Throw By From Stack Pass - Andre Galvao
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Open Guard Stack Pass·Atos Jiu-Jitsu HQ | World's Best BJJ Academy - Home Page
WATCH NOW, AND LEARN SOME AWESOME DETAILS FROM PROFESSOR ANDRE GALVAO If this video helped you please let us know! LEA…
Open Guard Stack Pass
SubFamilyOpen・ガード・Stack・パス(Open Guard Stack Pass)
Translation: open guard stack pass
Overview
The Open Guard Stack Pass in MMA involves stacking the opponent's legs overhead while maintaining posture for strikes, transitioning from striking to passing in one movement. [1]
MMA Stack PassStanding Stack Pass
History & Origin
Open Guard Stack Pass is a technique documented in BJ Penn's comprehensive MMA system. [1]
Effectiveness
Proven in UFC-level competition by BJ Penn and training partners. [1]
Lineage
Modern MMA methodology; BJ Penn / Greg Jackson lineage. [1]
Competition Record
Used in UFC and professional MMA competition
Images
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — MMA-specific positional mechanics for Open Guard Stack Pass
Joints Involved — Full body — hips, shoulders, legs
Force Vector — Position-specific
Position & Entry
From MMA context — Execute open guard stack pass
Variants
Standard Open Guard Stack Pass
Modified Open Guard Stack Pass
Videos
BJJ Stack Pass #bjjrolling
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Open Guard Stack Pass·REALIZE BJJ LIFE
This BJJ guard pass technique is called a Stack Pass #realizebjjlife #BJJ #JiuJitsu #nogi ... Realize BJJ Life Youtube…
Jiu-Jitsu Technique: Stack Pass from Open Guard
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Open Guard Stack Pass·Cassio Werneck BJJ
This video is brought to you by World Champion Cassio Werneck. Professor Werneck is based out of Sacramento, California…
Rafael Mendes | Guard Passing Options Using the Shin Trap
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Open Guard Stack Pass·ART OF JIU JITSU
WEBSITE: http://www.artofjiujitsu.com ONLINE STORE: http://www.artofjiujitsu.com/shop INSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.c…
Pass Flexible Guards with These Two Stack Pass Variations
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Open Guard Stack Pass·JonThomasBJJ
Here is a clip from today’s class at Fighter Center in Gothenburg Sweden. We covered what situations to look for the sta…
Passing the Open Guard with a Stack Pass Variation
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Open Guard Stack Pass·Scott Ryan Chiriboga
Using a stack pass variation in order to pass the opponent's guard.
How To Avoid Being Choked with Double Under Stack Passes
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Open Guard Stack Pass·Chewjitsu
Watch the double stack pass video I'm talking about here: https://youtu.be/wB2RA1TEaT4 ----------------- Free Ebook: htt…
Best Pass Against Flexible Guard Players - Stack Pass BJJ
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Open Guard Stack Pass·MMA Leech
Here is one of my favorite ways to pass the guard of a flexible guard player. As you know, a flexible guard can be very …
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8 videosWhat Instructors Say
The open guard stack pass is a fundamental guard-passing technique used against flexible opponents who maintain high leg positions and round their hips to defend conventional passes like the toreando or D-cut. All four instructors emphasize that stacking works by collapsing the opponent's hips and legs to the mat, making guard recovery difficult. JonThomasBJJ and MMA Leech agree on the core mechanic: catch below the heels or control the ankles, push the feet to the floor, and place a knee on the opponent's back to maintain the stack. JonThomasBJJ details multiple finish options, including knee-behind-the-back positioning combined with high collar or lapel grips to circle for the pass, or catching the thigh to lift flexible hips. He also shows pant-grip variations that increase mechanical advantage. MMA Leech emphasizes dropping the chest-hip behind the opponent's hip and stapling one leg with a knee while achieving deep hip control—either via a leg-drag pass or by switching hand position while maintaining pressure. Scott Ryan Chiriboga presents a stepping-in variation where the passer threads the shin through the guard, isolates a leg, and controls the collar before driving forward. ART OF JIU JITSU (Rafael Mendes) focuses on shin-trap positioning, lateral movement to orient the opponent sideways, and managing opponent's defensive responses through knee pressure and leg-jack techniques. All instructors stress keeping the opponent stretched out rather than compressed, maintaining proper posture to prevent collar attacks, and adapting the finish based on the opponent's defensive reactions.
