Introduction to Guard Pass Selection

The instructor presents five favorite guard passes chosen for personal preference and effectiveness rather than technical importance alone. He emphasizes that enjoying the techniques practiced enhances execution quality, as the artistic component of jiu-jitsu improves when practitioners engage enthusiastically with movements.

Pass Philosophy: Surprise and Timing

Effective guard passes typically catch opponents off-guard by presenting unexpected movements. The instructor notes that his preferred passes share a pattern of surprising the defender, requiring precise timing and positioning to succeed.

One-Arm Throw Variation with Sleeve Control

The passer centers the opponent first to flatten their hips, then establishes initial grips. When the opponent grabs the passer's sleeve defensively, the passer times an elbow lift that eliminates the opponent's floor frame on that side, creating space to advance to the mount or side control.

Knee Cut Against Flexible Knee Shield Guard

This pass addresses flexible guard players who maintain a knee shield and side tilt. The passer controls the top pant leg while stepping toward center, then times a sleeve grip capture with a simultaneous punch of the top hand behind the knee, clearing the leg to establish the knee cut position.

Leandro Lo Knee Cut Variation

This classic pass addresses situations where the opponent controls the passer's leg in De la Riva or similar position. The passer pins the opponent's hips to the floor by controlling the shin or pant leg, then shoots an underhook under the opponent's arm to drive the knee through to completion.

De la Riva Drop Pass Technique

This pass adapts the traditional closed guard knee drop to open guard scenarios. The passer controls the opponent's leg and extends it using the shin, then transitions to the pant leg to prevent knee retraction before advancing to pass.

My 5 Favourite Guard Passes

JonThomasBJJ

Guard Top

2 min read·6 key moments·PT9M26S video

Key Takeaways

•Introduction to Guard Pass Selection
•Pass Philosophy: Surprise and Timing
•One-Arm Throw Variation with Sleeve Control
•Knee Cut Against Flexible Knee Shield Guard

So I often get asked what is my favourite guard pass so I thought I would do a video about 5 of my favourite passes from different positions. These passes are not necessarily the most important but the ones that I enjoy doing the most due to their surprising nature. My Instructionals: https://www.jonthomasbjj.com/collections Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonthomasbjj/ Kimonos Here https://www.vitalkimonos.com/

Related Techniques

Guard Pass Guard Mount Side Control Back Position

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this video teach about guard top?

This video covers introduction to guard pass selection, pass philosophy: surprise and timing, one-arm throw variation with sleeve control. It provides detailed instruction from JonThomasBJJ.

How long does it take to learn guard top?

The basic mechanics can be understood in a single session, but developing reliable execution requires consistent drilling over weeks of practice. This 6-part breakdown helps structure your training by isolating each phase of the technique.