I was training with one arm due to an injury and used this concept to pass the guard back in 2015, it was way more rudimentary than this elaborated version of course, but it’s cool to see how you might find the same answers despite where you are in the world as long as you’re rolling and trying to solve problems technically and not using brute force.. love from Malaysia!

One of my main training partners has developed his entire game around having insanely high-level guard retention with lightning fast single leg x and 50/50 entries that he gets a lot of sweeps with. Fighting him at his ankles and using passes similar to this one are the best ways I've managed to mitigate the threat of his leg entanglements and pass his guard. From there, keeping the ankles pinned together is also a solid way of consolidating the pass against a guy with great guard recovery. Thanks for the video!

This is incredible. I've wound up with these grips many times, and I've always felt them to be super dominant, but at no point have I been able to identify exactly what was going on, since it usually happened semi-accidentally and entirely because of my opponent's reactions. This is great, going to experiment with this.

Great breakdown. I've definitely done this by accident without understanding why it was working. Thanks for piecing this together.

so happy to have found this channel early in my bbj journey. thanks again for the help.

I call this the leg pretzel pass in my head. That move to make one hand control both legs as the knees are pointed away from you is the key. Also staying with your chest over their chest so they can't scoot and straighten their legs since holding on at that point puts you way below their hips again. If you stay over their chest by the time they straighten you can let go. Thanks for showing some cool setups and variations.

You have the dubious honour of being the first BJJ video I watched on this white belt's 50th birthday! Can't wait to get to the mats and try this out 🤜

This passing system is insane and powerful! And its easy to understand!pls make more passing video,its so helpful!

Love the live sparring demonstration at the end. It makes it more real and easier for me to learn when I see you do it in live sparring. Thank you!

Thank you for sharing. I’m a white belt and one of my favorite training partners plays the bottom game a lot. He’s a purple belt and I got something for him tonight. Awesome content dude!!!!!😊

You’ve outdone yourself sir. So many thanks for the amazing content - can’t wait to play with these ideas

Love the addition of the specific sparring at the end. Thanks Jon

This is one great instructor 👍

Very cool guard passing sequence. Thanks for sharing and keep on it!

This is 🥇!!!! Thanks for sharing my man 💪🙏

Extremely comprehensive and coherent. Appreciated 🤙

Man I do this subconsciously sometimes. Its great that you've identified the mechanisms to this, next time its going to be intentional with a vengeance - I only watch your videos! You're the best!

Thank you for the videos... They are always helpful and I really appreciate when you show a move you also show it during live rolling...

Very slick stuff. Subtle details that give you a lot of mechanical advantage. (Release by Adieu Aru, I knew you were a man of culture.)

Nice video. Love how you factor in a flexible opponent. Sparring a rock Vs a yogi is completely different

Great Jon! This will hopefully help a lot!

Fantastic video, Jon! This is so cool! Fantastic explanations of how you approach this pass and great sparring footage at the end!

Straight from the lab🔬🧪💡 ! You're the Walter White of jiu-jitsu 🤣

Nice one brother! This is one of my go to moves defending spider. My 1st class with Samuel Braga when I started training with him he showed me this and the Rodeo Pass to leg drag. I always refer to this one as the Spider X Pass. He wasn't big on putting names on things. I think it helps me and my students to have specific names for coaching purposes. At a comp I can yell "Spider X"! Not, "Do that awesome pass I should you from here" haha keep up the awesome content brother🤙

Shout out Presley. 🎉. Nice pass.

This reminds me of Rafa’s spider guard leg drag. He didn’t call it out in the video, but he maintains the grip on the far leg. Took me a while to realize it. Of course, Rafa drops his shoulder and shelfs the legs into the leg drag.

Love it. Simple but very opportunity creating

I did this by accident recently (as a fresh white belt) and no one knew what it was 😅 PS: Gi is more fun i.m.o because you can be so creative and deceptive every day in classes & then into competitions

It's similar to a pass I saw Keenan Cornelius do but from being stuck in the delariva Guard, but for that pass you grab the sleeve of the guard player and trap their legs when going for the side control. It's an interesting pass and ill try it out when opportunities present themselves. Thx for the video! 👍🥋Oss

Absolutely love your videos! I’ve been training BJJ over 15 years and your videos are still able to help me out with the little details that make the biggest difference. I was wondering if you could start showing some NO GI versions of the moves at the end of your videos.

