How to Pass Half Guard and Go Straight to Mount with Henry Akins
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Half Mount Pass·Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics
How to Pass Half Guard and Go Straight to Mount - Henry Akins demonstrates How to Pass Half Guard and Go Straight to Mo…
Half Mount Pass
SubFamilyハーフ・マウント・パス(Half Mount Pass)
Translation: half mount pass
Overview
History & Origin
The Half Mount 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 half mount 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 half mount pass
Variants
Not yet documented
Videos
How To Pass Nogi Half Guard by JOHN DANAHER
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Half Mount Pass·Bernardo Faria BJJ Fanatics
How To Pass Nogi Half Guard by JOHN DANAHER - For The Best BJJ Instructional Videos, Check Out: https://bjjfanatics.com …
Half Guard Pry pass to mount
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Half Mount Pass·Double Phoenix Jiu Jitsu
Passing the guard from cross face underhook half guard with the pry pass to the mount. For a free trial class in Sterlin…
Fundamentals Syllabus - Week 4 - Technique 1 - Half Guard Pass to Mount
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Half Mount Pass·Stronger Fitness and Martial Arts
In this video, Oli Geddes demonstrates a simple method for passing the half guard and moving directly to the mount.
How To Pass Half Guard | BJJ Fundamentals
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Half Mount Pass·Jordan Teaches Jiujitsu
✅ BJJ Beginner Course: https://bjjbeginnercourse.com ✅ Jiu-Jitsu Theory Course: https://jiujitsutheorycourse.com 📩 Ne…
Half/Butterfly Guard Pass to Mount
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Half Mount Pass·Roger Gracie TV
Often your opponent will feel safe when they manage to insert a butterfly guard hook from their half guard. However, I l…
Half Guard Pass to Mount #bjjrolling
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Half Mount Pass·REALIZE BJJ LIFE
This half guard BJJ technique is called the Knee Over Half Guard Pass. #realizebjjlife #BJJ #JiuJitsu #nogi ... Rea…
Crossfacing to pass half guard - Straight to Mount
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Half Mount Pass·Revolution BJJ
Browse hundreds of different video tutorials (words and video): http://www.bjjpath.com Revolution Brazilian Jiu Jitsu …
Passing Half Guard to Mount
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Half Mount Pass·Team Daruma Dojo
Half guard pass to mount
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Half Mount Pass·Training Grounds
Kids bjj syllabus
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10 videosWhat Instructors Say
The half mount pass (also called half guard pass) is a fundamental guard-passing technique executed from the top position when one of the passer's legs is trapped in the opponent's half guard. Instructors from Stronger Fitness and Martial Arts, Revolution BJJ, and Jordan Teaches Jiujitsu converge on core principles: establishing shoulder control via crossface to prevent the defender from turning their hips and creating space, combined with either an underhook or hand-on-knee pressure to control the upper body. All three emphasize the two-phase process of first freeing the trapped knee, then freeing the foot. Stronger Fitness prioritizes locking legs initially and using hip pressure while pivoting the shin behind the opponent's knee, transitioning through a butterfly mount position before moving to full mount. Revolution BJJ stresses the crossface as primary control, with the underhook as secondary, recommending lifting the opponent slightly to anchor before driving shoulder pressure across the face. Jordan Teaches Jiujitsu advocates a "hip turn pass" where the passer sits their hips back far to create base and prevent being swept, then uses the shin and pants grip as a wedge to escape the foot. All instructors agree that maintaining constant pressure, controlling the head, and preventing hip recovery are essential; variations emerge in sequencing—whether emphasizing the underhook initially or treating it reactively—and in final positioning (mount versus side control). The technique succeeds through positional pressure and mechanical leverage rather than strength alone.
Synthesized from 4 instructors
- Stronger Fitness and Martial Arts — Fundamentals Syllabus - Week 4 - Technique 1 - Half Guard Pass to Mount: Detailed sequencing of shoulder pressure via underhook and hand-behind-head clasp; locking legs in triangle position; pivoting shin over opponent's knee with toes reaching behind; transitioning through butterfly mount to full mount; emphasis on hip pressure to prevent knee escape.
- Revolution BJJ — Crossfacing to pass half guard - Straight to Mount: Prioritizes crossface as primary control mechanism; lifting opponent slightly to establish better grip and anchor; shoulder drive across face to reduce concern about underhook; clearing legs by opening space and scraping; passing to mount or side control.
- Jordan Teaches Jiujitsu — How To Pass Half Guard | BJJ Fundamentals: Systematic two-phase approach (freeing knee, then foot); hip turn pass with emphasis on sitting hips back far for base and sweep prevention; crossface grip as primary control; hand or shin as wedge to escape foot; multiple variations including knee slide, rolling back attacks, and addressing knee shield and butterfly half guard defenses.
- REALIZE BJJ LIFE — Half Guard Pass to Mount #bjjrolling: No audio transcript available; unable to extract instructional details.
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 → Half Mount 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 half mount pass transitions from half guard by driving the trapped knee across to achieve full mount. One of the most common guard passes — the passer simply extracts their trapped leg. (Ribeiro, Jiu-Jitsu University; BJJ fundamentals)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I control my opponent's head and upper body when passing from half guard?
Underhook their arm with one hand while placing your other arm behind their head, then clasp your hands together to create solid shoulder pressure into the face. According to Jordan Teaches Jiujitsu, you should grab a solid grip on the head so your partner can't turn their body into you—in no-gi use your middle finger in the armpit, and in gi grab the shoulder material.
What's the key mistake to avoid when positioning my hips during the half mount pass?
Don't shift your weight too much to one side, as this makes it easier to get rolled and harder to maintain pressure. Instead, move your hips out and drop your hip while keeping your weight distributed to maintain control.
Can I pass directly to mount instead of settling for side control?
Yes. Henry Akins emphasizes that many people only think about passing to side control, but you can often pass directly into mount by collapsing your opponent's frames, swallowing their knee, and then lifting your own knee to transition into the mounted position.
How much should I slide forward when finishing the pass to side control?
Slide out just enough to get your foot free, but not too far. According to Jordan Teaches Jiujitsu, sliding out too far gives your partner space to re-guard by bringing their bottom knee in and re-establishing half guard or closed guard.
How does the Half Mount Pass work?
The Half Mount Pass transitions from half mount (where the passer has nearly passed but one leg is still trapped) to full mount or side control. Ribeiro demonstrates the knee-cross variation.
Where does the Half Mount Pass come from?
The Half Mount Pass is a guard passing technique detailed in Saulo Ribeiro's systematic BJJ approach.
Is the Half Mount 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 Half Mount Pass?
Danger rating 2/10. Guard passing — positional technique, not a strike or submission
How do I set up the Half Mount Pass?
The standard setup chain: Control grips → Half Mount Pass → Establish side control or mount.
How do I defend against the Half Mount Pass?
Standard counters include: Re-guard / Frame and hip escape / Underhook from bottom.
How effective is the Half Mount Pass in competition?
Used in UFC and professional MMA competition
What are common mistakes when doing the Half Mount Pass?
Top errors to watch for: Rushing without controlling grips / Allowing guard re-composition.
What are other names for the Half Mount Pass?
The Half Mount Pass is also known as Half Mount Pass, Half Mount to Full Mount.