Synthesized from 4 instructors
- JonThomasBJJ — Pass Flexible Guards with These Two Stack Pass Variations: Detailed mechanics of catching below the heels, controlling with knee-on-back and high collar/lapel grip, plus pant-grip variants and thigh-catch elevation for flexible opponents.
- MMA Leech — Best Pass Against Flexible Guard Players - Stack Pass BJJ: Emphasis on dropping chest-hip behind opponent's hip, stapling legs with knee, and achieving deep hip control with leg-drag and hand-switch techniques.
- Scott Ryan Chiriboga — Passing the Open Guard with a Stack Pass Variation: Step-in variation using knee placement angled toward opponent's knee, shin crossing with underhooked leg control, and collar grip setup for forward drive.
- ART OF JIU JITSU — Rafael Mendes | Guard Passing Options Using the Shin Trap: Shin-trap mechanics with lateral movement to orient opponent sideways, knee pressure maintenance, leg-jack defensive responses, and multiple finish options (leg-drag, cross-step, windshield wiper).
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
3
Moderate3/10
Positional technique
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
✓Practise in MMA-specific sparring with strikes (Penn et al., 2007)
Common Mistakes
!Losing base
!Not maintaining control
!Poor transitions
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Engagement → Open Guard Stack Pass → Advance position
Sources & References
Primary Source
Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge (Penn, Cordoza & Krauss, 2007)
1Book[1] Penn, B.J., Cordoza, G. and Krauss, E. (2007). Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge. Victory Belt Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9777315-6-5.
description, historyOrigin: sourced from Penn, B
2Citation[1] Penn, B.J., Cordoza, G. and Krauss, E. (2007). Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge. Victory Belt Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9777315-6-5.
description, historyOrigin: sourced from Penn, B
Community
Athletics
MMA-specific body control and pressure
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I move my opponent to the side when passing the open guard?
Rafael Mendes explains that when your opponent is flat on their back, they can open their legs wide and it becomes much harder to pass, but when they're positioned sideways, it's easier to attack them and complete the pass regardless of your passing method.
How do I prevent my opponent from balling up during the stack pass?
Cassio Werneck emphasizes stretching your opponent out by pulling their knee and walking backward with your back leg, which prevents them from protecting their chest and makes it harder for them to scramble or invert to recover guard.
What's the correct grip sequence for the stack pass?
Cassio Werneck teaches grabbing the pants with one hand while pushing your nose against their hip, then dropping your elbow and placing your shoulder behind their knee, followed by getting a cross-collar grip and bringing your elbow back.
Where should I drive my knee once I have the collar grip?
Cassio Werneck instructs to drive your knee right behind your opponent's lower back once you begin stacking, while keeping pressure on the collar grip to prevent them from escaping.
How does the Open Guard Stack Pass work?
The Open Guard Stack Pass in MMA involves stacking the opponent's legs overhead while maintaining posture for strikes, transitioning from striking to passing in one movement.
Where does the Open Guard Stack Pass come from?
Open Guard Stack Pass is a technique documented in BJ Penn's comprehensive MMA system.
Is the Open Guard Stack 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 Open Guard Stack Pass?
Danger rating 3/10. Positional technique
How do I set up the Open Guard Stack Pass?
The standard setup chain: Engagement → Open Guard Stack Pass → Advance position.
How do I defend against the Open Guard Stack Pass?
Standard counters include: Guard retention / Frame and escape / Submission counter.
What are the variants of the Open Guard Stack Pass?
Common variants: Standard Open Guard Stack Pass; Modified Open Guard Stack Pass.
How effective is the Open Guard Stack Pass in competition?
Used in UFC and professional MMA competition
What are common mistakes when doing the Open Guard Stack Pass?
Top errors to watch for: Losing base / Not maintaining control / Poor transitions.
What are other names for the Open Guard Stack Pass?
The Open Guard Stack Pass is also known as Open Guard Stack Pass, MMA Stack Pass, Standing Stack Pass.