Modern No-Gi Passing System

Passing System Advanced difficulty

What is Modern No-Gi Passing System?

Modern no-gi passing involves choosing a route around, through or under the legs while managing guard recovery.

Modern no-gi passing involves choosing a route around, through or under the legs while managing guard recovery. Use this guide to connect your preferred pass to a response when the first route closes, then check whether you can stabilize the pin.

Use the implementation sequence to choose a training focus, the connected techniques to study each position, and the course recommendation to explore a detailed video explanation. This is BJJGraph’s study guide; it is not an official course outline or a substitute for coached practice.

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Systematically Attacking The Guard

with Gordon Ryan

Who it suits: Passers who know individual passes but struggle to connect them against resistance.

Studies no-gi guard passing as a sequence of engagements, controls and responses to guard recovery.

View course & syllabus on BJJ Fanatics →

Core Principles

• Maintain constant forward pressure and connection control
• Use headquarters position as central passing hub
• Break connections before attempting to advance position
• Apply hip pressure to limit mobility and create passing angles
• Chain multiple passing attacks to prevent guard recovery
• Control the inside space to prevent re-guarding
• Adapt passing approach based on opponent’s guard type and reactions

Key Components

Headquarters Position Control (Establish dominant position before committing to specific passing sequences) The headquarters position serves as the primary control hub where the passer establishes dominant grips, applies pressure, and dictates engagement distance. From this position, the passer controls one or both legs while maintaining postural advantage, creating a platform for launching coordinated passing attacks. Mastery of headquarters allows systematic breakdown of guard retention structures.

Connection Breaking Mechanics (Neutralize defensive structures and create passing opportunities) Systematic approach to identifying and destroying opponent’s defensive connections including underhooks, frames, and leg-based controls. This involves specific hand fighting sequences, posture adjustments, and pressure angles designed to strip defensive grips while establishing offensive control points. Effective connection breaking prevents opponents from maintaining guard structure or creating scrambles.

Pressure Passing Sequences (Execute high-percentage passes through systematic pressure application) Coordinated passing chains that use forward pressure and weight distribution to collapse guard structures. Key sequences include knee slice variations, leg drag entries, and over-under pressure passes. Each sequence incorporates specific grip configurations, hip positioning, and pressure angles optimized for no-gi environments where traditional gi-based controls are unavailable.

Floating Pass Transitions (Maintain offensive initiative through dynamic movement and timing-based attacks) Dynamic passing movements that avoid static positions, instead maintaining constant transitional pressure through movements like bodylock passes, headquarters shifts, and long-step entries. These passes capitalize on timing windows when opponents adjust their guard structure, using momentum and angle changes rather than purely strength-based pressure to advance position.

Leg Entanglement Awareness (Navigate leg-based guards safely while maintaining passing pressure) Defensive understanding and countering strategies for modern leg-based guards including ashi garami variations, 50-50, and reverse de la riva. This component includes specific passing mechanics that avoid dangerous entanglement positions while systematically clearing leg-based defensive structures. Critical for safely passing modern guard players who incorporate leg attacks into their retention strategies.

Re-Guard Prevention Protocol (Consolidate passing success and prevent defensive recoveries) Systematic approach to preventing opponents from recovering guard once passing sequences begin. Includes specific grips, pressure angles, and positional awareness that shut down common re-guarding pathways. This component emphasizes maintaining connection control during transitions and recognizing critical moments when opponents attempt to insert defensive frames or create space.

Implementation Sequence

1. Foundation Development: Build fundamental understanding of headquarters position, connection breaking mechanics, and basic pressure passing concepts Key points:

• Master headquarters entries from standing and open guard
• Develop hand fighting skills for no-gi connection control
• Learn basic knee slice and leg drag mechanics
• Understand hip pressure application and weight distribution

2. Guard-Specific Solutions: Develop specific passing approaches for common guard types including butterfly, half guard, and leg-based guards Key points:

• Learn butterfly guard passing through smash and bodylock variations
• Master half guard passing with underhook control and knee slice entries
• Study safe passing mechanics for ashi garami and related positions
• Practice adapting headquarters position to different guard structures

