Here’s an advanced BJJ guard passing drill to help you with your reflexes and your conditioning.
We’re going to do the matador pass and then we’ll combine that with the leg drag pass.
Let’s start things off with looking at my stance. As I encroach my training partner’s guard, I have a distinct athletic stance. My knees are bent, my hands are up, and my hips are down.
Essentially, I want to have a series of 90 degree bends. My knees are bent at 90 degrees. My hips are bent at 90 degrees. And my arms are bent at 90 degrees.
With my fighting stance, I have mobility, stability, and I can manufacture force.
I engage my training partner’s guard by leading with my right knee. And right away, I want to control my training partner’s feet.
Firstly, let’s practice the matador pass. The matador pass is a 3 step process.
- Step out with my left foot
- Step forward with my right knee. My right knee is now next to my partner’s knees
- Walking forward with my left leg. My right knee on my partner’s stomach, and my hands on their hands.
Practice the matador pass with a focus on building smoothness, balance, and endurance.
Secondly, let’s now look at the next phase of the drill. This is when your partner defends the matador pass and re-establishes their guard using a half granby roll; meaning, they’re going to push on your right knee with their right hand and circle their legs so they can place their feet back on your hips.
Your partner executing the half granby creates a drill that is mutually beneficial. The student on top is practicing the matador drill. Plus, the student on bottom is perfecting their re-guarding technique and drilling the half granby.
At this time, I’d like to introduce you to the leg drag guard pass. The leg drag guard pass is a highly effective way to get your partner’s guard by shelving both of their legs on top of your leg.
Not only is the leg drag pass an effective way to pass your partner’s guard, it also works as path to your partner’s back.
Lastly, as a way to complete this drill, let’s look at a way to combine the matador pass with the leg drag pass.
Starting off, I’m going to hit my matador pass. Next, my partner defends the matador pass by pushing my knee and circling their legs; thus, doing a half granby. Finally, I’m able to counter my partner’s half granby by dropping down to my left hand, capturing their leg with my right hand, and driving my right knee in to land in the leg drag position.
In conclusion, this guard passing drill, simulates the common back and forth guard/re-guard battle seen during a typically rolling session.
