Headquarters PASSING system | 4 ways to pass
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Headquarters Pass·Energia Martial Arts
Headquarters PASSING system | 4 ways to pass Passing the open guard is hard! Especially in no-gi with a huge lack of gri…
Headquarters Pass
Familyヘッドクォーターズパス
TransliterationTranslation
Not yet documented
Overview
The Headquarters Pass family covers passing techniques from the 'headquarters' stance — the kneeling position with one knee up (foot flat on the mat) and one knee down, positioned between the opponent's legs, which serves as the central launching pad for multiple guard passes. [1] The headquarters position is considered the most tactically versatile passing stance because from this single position, the passer can launch a knee cut pass (to the knee-up side), a backstep pass (to the other side), a toreando (by standing up), or a leg drag (by gripping and pulling). [1],[2] The term 'headquarters' was popularised by BJJ instructors who recognised that this position is the 'base of operations' from which all passing decisions are made — the passer reads the guard player's reaction from headquarters and chooses the appropriate pass. [2],[3] Headquarters has become the standard intermediate passing position in modern BJJ, replacing the older approach of choosing a specific pass before engaging the guard. [3]
HQ PassHeadquarters PositionCombat Base Pass
History & Origin
The headquarters position was codified as a passing concept in the 2010s as BJJ instruction became more systematic. [1] While the kneeling stance between the opponent's legs has existed since BJJ's earliest era, naming it 'headquarters' and teaching it as a deliberate decision-making position was a modern pedagogical innovation. [1],[2]
Effectiveness
Lineage
Headquarters was codified as a named passing concept in the 2010s within modern BJJ instruction. [1]
Competition Record
Headquarters is the most commonly used intermediate passing position in IBJJF competition. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Establishing a stable, versatile kneeling stance between the opponent's legs from which multiple passing directions are accessible
Joints Involved — Lead knee (up with foot flat — provides forward drive for the knee cut and mobility for direction changes), rear knee (on the mat — provides base and the ability to backstep), hips (the height and angle of the hips determine which passes are available), hands (grip fighting from headquarters is critical — controlling the opponent's pants, sleeves, or collar determines passing options)
Force Vector — Multi-directional — headquarters is not a passing technique itself but a position from which passes launch in all directions: forward (knee cut), lateral (toreando, leg drag), backward (backstep), and through (body lock)
Position Mechanic — Headquarters works as a decision point: the passer establishes the stance, reads the guard player's defensive positioning (which side are they protecting? which grips do they have?), and launches the pass to the undefended side — the position's value is in its versatility and the reading ability it provides
Position & Entry
From standing guard break — After standing to break the opponent's closed guard, drop one knee to the mat between their legs and post the other foot flat — establishing headquarters [1]
From open guard engagement — When engaging the opponent's open guard from kneeling, advance one knee up to create the headquarters stance
Headquarters to knee cut — From headquarters, drive the raised knee across the opponent's near-side thigh while establishing a crossface — the most common pass from headquarters [2]
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
3
Moderate3/10
Headquarters is a relatively stable position; the primary risk is being swept from the kneeling stance or pulled into guard
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
✓Headquarters is a decision point, not a resting point — establish it, read the opponent's guard, and launch a pass within 2-3 seconds; sitting in headquarters too long allows the guard player to establish grips and attacks [1]
✓Develop at least 3 passes from headquarters — knee cut (to the knee-up side), backstep (to the other side), and toreando (by standing up) — so the guard player cannot predict your passing direction
✓Grip fighting from headquarters determines everything — strip the guard player's grips before launching the pass
✓The raised knee becomes the cutting knee — whichever knee is up, that side becomes the primary knee cut direction
✓Train reading the guard from headquarters — the guard player's positioning (which side they face, which grips they have) tells you which pass will work [2]
Common Mistakes
!Sitting in headquarters too long — headquarters is a launch pad, not a base camp; lingering allows the guard player to set up attacks
!Only passing to one side — headquarters' value is multi-directional passing; using only the knee cut makes you predictable
!Not strip-gripping — allowing the guard player to establish deep grips from headquarters makes passing from any direction difficult
!Knees too close together — the knees should be at least shoulder-width apart for base and mobility
!Hips too high — sitting too upright makes the passer vulnerable to sweeps from butterfly and De La Riva
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Break/Open Guard
2Drop to Headquarters — one knee up, one down
3Read the Guard — identify the guard player's positioning and grips
4Strip Grips — remove controlling grips
5Choose Pass Direction — knee cut, backstep, toreando, or leg drag
6Execute — launch the chosen pass with commitment
Sources & References
Primary Source
Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008)
1BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Description sources — [1] Modern BJJ passing instruction [2] Competition passing analysis
2BookModern BJJ passing methodology
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Description sources — [1] Modern BJJ passing instruction [2] Competition passing analysis
5CitationModern BJJ passing methodology
Community
Athletics
Requires
balance (kneeling stance), grip fighting, tactical awareness (reading the guard)
Favours
mobile hips, quick reactions, multi-directional passing ability
Key muscles
quadriceps (maintaining the stance), core (balance), forearms (grip fighting)
Sub-techniques
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the most common mistake when setting up the headquarters pass?
