It often happens that I'm trying to pass someone's guard, I'm in "combat base" (on one knee and one foot - that knee is touching my chest) and I'm trying to get my vertical leg between his legs so I can pass over his legs or double underhook his legs and pass under them.
But my opponent will not allow me to push his feet to the outside of my body, so my vertical leg is kind of touching one of his shins. His legs are bent, his knees close to his chest, he's a little bit on his side, but I've managed to free my arms so he's not grabbing them.
I want to pass his guard but, a) passing over his legs is difficult because his lower shin is in the way of my vertical shin, and b) passing under his legs is difficult because I can't get his feet to the outside of my body.
What kind of guard pass would you recommend in this situation?
This is what I've been trying and sometimes succeeding with:
The "scissor sweep pass" if he's really leaning sideways and kind of threatening a scissor sweep. I overhook his top leg, cup his bottom leg, sprawl and circle to pass.
I underhook his leg that's higher up with my arm (remember that he's a bit on his side). Let's say that I have my left shin vertical, he's on his right side and I'm underhooking his left knee with my right arm. I get very close to his hips with my hips and sort of "jam" his right foot to his butt by getting close to him. I then lean forwards, step in a wide clockwise circle with my right leg (it's similar to the reverse scarf hold position) and grab his head. This motion gets me around his right knee. I hope you have some clue about what I'm talking about. I'm leaving out some details and variations.
Any help would be appreciated. In any case, I will experiment with the latter guard pass next practise.
That second pass is very similar to the fairly standard over-the-leg pass that's done on the same side leg, i.e. your left shin goes over his right thigh, you underhook his left knee and do a "backstep" with your right leg to pass.
The difference is that your opponent's right foot is jammed to his butt so that your left shin goes AROUND his right leg/knee instead of over it.
Is it a good pass? And I'm not sure where the hip control is in it, especially in no-gi where I can't grab his pants.
JP, a guy I roll with uses that sort of tactic on me all the time.
The "scissor sprawl" pass was the first thing I tried that worked with any consistency. JJ Machado's tape recommends also pinning the bottom leg with your shin (the one closest to his feet) with this pass and waiting for him to move before taking side control.
JRockwell, I tried the Y (or is it V?) pass against this guy once - it almost worked. I have got it against other partners, not quite as experienced. But that's with ZERO instruction in the pass other than the little bit on SBG's Spring Camp DVD's, and about the fourth time I'd ever tried it. A bit more work and I'd imagine it could become pretty high percentage.
FYI - There is more info on the x, y or z pass (I forget what it's called) on Luis G's DVD's on the harness and the pass.
I thought the DVD's were well done.
i like your second pass against this type of guard. one way that i was
shown to do it (if i'm understanding your description of his position
correctly) is to take my left hand and pin his lower leg to the mat, close
to his butt is great, and then do the hip switch to kind of roll over his
bent right leg.
i generally tripod up at the moment that i pin his leg for added
pressure with my forehead against his hips.
i generally dont grab his head until i'm fully passed and once my knees
are in position, then the last thing i'll let go of it his right leg with my
left hand.
pretty much the same as you described, but i like to stand up for
added mobility/downward pressure.
Basically, I should have just asked: How do you like the following guard pass?
"It's very similar to the fairly standard over-the-leg pass that's done on the same side leg, i.e. your left shin goes over his right thigh, you underhook his left knee and do a "backstep" with your right leg to pass.
The difference is that your opponent's right foot is jammed to his butt so that your left shin goes AROUND his right leg/knee instead of over it."
...and thanks, asymmetrik, for your good response!
I have the feeling that the way I'm doing that second pass doesn't give me enough hip control.
I may have to put that left knee of mine immedially on his stomach, or slide either knee over his right thigh by the knee.
I even feel that I have better control if I'm not always using combat base when passing, especially if I'm trying to pass under the legs. Then I feel better when I sprawl immedially to try to smash his leg to his face. Still, guys like Thornton don't seem to sprawl until AFTER they get past the legs. Damn! I can't wait to get back to practise - I'm beginning each and every roll in my opponent's guard until I get considerably better at passing.... :)