The cartwheel pass is a dynamic, acrobatic guard pass that involves leaping over the opponent’s guard with a cartwheel motion to bypass their legs and land in a dominant position. It is effective against seated or De La Riva guards, capitalizing on surprise, mobility, and timing to overwhelm defensive frames. This pass can result in immediate side control or an opportunistic back take if the opponent turns away.
Start
Standing vs seated or DLR guard
End
Back take or side control
Prerequisites: Standing guard engagement · Posting on opponent’s hips or shins · Base maintenance during movement · Guard pass timing recognition
Steps
1
Establish Distance and Base
From standing, maintain a staggered stance with knees bent, hands ready to post on the opponent’s shins or knees. Keep your hips back and posture upright to avoid entanglements.
2
Control Opponent’s Guard
Use both hands to post on the opponent’s shins or knees, applying downward pressure to pin their guard and prevent them from elevating or inverting. Angle your body slightly to one side to create a passing lane.
3
Initiate the Cartwheel Motion
Shift your weight onto your lead foot and plant your lead hand firmly on the mat just outside the opponent’s hip or knee. Your trailing hand should be ready to follow, mirroring the lead hand’s placement.
4
Explode Over the Guard
Drive off your feet, kicking your hips up and over the opponent’s legs while maintaining a strong post with your hands. Keep your core tight and eyes focused on your landing spot beyond their hips.
5
Land with Control
As your legs clear their guard, aim to land your knees and hips past their legs, with your chest facing their torso. Immediately establish a cross-face with your arm or secure a seatbelt if the opponent turns away.
6
Stabilize the Position
Drop your weight through your hips and chest to pin the opponent’s upper body, using your far-side underhook or seatbelt to prevent them from reguarding or escaping. Widen your base with your knees for balance.
7
Transition to Side Control or Back Take
If the opponent frames or turns, follow their movement to either solidify side control with a cross-face and underhook, or insert your hooks and secure the back if they turtle.
Key details most people miss
The lead hand post must be placed outside the opponent’s hip or knee to create a safe arc for your legs to clear their guard.
Keep your core engaged and legs tight during the cartwheel to avoid leaving a leg exposed for entanglement.
Initiate the cartwheel only when the opponent’s guard is pinned and their frames are committed or out of position.
Eyes should track your landing spot throughout the motion to ensure spatial awareness and immediate control.
Common mistakes
Posting your hand too close to the opponent’s centerline allows them to entangle your arm or invert for a sweep.
Failing to pin the opponent’s guard before the cartwheel lets them elevate or block your hips mid-air, resulting in a scramble.
Landing too upright or with narrow knees enables the opponent to insert frames and recover guard.
Initiating the cartwheel when the opponent’s grips are active leads to leg entanglements or back exposure.
Counters & responses
They try: Opponent frames with a stiff arm at your hip as you cartwheel
You do: Angle your cartwheel wider, aiming for the far side, and switch to a knee-cut or long-step pass mid-air.
They try: Opponent inverts or spins under as you pass
You do: Redirect your hips to face their legs, drop your weight, and switch to a leg drag or back-step to prevent inversion.
They try: Opponent catches your leg mid-cartwheel for a single leg or ashi-garami
You do: Pull your leg back immediately while posting heavy with your hands, then reestablish distance or switch to a sprawl.
They try: Opponent turtles as you land
You do: Slide your chest over their back, secure a seatbelt grip, and insert your hooks for back control.
Drill prescription
Perform 5 rounds × 3 minutes with a partner playing seated guard at 50% resistance; goal is to execute 10 clean cartwheel passes per round, landing directly in side control or initiating a back take without being entangled.
How the masters teach it
Lucas Lepri
Known for precise timing and hand placement, Lepri uses the cartwheel pass to transition seamlessly into knee-cut variations.
Lucas Lepri Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & Fitness
Mikey Musumeci
Utilizes the cartwheel pass in lighter weight divisions, emphasizing speed and tight leg retraction to avoid leg entanglements.