Pass in the Sweep
Eddie Bravo often delves into theories, and one that surfaced during a recent episode of Mastering the System caught my attention:
In the upper echelons of submission grappling, there exist two equally challenging scenarios during competition, each with a 50% likelihood:
- A 50% chance of facing an opponent resistant to takedowns.
- A 50% chance of encountering someone whose guard you struggle to breach.
His proposed solution?
Direct attention towards guard passing immediately after executing sweeps.
Why?
Because while opponents might impede your takedowns, they cannot prevent you from pulling guard. While some tournaments penalize improper guard pulling, fundamentally, it remains a viable strategy.
From your guard, sweeping becomes feasible.
This strategy combines two key methods:
- Bodylock sweeps – initiated from double unders, cop clinch, or the preferred option, homie control.
- Leglock Configurations – the era of swift leglock finishes might have passed, but the use of leglock configurations to control an opponent’s hips and transition into a sweeping pass is an evolving tactic.
By employing these methods, sweeping directly into a pass becomes a viable strategy, offering an effective counter to the formidable challenges of takedown-resistant opponents and impenetrable guards in high-level grappling.
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