Stepping your inside leg too far in can give your opponent attacks on your leg. Instead, control your partner's legs as you step in and get an inside position, keeping your knee close to their body to prevent them from wrestling up.
What should my weight distribution and base look like in headquarters pass?
Weight distribution is critical—keep your knee on the inside and your other foot close by for stability. Position your hands on the inside (hips, armpits, or inside of the armpits on the mat) so you can lean in effectively.
When should I switch from smash pass to knee cut pass?
The more your opponent resists the smash pass, the more you should transition into a knee cut pass. Similarly, if they resist the knee cut, you pivot back to the smash pass.
What's the biggest mistake when finishing a knee cut pass?
Don't slide to two knees immediately or put your knees on the mat too early, as this creates too much space and allows your opponent to recover their guard. Instead, keep your weight into your partner and maintain control of the arm as you pass.
How does the Headquarters Pass work?
The Headquarters Pass family covers passing techniques from the 'headquarters' stance — the kneeling position with one knee up (foot flat on the mat) and one knee down, positioned between the opponent's legs, which serves as the central launching pad for multiple guard passes. The headquarters position is considered the most tactically versatile passing stance because from this single position, the passer can launch a knee cut pass (to the knee-up side), a backstep pass (to the other side), a toreando (by standing up), or a leg drag (by gripping and pulling).
Where does the Headquarters Pass come from?
The headquarters position was codified as a passing concept in the 2010s as BJJ instruction became more systematic. While the kneeling stance between the opponent's legs has existed since BJJ's earliest era, naming it 'headquarters' and teaching it as a deliberate decision-making position was a modern pedagogical innovation.
Is the Headquarters 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 Headquarters Pass?
Danger rating 3/10. Low — headquarters is a relatively stable position; the primary risk is being swept from the kneeling stance or pulled into guard
How do I set up the Headquarters Pass?
The standard setup chain: Break/Open Guard → Drop to Headquarters → Read the Guard → Strip Grips → Choose Pass Direction → Execute.
How do I defend against the Headquarters Pass?
Standard counters include: De La Riva Hook — hooking the raised knee side to off-balance / Sleeve Grips — controlling the passer's arms from guard / Butterfly Hook — inserting a hook under the kneeling knee for elevation / Collar Tie — gripping the collar to control posture from guard.
What are the variants of the Headquarters Pass?
Common variants: Standard headquarters (one knee up, one knee down between the legs [1]); Low headquarters (both knees down but one hip loaded forward; more pressure…); High headquarters (standing with one leg forward and one back; more mobile); Combat base (a related stance with one knee up, used for stability in …).
How effective is the Headquarters Pass in competition?
Headquarters is the most commonly used intermediate passing position in IBJJF competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Headquarters Pass?
Top errors to watch for: Sitting in headquarters too long — headquarters is a launch pad, not a base camp; lingering allows the guard player t… / Only passing to one side — headquarters' value is multi-directional passing; using only the knee cut makes you predic… / Not strip-gripping — allowing the guard player to establish deep grips from headquarters makes passing from any direc… / Knees too close together — the knees should be at least shoulder-width apart for base and mobility.
What are other names for the Headquarters Pass?
The Headquarters Pass is also known as HQ Pass, Headquarters Position, Combat Base Pass.