3. Passing Chain Integration: Connect individual passing techniques into flowing sequences that respond to defensive reactions Key points:

• Chain knee slice to leg drag based on opponent reactions
• Integrate bodylock passes with pressure-based alternatives
• Develop headquarters to floating pass transitions
• Practice passing chains against live resistance

4. Scramble Management: Learn to maintain offensive advantage during scrambles and re-guard attempts Key points:

• Recognize re-guarding pathways and shut them down proactively
• Develop transitional awareness during dynamic exchanges
• Practice recovering to headquarters when passes are defended
• Build conditioning for sustained passing pressure

5. Competitive Application: Apply complete passing system in competition-simulation training against skilled opponents Key points:

• Test passing sequences against diverse guard styles
• Develop game-planning approach for specific opponent types
• Refine timing and pressure application under fatigue
• Integrate passing system with overall positional strategy

6. Advanced Refinement: Continuously evolve passing approach based on modern meta-game developments and personal attributes Key points:

• Study elite competitors’ passing innovations
• Adapt system to personal physical attributes and preferences
• Develop counters to new guard retention strategies
• Maintain technical precision under maximum resistance

Where to begin in the instructional

Choose the section for the guard you encounter most often and compare its responses with this page’s sequence.

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Explore the course contents on BJJ Fanatics: Systematically Attacking The Guard →

What Challenges Will You Face?

• Opponent maintains persistent frames and creates distance, preventing pressure application: Focus on systematic connection breaking through hand fighting, use floating passes to avoid static exchanges, and establish headquarters control before committing to pressure sequences
• Guard player successfully re-guards after initial passing attempts, negating progress: Develop sharper recognition of re-guarding pathways, maintain connection control during transitions, and use proactive pressure to prevent space creation that enables guard recovery
• Difficulty passing athletic opponents who scramble and create dynamic exchanges: Improve transitional awareness and conditioning, develop ability to recover to headquarters during scrambles, and practice maintaining pressure through movement rather than static positions
• Uncertainty when facing leg-based guards leading to defensive, ineffective passing: Study leg entanglement passing mechanics systematically, develop confidence in safe passing positions, and drill specific sequences for clearing leg-based controls while maintaining offensive initiative
• Over-reliance on single passing style limits effectiveness against diverse guard players: Deliberately practice all passing variations within the system, develop ability to read guard type and select appropriate approach, and chain different passing styles based on defensive reactions

How to Measure Your Progress

Passing Completion Rate: Percentage of passing attempts that successfully advance to dominant positions (side control, mount, back control) during live training Proficiency indicators:

• Beginner: 20-30% success rate against similar-level opponents
• Intermediate: 40-60% success rate with consistent execution of primary sequences
• Advanced: 70%+ success rate including adaptation to various guard styles
• Expert: 80%+ success rate with ability to pass elite-level guard players

Connection Control Mastery: Ability to systematically break opponent connections and maintain offensive grips throughout passing sequences Proficiency indicators:

• Consistently wins hand fighting exchanges in headquarters position
• Prevents opponents from establishing strong defensive frames
• Maintains connection control during dynamic transitions
• Adapts grip strategies based on opponent reactions in real-time

Guard Type Versatility: Effectiveness of passing approach across different guard structures and opponent styles Proficiency indicators:

• Has reliable solutions for butterfly, half guard, and open guard variations
• Can safely navigate leg-based guards without defensive stalling
• Adapts passing strategy based on opponent’s guard preferences
• Maintains consistent pressure regardless of guard type encountered

Scramble Dominance: Ability to maintain offensive advantage during dynamic exchanges and prevent successful re-guarding Proficiency indicators:

• Recovers to headquarters when initial passes are defended
• Recognizes and shuts down re-guarding pathways proactively
• Maintains forward pressure during transitional moments
• Converts scrambles into passing opportunities rather than defensive resets

How to Train This System Effectively

Drilling Approach

The system requires progressive drilling that builds from static technical work to dynamic live application. Begin with headquarters control and connection breaking drills performed with cooperative partners, focusing on precise grip placements and pressure angles. Progress to positional sparring from specific guard types, allowing defenders to use limited resistance initially. Gradually increase resistance levels while maintaining technical precision, emphasizing smooth transitions between passing variations rather than forcing single techniques. Include dedicated scramble training where both partners work dynamically, with the passer practicing recovery to headquarters and re-guard prevention. Supplement technical drilling with conditioning work that maintains pressure under fatigue, as effective passing requires sustained physical output.