Thanks!

Awesome Discovery! Kind of reminds me of a leg lace in wrestling but using the gi. I like it and will definitely give a try.

Very cool brother! I have a variant in no-gi that I do that's similar. I grab the foot and toes with a hip thrust.

I like it, reminds me of a looser more mobile version of Leo Vieira's 50/50 arm passing system. I found myself adapting it to a more standing style, but didn't think of those grips you used, well done 👍

I’ve been using that grip ( grabbing the far leg under the near leg ) to neutralize butterfly guards years ago and made that grip a “go to” for close passing. I really like your setup from standing though! Will try it out! Oss!

Yea its the same as crossing hands in wing chun, but with the feet. Well done!

It's nice. My first judo instructor would do a pass similar to this.

Jon "keep your knees tight" Thomas

Hey Jon. I have built a whole system passing by crossing the feet. If you are interested, I can share the details with you. The key for me is to cross their feet at the ankle. I have my students drill this by not passing the guard, but just focusing on crossing the feet.

And this, kids, is why we always start with double sleeve grips as soon as we can get them.

I use this a lot. Very easy to use 👌🏻

Gonna try it tomorrow!!! Thanks!!

Great video

This is very similar to a Wrestlers Leg Lace for nogi passing. If you are interested

Thanks Jon great video

This is great

Great video looking forward to trying this. Like so many things in BJJ it seems obvious once you've seen it 😂

Jon you are the best

Super, I'll try it tonight

This is dope!!!!

The 'Leg trap pass'

sweet cyberpunk tunes for the ending highlight ossss

Yes I use this pass just I keep arms straight forcing the legs all the way over the I can staple legs go to mount or a can chase north south but I’m old no more chasing for me lol

top stuff!

Slick.

Needs name, I'm calling it the double trouble Jon Thomas pass! Or horn twister pass!

My worry/request would be, what about the grips your opponent will take while being in such a close proximity. Ankle, sleeve etc

Great stuff. Might just get me to go back to training in the Gi 😅

Love it Jon! 👏🏾

This old school Carlson Gracie passing

Awesome discovery! What are your options when your partner starts tracking you down with a stiff arm once you've initiated the pass? Run towards north south?

Diff music at the end please thanks

Do you have a name for this move? In my notes I'm currently calling it the Achilles Pass. (Just 'cause you like the put the opponent's leg onto your arm, seemingly the Achilles onto your arm.)

First one looks a lot like Leandro Lo passing.

There's a tall guy who's z guard gives me trouble, I like how you got grips and stood up, I'll have to try it.

What happens if he grabs your sleeves like a spider guard? Can this technique still be imposed?

Funny, this "new" pass is a major part of the game I already play.

What do you do if your partner turns away and shoulder rolls ( grandbyroll I guess ) to recover? Stack the legs. Thanks.

Kinda like x pass but with both legs

Yeah seen it before mate - cheers though

What ya call the pass Jon? Thank you for sharing it with the community

Great Jon however 1. Getting thise grips is no easy thing n when I do get them these kids strip them so fast my head spins. Thinking of a few guys in my gym who spin like tops and are really good at denying or stripping grips quickly. Help!!

Dope. What’s the song at the end?

Dos it work if he make a grip on my sleeves?can I still pass?

are there no gi variations of this pass? correct me if im wrong but it seems hard to use if there are no pant grips

It's almost like a double throw by.

Any threat with them grabbing your legs with their free arms?

Great, now how do I stop that? :D lol

"invented" is a big claim. But regardless, nice vid.

Might need a better live sparring demo than that clip…

I’ve heard people call this the x pass because you make an x with your arms.

Stacking like this screwed up my neck. Thanks but no thanks

First

Horrid newaza. This is what you get when there is no core flexibility.

All your guard pass videos are unrealistic because your uke never has any grips on you. The reality is that almost always your partner will have grips on you in one form or another. None of that is explored.

That armbar sure is tempting when he attempts to prevent the pass.