Folding Pass
Guard pass · Open Guard
The folding pass takes you from in front of his open guard to side control when he curls both knees to his chest. Anchor his upper body first, far shoulder, collar or underhook, so it cannot turn while you move the legs. Grip both knees together, push them past his centre line to one side so his hips turn away, and fold them down to the mat, pinning with your hands or shin. Slide your chest over the folded legs toward his head, your weight going through his shins into his chest, not into the mat, then take the crossface. Both knees go together; one at a time leaves the other free to frame. As soon as your chest lifts, the legs come back up. If he turns to his knees, take the Seatbelt Back Take.
How to do it
- They pull both knees to the chest; grip both knees or the pants at the knees, holding the two legs together.
- Anchor the far shoulder, collar or underhook first, so their upper body cannot turn while you move the legs.
- Push both knees to one side, past their centre line, so their hips turn and they cannot square up to you.
- Fold the knees down to the mat and pin them with your hands or shin, staying low with your weight on the knees.
- Slide your chest over the folded legs towards their head: your weight rides through their shins into their chest, not into the mat.
- Take the crossface and settle in side control, releasing the knees only when your chest is on them.
Key details
- Both knees go together, never one at a time: a single knee leaves the other free to frame.
- Past the centre line: then they cannot square up.
- Chest pressure keeps the legs folded; as soon as the chest lifts, the legs come back up.
- Your weight rides the fold through their shins into their chest, not into the mat.
- Anchor the far shoulder, collar or underhook before you slide around, so the upper body cannot follow the legs back.
- Put all your weight into one spot: your hip bone drilling into the space between their hip and knee, four fingers behind their neck and the other hand on the lapel, folding them into a letter C, knee toward their nose.
Common mistakes
- Pushing the knees only a little to the side. — Short of the centre line, the knees come straight back to the middle. — Push them fully past the centre line.
- Letting go before the chest arrives. — The legs pop back up and reguard. — Pin the knees until your chest is on them.
- Standing tall over them. — Your weight is off the knees, and they kick you away with both feet. — Stay low with your weight on the knees.
- Pushing behind their knees and stepping over with the foot. — Their legs still move, and a trailing foot gets hooked, which slows the pass. — Push against the calves and heels and step over with the knee, then connect the elbow over their hip.
If they defend
- They frame on your neck. → Switch sides and fold the knees the other way.
How to drill it
Partner on the back with knees to the chest, 8 folds each side, then 1-minute passing rounds.
What comes next