Pass Guard

# Pass Guard from Open Guard

## Setup
- **Initial Position Details:** Start in your opponent's open guard. Your opponent is lying on their back with their legs in front of you, potentially trying to control you with their feet on your hips or gripping your sleeves.
- **Grips and Controls Needed:** Establish control by securing grips on the opponent’s pants near their knees or grabbing their ankles. This will help control their legs and prevent them from setting up offensive maneuvers.

## Steps

1. **Establish Base:** 
   - Begin with a strong, low posture. Keep your knees slightly bent and your hips low to maintain balance and prevent your opponent from easily sweeping or destabilizing you.
   
2. **Secure Grips:**
   - Use your hands to grip your opponent’s pants near the knees or their ankles. This control allows you to manage their leg movement and prepare for your pass.

3. **Open Guard:**
   - Push down on their legs while stepping back slightly to create space. This action helps break their guard open if they have any hooks or grips on your body.

4. **Initiate the Pass:**
   - Choose a side to pass. For instance, if you decide to pass to your left, use your right hand to push their right leg down and across their body, aiming to pin it toward the mat.

5. **Step Around:**
   - As you push the leg down, take a big step around their leg with your left foot, moving your leg to the outside of their right leg. This movement starts to circle your body around theirs.

6. **Establish Control:**
   - Once around their leg, use your left arm to underhook their right leg or reach across to control their shoulder, helping to stabilize your position and prevent them from recovering guard.

7. **Complete the Pass:**
   - Slide your right knee across their body toward the mat, while maintaining pressure with your chest on their torso. Your left leg should swing around to complete the pass.

8. **Secure Side Control:**
   - Settle into side control by bringing your right knee to their hip and your left knee near their head. Ensure your weight is distributed through your chest on their torso to prevent them from bridging or moving away.

## Key Points
- **Important Details to Remember:**
  - Keep your hips low and maintain a strong base to prevent being swept.
  - Use your grips effectively to control your opponent’s legs and dictate the pace of the pass.
  - Always keep pressure on your opponent to hinder their movements and ability to recover guard.

- **Common Mistakes to Avoid:**
  - Do not stand too tall, as this makes you susceptible to sweeps and submissions.
  - Avoid neglecting control of your opponent’s legs; without controlling their legs, they can easily recover guard or attack.
  - Rushing the pass can lead to losing control; ensure each step is secure before moving on to the next.