Flattening to Pass the Half Guard by Xande Ribeiro
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Xande's Flattening Pass·BJJLibrary
Follow 6-time black belt world champ, Xande Ribeiro as he teaches two ways to flatten your opponent in the half guard. H…
Xande's Flattening Pass
SubFamilyXande's・Flattening・パス(Xande's Flattening Pass)
Translation: xande's flattening pass
Overview
History & Origin
The Xande's Flattening 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 xande's flattening 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 xande's flattening pass
Variants
Not yet documented
Videos
You don't have to flatten them out to pass half guard...try the easy way instead...
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Xande's Flattening Pass·Invisible Jiu Jitsu
It's my first time teaching since about March 2020! Here's the first passing technique from my passing half guard semina…
Basic Ways to Flatten an Opponent Out by Gordon Ryan
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Xande's Flattening Pass·BJJ Fanatics
BASIC WAYS TO FLATTEN AN OPPONENT OUT https://bjjfanatics.com Gordon Ryan demonstrates how to flatten your opponent out…
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
Xande's flattening pass is a fundamental half-guard guard-passing technique that prioritizes flattening the opponent's body to the mat before executing the pass, thereby eliminating their lateral mobility and forcing them to expend energy. All three instructors—Invisible Jiu Jitsu, BJJLibrary, and BJJ Fanatics—agree that flattening removes the opponent's positional advantage and creates a crucial temporal gap, forcing them to perform extra steps (hip escape, shoulder recovery) before defending effectively. Invisible Jiu Jitsu emphasizes using an underhook with a butterfly grip to control the opponent's torso while keeping them on their side, then positioning a high knee near the shoulder to open the bottom leg into a double-hooks position before executing a windshield wiper motion into side control. BJJLibrary stresses the conceptual importance of flattening as a foundational principle: applying face pressure while using the knee or crab-walk foot placement to keep the opponent supine, thereby neutralizing their half-guard leverage. BJJ Fanatics (Gordon Ryan) offers the most detailed upper-body technical progression, describing methods to chase the hips first via knee-to-hip connection, then systematically work the upper body through cross-face or inside-bicep-tie positions, with emphasis on controlling the far shoulder and preventing the opponent from reclaiming inside elbow position. All instructors agree that controlling head position and shoulder pressure are temporary tools used only during the flattening phase; once the opponent is flat and the legs are free, pressure shifts to maintaining side control.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- Invisible Jiu Jitsu — You don't have to flatten them out to pass half guard...try the easy way instead...: Detailed mechanical execution using underhook + butterfly grip, high knee placement to pry open the bottom leg into double hooks, hip positioning adjustment to exit hooks, and windshield wiper finish into side control with proper base and head placement to defend against bridges.
- BJJLibrary — Flattening to Pass the Half Guard by Xande Ribeiro: Conceptual framework emphasizing flattening as a method to cut the problem at the root by denying the opponent their preferred side-on-hip position and forcing them to expend energy; multiple flattening methods including step-and-knee, inside-knee placement, and crab-walk approaches with hand-on-face connection.
- BJJ Fanatics — Basic Ways to Flatten an Opponent Out by Gordon Ryan: Comprehensive upper-body control progression after hip flattening: knee-to-elbow connection, cross-face vs. inside-bicep-tie decision-making, far-shoulder control via backhand frame, ear-to-shoulder connection to prevent re-entry, and systematic elbow-opening and hand-positioning sequences based on opponent's knee and elbow positions.
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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 → Xande's Flattening 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
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need to get my opponent on their side when passing half guard?
Getting your opponent on their side prevents them from using their elbow and hip to escape. According to Invisible Jiu Jitsu, when your opponent is on their side with their bottom thigh touching the ground, they lose the ability to generate leverage for hip escapes and defensive movements.
Where should I position my knee during the flattening pass?
You want to get your knee high up—by your opponent's shoulder, armpit, or head area. Invisible Jiu Jitsu emphasizes that if your opponent points their knees to the sky, you won't be able to achieve this position, so you need to walk your feet in and find their calf to maintain control.
What's the key mistake to avoid with my body position when passing?
Avoid being too low or too close to your opponent, as this makes you vulnerable to lockdowns and sweeps. Invisible Jiu Jitsu recommends maintaining a low center of gravity with wide knees and active toes, staying far enough away to give yourself leverage while remaining balanced.
What should I do if my opponent bridges to escape?
Use your head to base and execute a windshield wiper motion with your legs to escape into side control. Invisible Jiu Jitsu notes that if your opponent bridges the other way, you can throw your head to the opposite side to maintain position.
Why is flattening so important before passing half guard?
Flattening your opponent 'cuts the problem by the root' by taking away their ability to hip escape and execute defensive techniques. Xande Ribeiro explains that the goal is to prevent your opponent from turning their hip out and setting up their defense, not just to flatten them for its own sake.
How does the Xande's Flattening Pass work?
Xande's Flattening Pass is a half guard passing technique developed by Xande Ribeiro that focuses on flattening the opponent before extracting the trapped leg. The emphasis is on crushing pressure rather than speed.
Where does the Xande's Flattening Pass come from?
The Xande's Flattening Pass is a guard passing technique detailed in Saulo Ribeiro's systematic BJJ approach.
Is the Xande's Flattening 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 Xande's Flattening Pass?
Danger rating 2/10. Guard passing — positional technique, not a strike or submission
How do I set up the Xande's Flattening Pass?
The standard setup chain: Control grips → Xande's Flattening Pass → Establish side control or mount.
How do I defend against the Xande's Flattening Pass?
Standard counters include: Re-guard / Frame and hip escape / Underhook from bottom.
How effective is the Xande's Flattening Pass in competition?
Used in UFC and professional MMA competition
What are common mistakes when doing the Xande's Flattening Pass?
Top errors to watch for: Rushing without controlling grips / Allowing guard re-composition.
What are other names for the Xande's Flattening Pass?
The Xande's Flattening Pass is also known as Xande's Flattening Pass, Flattening Pass, Xande Pass.