In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the legs are primarily used to play guard. A grappler must first get through the opponent’s legs in order to control their entire body. While the legs are only half of the body, it provides the opponent with the best line of defence, removing most of the submissions in the equation. Passing the guard of an experienced opponent is challenging, meaning that it is a must for every practitioner to develop a guard pass that suits their game. In this article, we will talk about the X pass in BJJ. 

The X Pass

If you are a grappler who leans on speed passing to pass the guard, you are most likely familiar with the Toreando guard pass. The X pass is similar to the Toreando and is an advanced and modified version of the pass. It is called the X pass because of the intersecting motion of your arms as you pass the guard in connection with the opponent’s legs and the positioning of their torso. 

In the classic Toreando pass, grapplers typically grab the opponent’s knees and pull them back to extend the legs. It is followed by stepping your near foot beside the opponent’s hips and dropping your near knee on their stomach (knee on belly) or by dropping your far side shoulder instead of stepping as you slowly move to side control.

Another variation is splitting the opponent’s legs while putting one hand (near hand) on their hip while the other grabs the knee instead of using both to hold the knee. It is then followed by walking to the side of which hand controls the opponent’s knee to pin it on the ground and then pushes it inward, serving as a lever to the hip. You will then walk back to the side to turn the opponent and flatten their back while blocking the hips.

Combining the two ideas of the Toreando pass resembles the X pass. The X pass is where you split the opponent’s legs (also called the headquarters position) with one hand on their hip and the other on their knee while pushing their knee down as you kick your near leg out and step beside the opponent’s hip to block it. Though the typical way is by pushing the opponent’s knee down, you can also perform it by using your far arm to hold the opponent’s pants while driving.

How To Perform The X Pass

The passing position in the X pass is called the one in one out. It means one of your legs is between the opponent’s leg and the other on the outside. Ideally, in this position, you must be in an excellent squatting posture, although it might differ from time to time depending on the opponent’s guard. 

If the opponent uses guards like the De la Riva, aiming to create distance, you must be in a low squatting position while keeping a good base. A good athletic stance is enough if they use an open guard. Assuming that you are attacking the opponent’s right side, grab their left lapel with your right hand and their right knee with your left hand. You can perform this in no-gi by placing your hands on the opponent’s stomach or chest instead of their lapel. 

Push the opponent’s knee down the mat as you kick your right leg out. The biggest mistake practitioners make when doing this pass is kicking up at the crook of the knee, only reaching their heel to their glutes. Instead, kick up your leg as if you’re doing an Uchi Mata. Keep all your pressure forward with your right hand without being too forward and sacrificing your base. 

Alleviate the weight on your right hand and shift it to your left simultaneously as you kick your right leg up (the leg between the opponent’s legs) while pushing the opponent’s leg down. Rather than going straight to side control, go to knee on belly, as there will be too much space between you and the opponent. Step your left leg forward while jumping an inch as you kick your right leg up. It is critical that you jump with your left leg as it allows you to put all your body weight on the opponent’s leg.

Straighten your left hand as if you’re doing a stiff arm when pushing the opponent’s knee down. This is the time when your arm crosses (one holding the lapel and the other pushing the opponent’s knee down) to do an “X.” Land your right leg on the opponent’s stomach (knee on belly) and extend your left leg for a wider base. To maintain control, keep the opponent compromised by pulling their leg up with your left hand and refrain from pushing it away, as they can use it to shrimp and face you. 

The X pass is often done quickly. Likewise, in no-gi, place your right hand on the chest or stomach and the other on the knee. If the opponent performs a seated open guard, force them down the mat by pushing their shoulders or lifting their feet up. Pass quickly as soon as they get back up. Remember to finish with a knee on the belly when doing the X pass, as the opponent can turn towards you if you go straight to side control after passing their legs or finish into a leg drag.  

X Pass To Back Take

The back is the most dominant position in Jiu-Jitsu. It can be achieved from the X pass if the opponent turns to the opposite side and turtles after you pass their legs. 

Conclusion

The X pass can be used to overcome most modern guards. It is a simple yet highly effective guard pass when done correctly. This is a technique that requires many hours of drilling as it requires a certain level of coordination. Try out the X pass in gi and no-gi to see how it fits your game.

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