When I’m in class we drill passing the guard a lot. And lately I’ve been the pass-e, not the pass-er. Mostly I think the problem is I sit back and wait rather than being first.

So if you’re seated in your butterfly guard stance (sitting up, back bent slightly forward, legs curled in, elbows inside knees, hands and feet positioned in front of you) and an opponent standing in front of you is looking for an opening to pass your guard try attacking with Marcelo Garcia’s double knee control to x-guard and then work a sweep instead of being passive like me.

Double Knee Control to X-Guard

Step by Step:

  • Extend your legs in front of you and between your opponent’s legs
  • Dig the heels of your feet into the mat and using the strength of your hamstrings scoot your ass toward your feet closing the distance
  • Cup your hands around the outside of both his knees (hence “double knee control”)
  • Hook your right foot behind his left knee, use your cupped right hand to pull on his left leg toward you, and roll your weight to your left side all in a simultaneous fashion
  • Maintain your hook and cup around his left knee and continue rolling to your back
  • Once you’re on your back you need to force him to step the left leg you have control of over your body. Do that by pushing off the mat with your left foot, turning your body in a clockwise direction, and pulling on his left leg off the mat using your cupped hand and hooked foot
  • After he steps over your body release your cupped left hand and wrap your left arm around the back of his right knee and re-cup your left hand around the front of his thigh just above the knee
  • Now maneuver your left leg to the inside of his left thigh
  • Release your cupped right hand and wrap your right arm over the top of his right leg and grip the outside of his right calf
  • Turn in a clockwise direction to position your opponent’s right leg snuggly above your left shoulder
  • Straighten your legs to stretch out his base and work for the sweep