight, then quickly floating past the legs when an opening appears. Used primarily against reverse De La Riva guard.
Where does the Floating Pass come from?
The Floating Pass is a guard passing technique detailed in Saulo Ribeiro's systematic BJJ approach.
Is the Floating Pass legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal — Legal, guard pass scores 3 points; IJF: legal — Legal — transitioning past opponent's legs is part of newaza; ADCC: legal — Legal, guard pass scores 3 points; Unified MMA: legal — Legal; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Floating Pass?
Danger rating 2/10. Guard passing — positional technique, not a strike or submission
How do I set up the Floating Pass?
The standard setup chain: Control grips → Floating Pass → Establish side control or mount.
How do I defend against the Floating Pass?
Standard counters include: Re-guard / Frame and hip escape / Underhook from bottom.
How effective is the Floating Pass in competition?
Used in UFC and professional MMA competition
What are common mistakes when doing the Floating Pass?
Top errors to watch for: Rushing without controlling grips / Allowing guard re-composition.
What are other names for the Floating Pass?
The Floating Pass is also known as Floating Pass, Float Pass, Hover Pass.