Basic Stack Pass to Flow Pass - Andre Galvao
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Stack Pass
SubFamilyスタックパス
TransliterationTranslation
Not yet documented
Overview
The Stack Pass is a pressure-based guard pass where the passer drives the opponent's legs over their head by walking forward with chest pressure, compressing the guard player's spine until their hips leave the mat and their guard structure collapses — one of the most powerful and demoralising passes in BJJ. [1] The stack exploits the guard player's flexibility limit — by walking the hips forward while driving chest-to-chest, the passer progressively bends the guard player in half until their legs are over their head, at which point passing around the compressed legs is straightforward. [1],[2] The stack pass is particularly effective against closed guard and against guard players who rely on hip movement (shrimping), because the stacking action pins the hips above the head, eliminating all hip-based defence. [2],[3]
Stacking PassStack and SmashFolding Pass
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Lineage
One of the oldest BJJ guard passes, present in the Gracie curriculum from the earliest era. [1]
Competition Record
The stack pass is commonly used at all levels of IBJJF competition. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Walking forward with heavy pressure to bend the guard player's spine, lifting their hips above their head and compressing them until the guard structure collapses
Joints Involved — Passer's legs (walking forward to drive the stack), passer's chest (primary pressure surface driving into the guard player), opponent's spine (forced into extreme flexion — the limiting factor of the pass)
Force Vector — Forward-downward — the passer walks forward while driving their weight through the chest, progressively bending the guard player
Pass Mechanic — The stack eliminates the guard player's hip movement by lifting the hips above the head — once the hips are stacked, shrimping is impossible and the passer can pass around the compressed legs
Position & Entry
From inside closed guard — Break the guard, grab under both legs, walk forward driving the opponent's knees toward their face, then pass around the stacked legs [1]
From double under position — With both arms under the opponent's legs, stack by walking forward and driving shoulder pressure
Armbar defence stack — When caught in an armbar from guard, stack the opponent to relieve the armbar pressure and use the stacking position to pass [2]
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
4
Moderate4/10
The stack pass compresses the guard player's spine, which can cause discomfort in the cervical and thoracic spine; the guard player should tap if the spinal compression becomes dangerous
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Beginner
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
✓Walk forward with the LEGS, not the upper body — the power comes from stepping forward, not leaning [1]
✓The guard player's flexibility determines the stack's effectiveness — against very flexible opponents, the stack may not compress them sufficiently
✓The stack is an excellent armbar defence — when caught in an armbar, stacking the opponent compresses their body and relieves the elbow pressure
✓Be mindful of the guard player's neck — extreme stacking can compress the cervical spine dangerously; apply progressively [2]
Common Mistakes
!Leaning forward instead of walking — the power comes from leg drive
!Not controlling the legs — the guard player's legs must be controlled during the stack
!Stacking without purpose — the stack should lead to a pass; stacking and staying there is stalling
!Ignoring neck safety — extreme stacking can injure the cervical spine
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Break Guard
2Secure Legs (double under or single)
3Walk Forward
4Drive Chest Pressure
5Compress Until Hips Lift
6Pass Around Compressed Legs
7Consolidate Side Control
Sources & References
Primary Source
Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008)
1BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Description sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [2] BJJ passing methodology
2OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
3CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Description sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [2] BJJ passing methodology
Community
Athletics
Requires
leg drive, chest pressure, the ability to walk forward under load
Favours
heavy bodyweight, strong legs
Key muscles
quadriceps (walking forward), chest (pressure), core (maintaining the stack)
Sub-techniques
Notes
The stack pass folds the opponent in half by driving their legs over their head, then walking around to side control. A fundamental pressure pass taught in every BJJ curriculum. (Jiu-Jitsu University, Ribeiro)
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I be careful about when my opponent grabs my collar during a stack pass?
According to Andre Galvao, you need to watch for triangle and choke attempts when your opponent grabs your collar. To defend, turn your head, shrug your shoulders to make your neck harder to find, and keep your jaw positioned to one side.
Where should my forearm be positioned during the stack pass?
Andre Galvao emphasizes that your forearm must be connected to your opponent's hips, not their neck. Placing your forearm on the neck causes escapes, especially against flexible or high-level opponents who can open their elbow and insert their leg.
How do I position the opponent's legs over my shoulders in the stack pass?
According to Andre Galvao, you should lift one side of the opponent's body more than the other to bring their leg over your shoulder and near your head, rather than trying to stack both sides equally.
What can I do after trapping my opponent's arm during the stack pass?
Andre Galvao states that once you trap the arm with your leg, there are many transitions available, including north-south choke, Kimura, and triangle attempts.
How does the Stack Pass work?
The Stack Pass is a pressure-based guard pass where the passer drives the opponent's legs over their head by walking forward with chest pressure, compressing the guard player's spine until their hips leave the mat and their guard structure collapses — one of the most powerful and demoralising passes in BJJ. The stack exploits the guard player's flexibility limit — by walking the hips forward while driving chest-to-chest, the passer progressively bends the guard player in half until their legs are over their head, at which point passing around the compressed legs is straightforward.
Where does the Stack Pass come from?
The stack pass is one of the oldest guard passes in BJJ, used since the earliest competition era. It was a primary passing technique before modern speed and pressure passing systems were developed.
Is the 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 Stack Pass?
Danger rating 4/10. Moderate — the stack pass compresses the guard player's spine, which can cause discomfort in the cervical and thoracic spine; the guard player should tap if the spinal compression becomes dangerous
How do I set up the Stack Pass?
The standard setup chain: Break Guard → Secure Legs (double under or single) → Walk Forward → Drive Chest Pressure → Compress Until Hips Lift → Pass Around Compressed Legs → Consolidate Side Control.
How do I defend against the Stack Pass?
Standard counters include: Hip Escape before the stack — shrimping before the hips are lifted / Frame on hips — pushing against the passer's hips to prevent the forward drive / Shoulder walk — walking the shoulders backward to escape the compression / Guard re-establishment — using the unstacking moment to recover guard.
What are the variants of the Stack Pass?
Common variants: Double under stack (both arms under the legs [1]); Single stack (stacking with one arm under); Armbar defence stack (stacking to escape an armbar attempt); Stack to leg drag (transitioning from the stack to a leg drag pass); Stack to over-under (combining the stack with over-under grips [2]).
How effective is the Stack Pass in competition?
The stack pass is commonly used at all levels of IBJJF competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Stack Pass?
Top errors to watch for: Leaning forward instead of walking — the power comes from leg drive / Not controlling the legs — the guard player's legs must be controlled during the stack / Stacking without purpose — the stack should lead to a pass; stacking and staying there is stalling / Ignoring neck safety — extreme stacking can injure the cervical spine.
What are other names for the Stack Pass?
The Stack Pass is also known as Stacking Pass, Stack and Smash, Folding Pass.