Purple belt · Pass · Core
Smash pass from half guard
You fold their legs to one side and pin them with your hip before you climb to side control. Use it when they play knee shield half guard and won't let you flatten them.
Step by step
- From their half guard or knee shield, grab their top knee and drive it down and across, folding both their legs to one side.
- Drop your hip onto their top thigh so their knees point away from you.
- Walk your chest up their body: underhook their far arm and crossface.
- Post your free foot and work your trapped foot out, pushing their knee down with your free foot if needed.
- Settle in side control.
Details that make it work
- Keep their legs folded. If they square their hips to you, start over.
- Weight on your hip and chest, not on your hands.
Common mistakes
- Smashing with your arms while your hips stay high.
- Pulling the trapped foot out before you have the crossface.
Drill it
10 passes each side, ending in a 3-second side control hold.
If it fails, or what comes next
- Side control: pins & pressure Control · Side control
- Knee on belly and far-side armbar Submission · Side control
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