Fundamentals Lesson 1: Double Leg Stack Pass
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Standard Stack Pass·ATOS Jiu-Jitsu Modesto·Added by Admin
Standard Stack Pass
Genusスタックパス(Sutakku Pasu)
TransliterationTranslation: stack pass
Overview
The stack pass is a fundamental pressure-based guard pass where the passer places the opponent's legs on their shoulders, rises onto their toes, and drives forward to fold the opponent in half — stacking their hips over their shoulders. [1] This creates extreme downward pressure as the opponent bears both their own inverted body weight and the passer's driving force simultaneously. One of the oldest guard passes in BJJ, it became widely associated with the Carlson Gracie lineage in the mid-1980s and remains a core technique from white belt through black belt. [2] Andre Galvao (6x IBJJF World Champion, 6x ADCC Champion) has produced the most comprehensive modern treatment of the system.
Stack PassStacking PassStack Guard PassFolding Pass
History & Origin
The stack pass originated in the early days of BJJ competition and became widely associated with the Carlson Gracie lineage in the mid-1980s, where stacking from closed guard was a core competitive strategy. [1] The Sao Paulo pass variant was created by Roberto Tozi, a judo and BJJ black belt. [2] In the modern era, Andre Galvao has produced the most comprehensive system.
Effectiveness
One of the most fundamental and commonly used guard passes at all belt levels. Particularly effective for heavier and stronger grapplers who can generate crushing stacking pressure. Functions as a hub for the entire pressure passing game, chaining naturally with over-under, double under, and body lock variations. [1]
Lineage
From the Carlson Gracie lineage (mid-1980s) through modern systematization by Andre Galvao. The Sao Paulo pass variant was developed by Roberto Tozi. One of the oldest passes in continuous competitive use.
Competition Record
Andre Galvao: 6x IBJJF World Champion, 6x ADCC Champion. Bernardo Faria: 5x IBJJF World Champion. Fabio Gurgel: 4x World Champion, Alliance founder. All used stack passing as a core element of their competitive guard passing systems.
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Opponent's legs placed on passer's shoulders, then passer rises on toes and drives head forward, folding opponent's body in half by driving hips over their head
Force Vector — Gravity plus the passer's body weight compress the opponent through their own folded legs into their torso
Leverage Principle — The opponent bears both their own inverted weight and the passer's driving weight simultaneously — double loading
Finishing Mechanic — Passer sprawls and places weight on opponent's folded legs while angling body to one side, sliding past the leg barrier to side control
Position & Entry
From closed guard — Break open the guard, immediately place both legs on shoulders and begin stacking
From open guard — When opponent's legs are raised, drive under both legs and begin stacking pressure
From standing — Drive hips forward from standing position in guard, forcing opponent's legs over their body
Variants
Single stack pass — one arm under one leg, the other controlling the hip or pant cuff; the basic version
Double underhook stack pass — both arms under both legs, lifting hips and stacking for maximum pressure
Sao Paulo pass (Tozi Pass) — created by Roberto Tozi, a crushing pressure variant effective against closed, Z, and butterfly guard
Standing stack pass — posture up from standing, drive hips forward and stack before dropping pressure
Knee-cut stack pass — incorporates stacking elements while using the knee to slice through
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
3
Moderate3/10
Moderate danger — primary risk is compressive force on the bottom player's cervical spine and neck when being folded; the bottom player must tap or communicate if neck pressure 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
✓The stack pass is one of the first guard passes most BJJ practitioners learn. Andre Galvao's 4-volume instructional 'The Stack Pass' (BJJ Fanatics) is the most comprehensive modern treatment. Fabio Gurgel's 'Pressure Passing System' (Grapplearts) also covers the stack pass extensively. The key mechanical principle is using gravity as the primary weapon — once the opponent is fully stacked (hips over their shoulders), they bear both their own inverted weight and the passer's weight, making guard recovery nearly impossible. The knees should be placed under the opponent's hips with one hand gripping the collar or shoulder and the other gripping belt or pants, lifting upward. A critical safety concern is the compressive force on the bottom player's cervical spine — this is one of the few legal techniques that can cause neck injuries, including facet syndrome. The primary counter is the triangle choke, which becomes available when the passer allows asymmetric arm positioning. Maintaining both underhooks prevents this counter.
