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Stack Pass

PassClosed-guard passBelt: white+Risk: moderateIBJJFADCCNo-GiMMA

The stack pass is a high-pressure guard pass used after opening the closed guard, where the passer drives the opponent's knees toward their chest, immobilizing their hips and clearing the legs to secure side control. It is a fundamental pass that leverages gravity and bodyweight, making it effective against flexible guards and in gi or no-gi scenarios.

Start
Inside closed guard, opening done
End
Side control
Prerequisites: Posture inside closed guard · Standing closed guard break · Double underhook entry · Cross-face control

Steps

  1. 1
    Establish double underhooks
    From open guard, swim both arms under the opponent's thighs, connecting your hands in a gable grip behind their hips while keeping your elbows tight to prevent them from pummeling inside.
  2. 2
    Control the hips and flatten the opponent
    Drive your chest forward and down, stacking their knees toward their chest while keeping your hips low and head up to maintain posture and prevent triangles.
  3. 3
    Grip and anchor the opponent's belt or hips
    If in gi, grip the opponent's belt or pants at their lower back; in no-gi, use a palm-to-palm grip or cup their hips, pulling their pelvis off the mat.
  4. 4
    Post your lead leg and angle your body
    Step your lead leg forward, placing your knee near their head, and angle your body slightly to one side to begin clearing their guard.
  5. 5
    Pin the opponent's legs with your shoulder
    Drive your shoulder into the back of their thigh (near the hamstring), stacking their hips over their shoulders and compressing their movement.
  6. 6
    Walk your hips forward and circle your head
    Walk your feet forward in small steps, increasing the stack, and circle your head to the side you intend to pass, keeping your grips tight.
  7. 7
    Clear the legs over your head
    Use your shoulder and grip pressure to push their legs over their head, then slide your head and body to the outside of their hip, freeing your inside arm.
  8. 8
    Secure side control
    Release your grips, establish a cross-face with your far arm, and settle your hips down to secure side control, keeping your knees close to their body.

Key details most people miss

  • Stacking pressure is generated by driving your hips forward, not just pulling with your arms.
  • Keep your elbows tight to your ribs to prevent opponent's arm pummeling or triangle setups.
  • Head position should be up and close to their torso to avoid guillotine or triangle threats.
  • Angle your body to one side early to make leg clearing easier and reduce their bridging power.

Common mistakes

  • Allowing elbows to flare out lets the opponent pummel for underhooks or attack triangles.
  • Failing to keep hips low and head up exposes you to sweeps or submissions.
  • Trying to pass with arms only, instead of walking hips forward, results in weak stacking and allows the opponent to recover guard.
  • Not angling the body early makes it difficult to clear the legs and can lead to stalling.

Counters & responses

They try: Opponent pummels an underhook with their arm
You do: Retract your elbow tightly to your ribs and reestablish double underhooks before resuming the stack.
They try: Opponent attempts a triangle choke
You do: Keep your head up and elbows in, and if the leg comes over your shoulder, posture up immediately and back out to reset.
They try: Opponent frames against your shoulder to block the stack
You do: Switch your stacking angle to the opposite side or use your free hand to strip the frame before continuing the pass.
They try: Opponent inverts or rolls to turtle
You do: Follow their hips closely, maintaining grips, and transition to back control or front headlock as they expose their back.

Drill prescription

5 rounds × 3 minutes; partner provides 50% resistance (active frames and pummeling); goal: 4 clean passes per round without losing double underhooks or being swept/submitted.

How the masters teach it

Videos are still being curated for this technique. AI suggests these instructors:
Saulo Ribeiro — Emphasizes relentless forward pressure and belt grip for maximal stack and control.Bernardo Faria — Known for using the stack pass as a core element of his pressure passing system, especially in gi.Roger Gracie — Demonstrates textbook fundamentals, using precise head and hip positioning for maximal control.John Danaher — Focuses on no-gi variations and systematic grip fighting to prevent counter-attacks during the stack.
#closed-guard#pressure-passing#gi-and-no-gi#side-control-finish#stacking#shorter-limb-friendly#beginner-to-advanced#high-percentage#competition-legal#posture-based