Backstep Pass
Guard pass · Half Guard
The backstep takes you from half guard top, when he has beaten you to the underhook, to side control on the other side. Clamp his underhooking arm to your side with your arm and post the other hand on the mat. Tripod up on your feet and lift your hips: the trapped knee comes out of his lock first, the foot follows. Turn in line with him and rest your freed shin over his top leg, sitting back on it; tilt him flat, let go of the clamp and post that hand on the mat by his head, then step the free leg back behind his top leg, pinching it, rather than wide, then lower your hips, underhook his far leg, bring the clamping arm under his neck and turn straight into side control. Act at once: every second with his underhook brings him closer to your back. If he traps both your legs, you are back in Half Guard Top.
How to do it
- In their half guard they win a deep underhook: clamp that arm to your side with your arm and post the other hand on the mat.
- Tripod up and turn in line with them, facing the way they face, so the trapped knee comes free over their top leg; rest your shin on that leg and sit your weight back on it.
- Tilt them back flat, then let go of the clamp and post that hand on the mat low by their head, blocking it, and step your free leg back behind their top leg, pinching it between your legs rather than stepping wide.
- Lower your hips to the mat, underhook their far leg and bring the clamping arm under their neck.
- Free the leg and keep turning straight into side control, without stopping in the reverse position.
Key details
- It is the pass for when they beat you to the underhook.
- Clamp the underhooking arm so they cannot take your back during the turn.
- Free the knee first; the foot follows. Lifting the hips takes the knee out of their leg lock.
- Act at once: the longer they keep the underhook, the closer they are to coming up or taking the back.
Common mistakes
- Turning without clamping the arm. — Their underhook stays free, so they follow you and take the back. — Clamp the underhooking arm first.
- Pulling the foot out first. — The knee stays trapped and the leg locks again. — Lift the hips to free the knee.
- Stopping in the reverse position. — They recover half guard or attack a leg. — Keep turning straight into side control.
- Stepping back with the knee still trapped and no weight on their top leg. — Their free leg hooks yours and pushes you down: they are on your back. — Free the knee over the top and sit back on their top leg before you step.
- Keeping the overhook as you step back. — You have no post, and they roll you onto your back. — Let go as you step and post the hand low by their head.
If they defend
- They enter a leg lock as you turn. → Hide the heel and finish the turn quickly.
How to drill it
Partner in half guard takes the underhook, 8 backsteps each side, then 1-minute rounds.
Where it comes from