Discover Nakamura Daisuke: Japan's Guard Passing Wizard
Nakamura Daisuke stands out as one of Japan's top Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts, renowned for his dynamic and creative approach to the sport. Competing at the elite level, he's captured multiple high-profile victories and consistently showcases innovative techniques that blend precision with aggression. Whether you're into BJJ competitions, MMA training, or no-gi grappling sessions, Daisuke's style offers valuable lessons for fighters looking to dominate from top positions.
In this feature, we highlight a curated mixtape of his most memorable performances, followed by an in-depth tutorial on one of his signature moves: the inverted guard pass to back take. This technique is a game-changer for passing modern, flexible guards commonly seen in today's BJJ and MMA scenes, transitioning fluidly into a dominant back position for submissions or control.
Nakamura Daisuke Mixtape Highlights
Daisuke's competition footage reveals a grappler who thrives on pressure and adaptability. Watch as he dissects opponents' guards with relentless forward drive, chains attacks seamlessly, and capitalizes on openings for back takes. Key moments include:
- Explosive entries against berimbolo threats.
- Creative passes blending knee cuts with torreando flourishes.
- High-percentage back attacks that finish matches.
These clips aren't just highlights—they demonstrate real-world application under pressure, ideal for studying during your own drilling sessions. For MMA enthusiasts, Daisuke's no-gi focus translates directly to cage grappling, where guard passing often decides rounds.
Breaking Down the Inverted Guard Pass to Back Take
This technique shines against opponents who invert to escape pressure or launch leg entanglements. Daisuke starts from a standard knee-cut pass setup but flips the script with an inverted entry, using hip mobility to off-balance and isolate the back. It's effective in gi, no-gi, and even wrestling scenarios where bottom players go dynamic.
Prerequisites and Setup
Before diving in, ensure you're comfortable with:
- Basic knee-cut passes.
- Strong base and hip mobility.
- Grip fighting from the top.
Position yourself in combat base, with your knee on the belly or cutting across the hip. The opponent has inverted, one leg lassoed or hooked high.
Step-by-Step Execution
1. Establish the Initial Pass Grip: As the opponent inverts, post your far hand on their hip to block the re-guard. Your near knee drives across their thigh, pinching it to the mat. Keep your elbow tight to prevent underhooks.
2. Drop into the Inverted Position: Swing your hips low and rotate your body inverted (belly to mat) alongside theirs. Your head stays active, pressuring their chest while your outside leg hooks over their inverting leg for control.
3. Hip Switch and Back Isolation: Explode your hips up and across, switching your base to free your passing leg. Use your head and shoulder to drive their upper body flat, exposing the back line. Your free hand snakes under their armpit for the seatbelt grip.
4. Secure the Back Take: Pull with the seatbelt while your other arm threads deep for the two-on-one back control. Walk your knees up, locking your shin across their thigh to prevent hip escape. From here, attack with rear-naked chokes or body triangles.
5. Common Counters and Adjustments:
- If they frame your face: Circle your head out and re-pressure with your shoulder.
- Against strong leg pummel: Elevate their leg higher and knee shield to reset.
- In no-gi: Rely on underhooks and wrist control instead of collar grips.
Drilling Tips for Mastery
- Solo Drills: Practice the hip switch on a dummy, focusing on speed and depth.
- Partner Flow: Start slow from inverted guard, chain to knee cut if they defend.
- Live Rolling Integration: Use in sparring when you hit resistance on standard passes—surprise factor is huge.
For Muay Thai or kickboxing cross-trainers, this builds the ground control needed after takedowns. Wrestlers will appreciate the leg control mirroring freestyle scrambles.
Why This Technique Fits Your Game
Daisuke's method counters the leggy, inverted meta dominating ADCC and IBJJF. It's low-risk, high-reward, leading directly to finishes. Intermediate to advanced grapplers will see quick improvements; beginners can build toward it by drilling components.
Elevate your passing arsenal and check out quality BJJ gear like rash guards and shorts from Apollo MMA to stay comfortable during intense sessions. Whether stacking Scramble gis or no-gi apparel, the right fit enhances mobility for these dynamic moves.
Train smart, pass guards, take backs—become unstoppable like Daisuke.
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