A Fantastic PASS - The OVER UNDER Pass!
0
Over-Under Pass·The Grappling Academy
SALE SALE SALE OVER 50% OFF – BOX SET – ALL 4 COURSES 50% OFF CLICK HERE – https://bit.ly/2lAOHmp • The Blue Belt Sup…
Over-Under Pass
SubFamilyオーバーアンダーパス
TransliterationTranslation
Not yet documented
Overview
The Over-Under Pass is the signature pressure pass where the passer secures one arm OVER the opponent's far leg and one arm UNDER the near leg, clasps the hands, and drives heavy chest pressure to flatten and advance past the guard — the technique that defined Bernardo Faria's 5x World Championship career. [1] The over-under configuration creates a split in the guard player's leg defence, with each arm controlling one leg in a different direction, making it impossible for the guard player to use both legs defensively. [1],[2] This is the quintessential 'grinding' pass — slow, methodical, heavy, and nearly inescapable when properly applied. [2],[3]
Over UnderOver-Under Hook PassBoxing
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Lineage
Systematised by Bernardo Faria (5x IBJJF World Champion). [1]
Competition Record
Bernardo Faria won 5 IBJJF World Championships primarily with the over-under pass. [1]
Images
No images yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest an image.
Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Splitting the guard player's legs with one arm over and one arm under, clasping hands, and driving heavy chest pressure to flatten and advance
Joints Involved — Arms (one arm threads under the near leg cupping the far hip, one drapes over the far leg gripping the belt/hip), chest (the primary pressure surface driving into the guard player), hips (dropping heavy to eliminate movement)
Force Vector — Downward-forward — constant heavy pressure through chest into the opponent while slowly advancing past the leg line
Pass Mechanic — The over-under grip creates a split: the under arm prevents the near leg from creating a frame, while the over arm pins the far leg; with both legs neutralised, the passer drives heavy pressure and hip-switches to advance
Position & Entry
From inside closed guard — After breaking the closed guard, thread one arm under the near leg and one over the far leg, clasp hands, and begin driving pressure [1]
From half guard top — Establish the over-under configuration from top half guard and use it to complete the pass
From open guard engagement — When the guard player plays open guard, secure the over-under grips before they establish offensive grips [2]
Videos
Over under pass (Lachlan Giles)
0
Over-Under Pass·Absolute MMA St Kilda - Melbourne
2 videos
Learn This Technique
No instructional courses yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest a course.
Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
2
Low2/10
The over-under pass maintains constant heavy contact, minimising the guard player's offensive options
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
✓Bernardo Faria is the definitive study — he won 5 World Championships almost exclusively with this pass [1]
✓The clasp must be tight — Gable grip or S-grip behind the opponent's far hip
✓Hips must be LOW and HEAVY — high hips = space = guard recovery
✓Don't rush — the over-under is a slow grind; patience defeats the guard player's energy [2]
✓Hip switching advances the pass — shift the hips side to side to walk past the legs
Common Mistakes
!Hips too high — creates space for the guard player
!Rushing — the over-under is slow by design
!Not clasping hands — loose grips lose control
!Head on the wrong side — head position determines the passing angle
!Not hip switching — static pressure without hip movement doesn't advance
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Break Guard
2Thread Over-Under Grips
3Clasp Hands
4Drop Chest Pressure
5Hip Switch to Advance
6Consolidate Side Control
Sources & References
Primary Source
Pressure Passing (Bernardo Faria, BJJ Fanatics)
1BookPressure Passing (Bernardo Faria, BJJ Fanatics)
Description sources — [1] Bernardo Faria's competition career [2] Pressure passing methodology
2BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationPressure Passing (Bernardo Faria, BJJ Fanatics)
Description sources — [1] Bernardo Faria's competition career [2] Pressure passing methodology
5CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Community
Athletics
Requires
heavy chest pressure, grip endurance, patience
Favours
heavy bodyweight, wide shoulders, strong core
Key muscles
chest (pressure), forearms (clasp grip), core (hip switching)
Sub-techniques
Notes
The over-under pass uses one arm over and one arm under the opponent's legs — creating an asymmetric pressure that is very difficult to defend. Bernardo Faria's over-under system is considered the gold standard. (Faria, instructional series)
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my opponent keeps pummeling and I can't move my knee forward?
Keep your head in front and circle while gripping the leg. If the space is locked off and you can't go forward with your knee, step over the leg to start getting into the over-under position, as Lachlan Giles explains in his instructional.
How do I prevent my opponent from hip escaping once I'm in the over-under position?
Use your forearm to pull back against the thigh to stop your opponent from stepping their foot to the mat or escaping. By preventing their leg from touching the ground, you make it harder for them to turn and hip escape, according to Lachlan Giles.
What's the safest way to finish the over-under pass once I have control?
Drop your shoulder and hip to get maximum distance and reach for the far lapel, as this prevents your arm from getting blocked. Once you have control there, you can walk up into side control, finishing from a smash pass position.
Where should I place my arm in the over-under grip?
You want this arm pretty deep to avoid giving your opponent a triangle opportunity. Once positioned deeply, it becomes easier to move forward or pull through, and you can upgrade your grip when needed to complete the pass.
How does the Over-Under Pass work?
The Over-Under Pass is the signature pressure pass where the passer secures one arm OVER the opponent's far leg and one arm UNDER the near leg, clasps the hands, and drives heavy chest pressure to flatten and advance past the guard — the technique that defined Bernardo Faria's 5x World Championship career. The over-under configuration creates a split in the guard player's leg defence, with each arm controlling one leg in a different direction, making it impossible for the guard player to use both legs defensively.
Where does the Over-Under Pass come from?
The over-under pass was systematised by Bernardo Faria, whose 5 IBJJF World Championship titles were built on this single passing technique.
Is the Over-Under 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 Over-Under Pass?
Danger rating 2/10. Low — the over-under pass maintains constant heavy contact, minimising the guard player's offensive options
How do I set up the Over-Under Pass?
The standard setup chain: Break Guard → Thread Over-Under Grips → Clasp Hands → Drop Chest Pressure → Hip Switch to Advance → Consolidate Side Control.
How do I defend against the Over-Under Pass?
Standard counters include: Frame and Shrimp — creating distance / Underhook from bottom — fighting for the underhook / Inversion — going upside down to recover guard / Leg pummel — fighting the legs free from the over-under.
What are the variants of the Over-Under Pass?
Common variants: Standard over-under (clasped hands with chest pressure [1]); Over-under to mount (advancing directly to mount instead of side control); Over-under with head position variations (head inside vs outside changes the passing angle); Over-under to leg drag (transitioning to leg drag when the standard pass is defen…).
How effective is the Over-Under Pass in competition?
Bernardo Faria won 5 IBJJF World Championships primarily with the over-under pass.
What are common mistakes when doing the Over-Under Pass?
Top errors to watch for: Hips too high — creates space for the guard player / Rushing — the over-under is slow by design / Not clasping hands — loose grips lose control / Head on the wrong side — head position determines the passing angle.
What are other names for the Over-Under Pass?
The Over-Under Pass is also known as Over Under, Over-Under Hook Pass.