Defense of the Stack, Smash, & Hugging Passes
Deep Stack Pass Defense – Injury Prevention
Stack Pass Defense (Part 1)
In general, we can expect stack passes in Jiu Jitsu. It’s one of the most common ways for an opponent to try to pass our guard, but if we’re using Shoulder-Roll Guard Recoveries, then we can expect them more regularly. Just keep in mind, for self-defense it’s very important to recognize that if we’re defending the stack pass, we are effectively defending their ground-punching potential as well, and this is working to our advantage in a fight! If you’re shoulder-rolling to defend your back, then getting hit with a stack-pass attempt… Just think how much better it is to be defending a stack-pass attempt instead of defending a Rear-Naked-Choke attempt while you escape the back!! In a Points BJJ Competition, keep in mind that with if we defend the back AND the stack pass, there’s no points being scored on us at any time!
Stack Pass Defense (Part 2)
Hugging (Smash) Pass Defense
One of the most common pass defense situations is when we get taken down in a double leg takedown and our opponent is hugging our legs to prevent us from getting up as we attempt to re-stand. Or, any time we are standing out from bottom position and they hold our legs, we’ll be right into the hugging pass (also called smash pass,) one of the most common ways of passing the guard. The idea is to pull their arms up off of your legs, so that you can maintain your butterfly hooks and blosk their pass. However, it’s important to note that once you defend the hugging pass and pull up their arms, they may STILL transition to a bodylock pass if you don’t connect your hands into a frame in the double-overhooks clinch! This is one of the most important details of the move!