Progression Path

Technical Foundation (Focus: Master headquarters control, basic connection breaking, and fundamental passing mechanics (knee slice, leg drag) with cooperative drilling) - Weeks 1-4 Guard-Specific Development (Focus: Develop specific solutions for butterfly, half guard, and leg-based guards through positional drilling with progressive resistance) - Weeks 5-12 Chain Integration (Focus: Connect passing techniques into flowing sequences, practice adapting to defensive reactions, increase live training volume) - Weeks 13-24 Scramble Mastery (Focus: Refine transitional awareness, develop re-guard prevention instincts, maintain pressure during dynamic exchanges) - Weeks 25-40 Competition Application (Focus: Test complete system in competition-simulation training, develop game-planning skills, refine personal passing style) - Weeks 41-52 Continuous Evolution (Focus: Adapt system to meta-game changes, incorporate new passing innovations, maintain technical sharpness through ongoing drilling) - Ongoing

Common Mistakes

• Attempting to force passes without first establishing headquarters control and breaking defensive connections
• Using excessive strength instead of proper pressure angles and weight distribution
• Committing to single passing attempts without chaining follow-up options when initial attacks are defended
• Neglecting re-guard prevention, allowing opponents to easily recover guard after partial passing success
• Passing with poor posture or positioning that exposes neck to guillotine attacks or back takes

Which Positions, Transitions, and Principles Connect to This System?

• Headquarters Position (Position) - Central control hub for initiating passing sequences
• Knee Shield Half Guard (Position) - Common defensive structure requiring specific passing solutions
• Butterfly Guard (Position) - Guard type requiring smash and bodylock passing approaches
• Body Lock (Position) - Control position used for floating pass variations
• Leg Drag Control (Position) - Advanced passing position accessed from headquarters control
• Side Control (Position) - Primary finishing position for successful passing sequences
• Ashi Garami (Position) - Leg-based guard requiring specialized passing mechanics to navigate safely
• Open Guard (Position) - Starting position for establishing headquarters and initiating passing attacks
• Turtle (Position) - Common defensive escape requiring back take or pass completion skills
• Knee Slice Pass (Transition) - Core pressure passing technique integrated throughout system
• Leg Drag Pass (Transition) - High-percentage floating pass chained with knee slice variations
• Body Lock Pass (Transition) - Dynamic passing sequence effective against butterfly and seated guards
• Headquarters Pass (Transition) - Direct passing finish from headquarters control position
• Long Step Pass (Transition) - Floating pass variation used to bypass guard retention attempts
• Knee Cut Pass (Transition) - Pressure-based passing technique particularly effective from half guard
• Smash Pass (Transition) - Aggressive pressure pass for collapsing butterfly and open guard structures
• Guard Passing (Principle) - Fundamental concepts underlying all passing mechanics in system
• Forward Pressure (Principle) - Constant offensive pressure principle maintaining passing initiative
• Connection Principles (Principle) - Essential skill for managing defensive connections and establishing offensive grips
• Frames (Principle) - Understanding defensive frames to systematically dismantle them during passing
• Gordon Ryan Passing System (System) - Related modern passing framework with overlapping principles and techniques
• No-Gi Tactical Framework (System) - Broader competitive strategy framework incorporating passing system elements
• Bernardo Faria Pressure System (System) - Complementary pressure-based approach with applicable passing concepts

Take one idea into your next session

Start each round in the same passing position. Track whether you cleared the legs and held the resulting pin, and where recovery began.

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Check the sample and current price on BJJ Fanatics: Systematically Attacking The Guard →