Complete BJJ Passing Systems Guide

Master complete BJJ passing systems: pressure passing, speed passing, leg drag, knee cut, toreando, and how to build a complete passing game.

A complete passing game means having answers to every guard variation and being able to switch between passing styles based on your opponent's reactions. This guide covers the major passing systems and how to combine them.

Contents

The Two Passing Philosophies

All guard passing falls into two philosophies:

Pressure passing — use weight, tightness, and slow advancement. Best against flexible guards and tall opponents.
Speed/movement passing — use fast angles, footwork, and explosive movement. Best against heavy pressure guards.

Elite passers can use both. When pressure fails, transition to speed; when speed fails, slow down into pressure.

Passing System 1: Stack & Smash

Best against open guard, DLR, and flexible guards. Stack your opponent's legs and pass over the top.

Control the legs: two-on-one grip on near leg, elbow under far leg
Drive their knee toward their chest, killing their hip mobility
Walk around while maintaining the stack
Establish underhook or cross-face to secure side control

Passing System 2: Knee Cut

The knee cut is the most versatile pass in BJJ — works from seated, standing, or after a failed stack.

Establish cross-grip on far lapel or far hip
Knee slides between partner's thighs
Hip down, connect, drive through
Redirect to back step or torreando if blocked

Passing System 3: Toreando

Excellent against seated open guard and collar-sleeve. Grab both pants at the knee/ankle, redirect the legs aside, pass.

Key detail: The redirect must be sudden — a slow redirect gives time to recover guard. Drive the legs sharply to the mat on one side while your body goes the other way.

Passing System 4: Leg Drag

One of the most effective modern passes. Control one leg, drag it across your centerline, establish side body.

Control outside of partner's near leg at the knee
Drag their leg across as you step to the side
Establish the leg triangle (scissors) to control their hip
Convert to back take or pass to side control

Switching Between Systems

The mark of an advanced passer is fluid switching between systems in the same pass attempt. Train the transitions between passes as carefully as the passes themselves.

Passing by Guard Type

Closed guard: Break open → immediate toreando or leg drag
Half guard: Underhook + head control → knee cut through
Spider guard: Clear grips → toreando while rising
DLR: Stack → smash pass or step over the hook
Butterfly: Post and sprawl → knee cut from the side

FAQ

How many passes do I need to know?

You need depth more than breadth. Master 2–3 passes completely before adding more. A deep knee cut beats a shallow knowledge of 10 passes.

Should I use pressure or speed passing?

Develop both. Start with one that suits your build (bigger players often prefer pressure) but train the other to avoid being predictable.

What's the best pass for competition?

The pass you drill the most. Competition reliability comes from repetition, not from which pass is theoretically "best".

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Ashi Garami Entries While Passing Back Step Guard Pass Bullfighter Pass System Cartwheel Pass: Advanced Technique Countering Leg Drag Pass Countering Pressure Pass