Stop Chasing Submissions: Master the Guard Pass to Win More

Forget the armbar. Forget the triangle. If you want to win in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, you need to become a guard-passing machine. That's not just my opinion—it's backed by the scoring system and the injury data. The guard pass is the most valuable technique you can develop, and most practitioners are neglecting it for the glamour of a submission.

The Guard Pass Is Your Highest-Probability Path to Victory

In IBJJF competition, a guard pass scores you 3 points—more than a takedown (2), a sweep (2), or knee-on-belly (2). Only mount and back control score higher, at 4 points each, but they're much harder to achieve. The guard pass is the bridge to those dominant positions. Once you pass, you're already ahead on points and in a controlling position to work for a submission or rack up more points. The math is simple: if you can consistently pass, you'll win more matches, even without a single submission.

Data from the mats backs this up. A 2021 study of 1,140 athletes found that submissions and takedowns were the most frequent causes of injury, accounting for 29.7% and 26.4% of injuries respectively (Hinz 2021). The guard pass, by contrast, is a relatively controlled movement. You're not exploding into a heel hook or being slammed by a double-leg. You're methodically breaking down your opponent's guard and establishing side control. It's a lower-risk, higher-reward strategy.

But Passing Is Hard—and That's the Point

Yes, you'll hear the counter-argument: “Passing a good guard is nearly impossible.” And you're right—against a top-tier guard player, a single pass can take minutes. But that's exactly why you should drill it relentlessly. The guard is the most complex and dynamic position in jiu-jitsu, with variations like de la Riva, spider, butterfly, and X-guard. Learning to pass each one is a lifelong study. But the payoff is enormous.

Consider the statistics: the 2025 global study of 881 practitioners found that 89% of injuries occurred during training, predominantly during sparring (Stegerhoek 2025). That means your daily practice is the time to experiment with passes. If you get caught in a sweep or a submission while practicing, you're not losing a match—you're learning. In competition, the guard pass is your most reliable path to points. And the 3-second stabilization rule (which applies to points) means you need to secure the position, not just flash past. That's a skill you can build.

Pass More, Risk Less, Win More

Let's compare the guard pass to other primary techniques. Takedowns are valuable, but they're risky and physically demanding. The injury study shows takedowns are a leading cause of injury. Submissions are flashy, but they require you to be in a dominant position first, and they often involve a high risk of getting reversed or losing position. The guard pass, by contrast, is the safest high-scoring move you can master.

This isn't to say you should never attempt a submission. But the guard pass is the foundational skill that gets you to the positions where submissions become low-risk. Think about it: you can't armbar someone from your opponent's guard. You need to pass first. So why not spend 80% of your drilling time on passing?

Drill the Pass, Not the Flash

Here's my blunt recommendation: for every hour you spend drilling submissions, spend two hours on guard passing. Start with the basic knee-cut and torreando passes, then graduate to more complex ones. Drill them from every guard variation you encounter. The guard pass is the most important technique in jiu-jitsu, and it's the one that will win you the most matches.

The numbers don't lie: the guard pass scores 3 points, more than any other single position except mount and back control. And it's safer than takedowns or submissions. So stop chasing the highlight-reel submission and start grinding the guard pass. It's the smartest move you can make on the mats.

Bottom line

Your best move is to become a guard-passing specialist. It's the highest-scoring, lowest-risk, and most reliable path to victory. Drill it relentlessly, and you'll see your win rate soar.

Sources

• IBJJF - https://ibjjf.com
• Hinz 2021 BJJ injury study - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34988235/
• Stegerhoek 2025 BJJ injury study - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40092168/
• BJJ terminology - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_jiu-jitsu