Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a truly a never-ending journey. There will always be something new to learn… But you’ve got to start somewhere. You have to start from the white belt level – no matter how confusing even the most basic of things seem to be.
One of those seemingly simple, yet surprisingly elusive things, is guard passing. Some time may pass until you, well, pass another person’s guard in training. So, if you want to start passing quicker, here is a great piece of advice from none other than Gui Mendes!
CRUCIAL GUARD PASSING PRINCIPLE BY GUI MENDES
Mendes explains that one of the most important principles in guard passing is managing your distance. That is: you have to watch out how close (and how far away) you’re standing to your training partner.
If you step in too close to them, they may start setting up their attacks; either by using a guard such as the De La Riva Guard, or by going immediately for a sweep.
Therefore, when approaching the training partner’s Open Guard, make sure that you lower your shoulders and that you keep your hips strong. Engage the partner at their feet. You can start going for the collar-reach guard passes a bit later, when you become more proficient.
Then, play around being able to shuffle from side to side. This is an extremely important mobility skill in BJJ… Watch the video below to learn why:
The Greatest Passer In BJJ History Reveals His Complete System For Destroying The Best Guards In The World And Why He Hasn’t Lost A Match At Worlds in 6 Years!
