Top Guard Passes: The 2025 Competition Meta Breakdown

Hi,

Do you know that 95% of BJJ players are training guard passes that almost never work in real matches. The other 5%? They understand the competition meta—and they win far more than their skill level suggests.

Last month, I was drilling with a white belt at my gym—maybe three months into their journey. They were getting frustrated because every time they tried to pass in rolls, they’d get stuck in the opponent’s guard. No progress. Just a stalemate.

So I showed them the Knee Cut pass—one of the most reliable techniques available—and spent 10 minutes explaining why it works. But here’s the thing: after drilling it 20 times, it still wasn’t clicking.

Then I told them a stat that changed everything: “Most matches finish without a single successful guard pass.”

That made them pause.

I nodded. And their face lit up.

That’s when I realized: white belts don’t need more techniques. They need to understand which techniques actually work in modern competition—and why.

So I dug into ADCC 2024 data, watched hundreds of high-level matches, and created this breakdown: The 6 Most Effective Guard Passes (Ranked by Real Competition Data).

The Meta King in 2024-2025

This is everywhere at high-level tournaments. Why? Because it neutralizes the most dangerous modern guards—K-Guard, Reverse De La Riva, heel hook entries.

The mechanics are simple: lock your hands around their waist, sprawl your hips low, and slowly inch your knees past their guard line. It turns the match into a grinding battle that the passer almost always wins.

The Timeless All-Purpose Move

Works in Gi. Works in No-Gi. Works in MMA. Works at white belt. Works at black belt.

The Knee Cut has a 45% success rate across all skill levels, but elite black belts push it to 70%+. That’s the ceiling you’re working toward.

The technique: pin their upper body (head control or collar grip), slice your knee across their thigh explosively, and establish side control or mount.

The Balance Solution

Popularized by Gordon Ryan and the Danaher Death Squad, Float Passing is the answer when pressure passes get stalled.

Instead of smashing, you squat over one of their legs (called “Headquarters position”) and use balance to float on top of them. This forces them to carry your weight while you pummeling your legs to step into Mount or Side Control.

It requires less strength and more technique—perfect if you’re not the heaviest person at your gym.

The Speed Attack That Sets Up Better Passes

Here’s the secret: modern passers don’t use Toreando to finish. They use it to force a reaction.

When you threaten the speed pass, your opponent opens their legs to defend—and that’s when you hit them with the Knee Cut or Body Lock. It’s a chaining tool, not a solo move.

The Heavy Player Favorite

Best for grapplers 175+ lbs who have a smashing/pressure-based game. The technique requires inserting one arm over their legs and one arm under, then moving to one side to finish.

The Connector Move

Less of a “move,” more of a “position.” This is the finishing phase of Toreando, Float Pass, or Quarter Guard entries.

By dragging their leg across your hip, you expose their back and pin their hips simultaneously. Multiple options open from here: side control, back control, mount, or even armbar attacks.

✓ Beginners (0–6 months)
Learn Knee Cut and Body Lock first. Master these two. Everything else comes later.

✓ People Who Want Faster Progress
Understanding the “why” behind each pass accelerates technique acquisition by months.

✓ Competitors
These are the highest-percentage passes in actual matches. Data doesn’t lie.

✓ Anyone Stuck in Guard
If you keep getting swept or stuck, you’re using the wrong pass for the position.

Never initiate a pass until you have dominant grips. This is why most failed passes fail—you started moving before you established control.

Your opponent will use their knees and hands to frame against you. If you try to pass through a frame, you get swept. You must redirect frames (Leg Drag) or crush them (Body Lock).

High-level guard passing isn’t a single move—it’s a sequence. Keep them guessing. Force reactions. Adapt.

If you only learn two passes this month, make them the Knee Cut and the Body Lock.

These two complement each other perfectly: one offers explosive speed, the other offers crushing control. Master these, and you become a nightmare for any guard player.

Here’s your Yearly development plan:

•           Months 1-2: Master Knee Cut + Body Lock only. Perfect these before adding anything else.

•           Months 3-4: Add one supplementary pass that fits your body type (heavy = Over-Under, athletic = Float Pass, technical = Toreando).

•           Months 5-6: Create chains. When Knee Cut fails, what happens next? When Body Lock stalls, what’s your backup?

•           Ongoing: Study ADCC and IBJJF high-level matches. Watch how elite passers adapt. Notice patterns.

I created a full breakdown of all 6 passes with technical progressions, elite instructor tutorials, and competition analysis here: 👉 Top BJJ Guard Passes: Master the 2025 Competition Meta

Inside you’ll find: - Complete technical breakdowns of all 6 passes - Why each pass dominates in modern competition - Common mistakes that sabotage white belts - Video tutorials from elite instructors - Competition data and statistics - A 6-month progression plan to build your passing game

While you’re building your passing game, don’t neglect the fundamentals. The key to avoiding injuries and staying on the mats for decades is training smart, not just hard.

I created a FREE BJJ Longevity Checklist that reveals the training mistakes causing burnout and the simple habits that keep grapplers healthy long-term.

Grab it here: 👉 Get Your FREE BJJ Longevity Checklist

Talk soon,
Ben—The Grappler’s Toolkit

P.S. Guard passing is the bottleneck of BJJ. Most people avoid drilling it because it feels hard. But the 40% of grapplers who master it? They win 99.6% of their matches. Don’t be average. Start today.