Why the Over-Under Pass is a Must for Every Grappler
In the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), wrestling, and MMA, passing the guard is one of the most critical skills for advancing your position and setting up submissions or ground-and-pound. Enter the over-under pass, a powerhouse technique popularized by Jimmy Pedro, the legendary judo Olympian and BJJ black belt coach. This pass slices through closed guard like a hot knife through butter, giving you control and momentum to transition to side control or mount.
Jimmy Pedro, with his background in international judo competition (including bronze medals at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics) and decades coaching top grapplers, breaks it down perfectly. Whether you're a white belt building fundamentals or a black belt refining your top game, this pass offers versatility across combat sports. It's explosive for no-gi MMA, precise for gi BJJ, and adaptable for wrestling scrambles. Let's dive deep into the mechanics, grips, steps, and pro tips to make it yours.
Grip Fighting: The Foundation of Success
Before launching the pass, dominate the grip battle. Jimmy emphasizes starting from closed guard where your opponent has their ankles crossed tightly.
- Posture up tall: Kneel between their legs with your head up and chest expanded. Avoid leaning forward—stay athletic.
- Secure the two-on-one grip: Grab their sleeve cuff with your near-side hand (the one closest to their hip you're attacking). Your far-side hand grips deep inside their same-side collar or lapel, pulling it across their body.
- Elbow control: Pin their elbow to their hip with your near-side forearm. This breaks their posture and prevents framing.
Pro Tip: If they resist, circle your grip hand to the back of their triceps for an overhook. This neutralizes their posting arm and opens the path for the pass. Practice this grip fight in isolation drills to build speed and sensitivity.
Step 1: The Over-Under Entry – Load and Explode
The magic happens in the entry. Here's how Jimmy Pedro sets it up:
1. Drive your shoulder into their hip: With grips locked, step your knee inside their thigh on the near side. Pin your shoulder against their hip bone to squash their knee line.
2. Thread the underhook: Slide your far-side arm (collar grip arm) deep under their far thigh. Your elbow should paste to their hamstring—deep and tight like threading a needle.
3. Overhook the near leg: Your near-side arm (sleeve grip) now swings over the top of their near knee, securing an overhook. Hug both legs together firmly.
Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't let your head pop up too early—keep your eyes on their belt line to maintain connection. In MMA, this prevents guillotine counters; in BJJ gi, it blocks collar grips.
Real-World Application: Picture Ronda Rousey using a similar over-under blitz in her UFC fights—relentless pressure leading to side control dominance.
Step 2: The Pass Motion – Rotate and Advance
Once grips are set, initiate the pass with hip explosion:
- Walk your hips forward: Step your inside knee high on their hip, walking around their body. Your underhook arm pulls their thigh toward you while the overhook pushes down.
- Rotate your torso: Turn your chest perpendicular to their spine. This torque forces their legs to unwind.
- Kneel to side control: As their legs open, base out with your far knee, knee-cut across their thigh, and land in knee-on-belly or side control.
Drill Variation for Wrestling/MMA: No-gi version—use head pressure instead of collar grips. Pinch your elbow to your ribs for the underhook to mimic wrestling whizzers.
Energy Efficiency Hack: Breathe explosively on the entry, then control with steady pressure. Jimmy notes this conserves gas for long rolls or tournament matches.
Step 3: Finishing Strong – Transitions and Follow-Ups
Don't stop at the pass—chain it for dominance:
- From knee-on-belly: Threaten the armbar or transition to mount.
- Counter their recovery: If they hip escape, immediately re-attack with a torreando pass or leg drag.
- Gi-Specific Tweak: Use the gripped lapel to circle under their leg fully, preventing half-guard recovery.
Troubleshooting Resistance:
- Ankles stay locked? Stack deeply, prying with your shin on their crossed feet.
- Strong frame? Off-balance them with a shoulder bump to the chest first.
- Hip movement? Counter with your own hip switch to maintain angle.
Training Drills to Internalize the Over-Under Pass
Jimmy Pedro's coaching philosophy stresses positional sparring. Build this into your routine:
1. Shadow Passing: 5 minutes solo, focusing on grips and rotation.
2. Partner Flow Rolls: Start in closed guard, pass 10x each side without resistance.
3. Live Resistance: Full guard passing rounds, scoring points for clean passes.
4. Competition Simulation: Add a 5-second scramble timer to mimic MMA chaos.
Progression for Levels:
- Beginners: Focus on grips and static holds.
- Intermediate: Add speed and live reps.
- Advanced: Chain with back takes or leg locks.
Incorporate this 3x/week, and you'll see passes skyrocket. Pair it with quality rash guards and gis from Apollo MMA for grip strength without slippage.
Why Over-Under Fits Every Combat Sport
- BJJ: Precision guard passing for points.
- Wrestling: Leg attack defense and ride control.
- MMA: Bridges seamlessly into top pressure and strikes.
- Muay Thai Clinch Work: Over-under grips translate to plum control.
Final Tips from Jimmy Pedro's Playbook
- Stay connected: No space = no escapes.
- Use angles: Always circle to their weak side.
- Drill daily: Repetition breeds instinct.
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