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    Playing guard against heavy opponent kneeling and pressure passing

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    by MetalDuff9/24/2025(edited)

    Hello,

    I'm looking for approaches against opponents larger than me that use several kinds of pressure pass from kneeling position. I played a lot half guard with knee shield but would like to find other options (both gi / nogi).

    In particular, when passer grabs your legs rugby style and Khabib style. I used a lot and successfully some wrestling approaches such as sit up grab his far hips and scoop under to roll on top (no idea how that is called) but now my partners adapted to this and are becoming really good at wrapping me like a mummy and slowly make the way to side control (or top half). I particularly struggle when one arm is already around my waste (almost becoming a body lock).

    Similarly, when I'm on top, my partner hug my legs together using his arms and legs (some combination of them) and I end up swept.

    Thanks for suggestions :)

    3 Comments

    r
    rfrazier9/28/2025

    MetalDuff, post: 65590, member: 38224

    Hello,

    I'm looking for approaches against opponents larger than me that use several kinds of pressure pass from kneeling position. I played a lot half guard with knee shield but would like to find other options (both gi / nogi).

    In particular, when passer grabs your legs rugby style and Khabib style. I used a lot and successfully some wrestling approaches such as sit up grab his far hips and scoop under to roll on top (no idea how that is called) but now my partners adapted to this and are becoming really good at wrapping me like a mummy and slowly make the way to side control (or top half). I particularly struggle when one arm is already around my waste (almost becoming a body lock).

    Similarly, when I'm on top, my partner hug my legs together using his arms and legs (some combination of them) and I end up swept.

    Thanks for suggestions :)


    One way is to control their head and get your hips back out. I believe there is a series on the GG that you can study. I have a bad problem of being lazy and my training partners using these passes. As soon as I feel them start to wrap up, I frame and try to get one of my knees out at least. If I can get it out, I will point it outward to create some space to pummel or a chance to start attacking that side. Not sure this will make any sense!

    c
    crimsoncuda10/7/2025

    MetalDuff, post: 65590, member: 38224

    Hello,

    I'm looking for approaches against opponents larger than me that use several kinds of pressure pass from kneeling position. I played a lot half guard with knee shield but would like to find other options (both gi / nogi).

    In particular, when passer grabs your legs rugby style and Khabib style. I used a lot and successfully some wrestling approaches such as sit up grab his far hips and scoop under to roll on top (no idea how that is called) but now my partners adapted to this and are becoming really good at wrapping me like a mummy and slowly make the way to side control (or top half). I particularly struggle when one arm is already around my waste (almost becoming a body lock).

    Similarly, when I'm on top, my partner hug my legs together using his arms and legs (some combination of them) and I end up swept.

    Thanks for suggestions :)


    Your knee shield is very important in half guard. If they pass that then I will frame and either sit up to enter into butterfly or x-guard if they stand. Make sure you always square up to your opponent and don’t let them trap your hips. Maybe look for body lock pass defense videos for visuals.

    p
    pryoslice10/31/2025

    Butterfly, with transitions to X, is generally the go-to, based on how successful Marcelo Garcia was with it against larger opponents.

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