Common Mistakes
!Not stacking high enough — insufficient compression allows the guard player to retain hip mobility
!Allowing one arm to be isolated — creates triangle choke opportunity
!Not angling to finish — driving straight forward without angling to one side makes the pass harder
!Head position too high — head should drive into opponent to maximize stacking compression
!Not using collar or shoulder grip — gripping high provides critical control during the stacking action
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Triangle Choke — the primary counter; available when passer allows asymmetric arm position (one arm in, one arm out)Kimura — attack the passer's arm when committed to controlling the legsOmoplata — shoulder lock when passer's arm is isolatedHip Escape — shrimp to prevent the stack from being fully establishedInverting — flexible guard players can invert to relieve pressure and reguard
Setup Chain
1Establish Posture in Guard — secure solid base with upright posture
2Break Open the Guard — use posture and hip pressure to open closed guard
3Place Legs on Shoulders — position both of opponent's legs on your shoulders
4Rise on Toes — lift knees off the ground and drive forward
5Stack the Opponent — fold opponent by driving their hips over their head
6Angle and Slide Through — choose a side, angle body, and slide past the legs to side control
Sources & References
Primary Source
The Stack Pass (Galvao, BJJ Fanatics) — Comprehensive Stack Passing System
1BookThe Stack Pass (Galvao, BJJ Fanatics)
System instructional — [1] The Stack Pass (Galvao, BJJ Fanatics) — 4-volume comprehensive system
2BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Textbook — [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) — brown belt guard passing chapter
3BookPassing the Guard (Beneville & Cartmell, 2009)
4BookThe Pressure Passing System (Gurgel, Grapplearts)
5OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
6CitationThe Stack Pass (Galvao, BJJ Fanatics)
System instructional — [1] The Stack Pass (Galvao, BJJ Fanatics) — 4-volume comprehensive system
7CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Textbook — [2] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) — brown belt guard passing chapter
8CitationPassing the Guard (Beneville & Cartmell, 2009)
9CitationThe Pressure Passing System (Gurgel, Grapplearts)
Community
Athletics
Requires
upper body strength for lifting and stacking, balance, posture
Favours
heavier build for generating stacking pressure
Key muscles
shoulders, quadriceps, core stabilizers, neck muscles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I position my elbows when setting up the stack pass?
Keep your elbows in tight to your body—never let them flare out. According to ATOS Jiu-Jitsu Modesto, hiding your elbows in is essential to the technique's foundation.
What's the most common mistake people make with the stack pass?
Most people try to use their upper body to throw the opponent's legs over, when the real key is driving intense pressure down on the legs to make it uncomfortable for the bottom person—especially restricting their breathing. ATOS Jiu-Jitsu Modesto emphasizes that this pressure, not upper body strength, is what makes the pass work.
How do I transition from lifting my opponent to getting to my feet in the stack pass?
Lift your opponent's hips slightly off the mat and walk underneath their body while driving their knees toward their face. This motion, combined with driving into your feet, creates the forward pressure needed to complete the pass.
How does the Standard Stack Pass work?
The stack pass is a fundamental pressure-based guard pass where the passer places the opponent's legs on their shoulders, rises onto their toes, and drives forward to fold the opponent in half — stacking their hips over their shoulders. This creates extreme downward pressure as the opponent bears both their own inverted body weight and the passer's driving force simultaneously.
Where does the Standard Stack Pass come from?
The stack pass originated in the early days of BJJ competition and became widely associated with the Carlson Gracie lineage in the mid-1980s, where stacking from closed guard was a core competitive strategy. The Sao Paulo pass variant was created by Roberto Tozi, a judo and BJJ black belt.
Is the Standard 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 Standard Stack Pass?
Danger rating 3/10. Low-moderate danger — primary risk is compressive force on the bottom player's cervical spine and neck when being folded; the bottom player must tap or communicate if neck pressure becomes dangerous
How do I set up the Standard Stack Pass?
The standard setup chain: Establish Posture in Guard → Break Open the Guard → Place Legs on Shoulders → Rise on Toes → Stack the Opponent → Angle and Slide Through.
How do I defend against the Standard Stack Pass?
Standard counters include: Triangle Choke — the primary counter; available when passer allows asymmetric arm position (one arm in, one arm out) / Kimura — attack the passer's arm when committed to controlling the legs / Omoplata — shoulder lock when passer's arm is isolated / Hip Escape — shrimp to prevent the stack from being fully established.
What are the variants of the Standard Stack Pass?
Common variants: Single stack pass (one arm under one leg, the other controlling the hip or p…); Double underhook stack pass (both arms under both legs, lifting hips and stacking for …); Sao Paulo pass (Tozi Pass) (created by Roberto Tozi, a crushing pressure variant effe…); Standing stack pass (posture up from standing, drive hips forward and stack be…); Knee-cut stack pass (incorporates stacking elements while using the knee to sl…).
How effective is the Standard Stack Pass in competition?
Andre Galvao: 6x IBJJF World Champion, 6x ADCC Champion. Bernardo Faria: 5x IBJJF World Champion.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard Stack Pass?
Top errors to watch for: Not stacking high enough — insufficient compression allows the guard player to retain hip mobility / Allowing one arm to be isolated — creates triangle choke opportunity / Not angling to finish — driving straight forward without angling to one side makes the pass harder / Head position too high — head should drive into opponent to maximize stacking compression.
What are other names for the Standard Stack Pass?
The Standard Stack Pass is also known as Sutakku Pasu, Stack Pass, Stacking Pass, Stack Guard Pass, Folding Pass.