Under Pressure

This year so far has been the year of developing some good old fashioned pressure passing.

I’m not sure what exactly inspired me to focus on this at the onset; I think part of it is the amount of time I have been working on my half guard, which a position that tends to create sweeps directly into the over-under position. Another part is wanting to pass nogi without exposing my legs to the leg entanglements and footlocks. Part of it is hurting my knee and not wanting to knee slice and use my speed passing. Partly its just me wanting to be a small guy with incredible pressure, like all small black belts I have ever rolled with. Part of it is thinking about getting to that next level and what I need to improve to get there- IMO a brown belt should have that really refined and tight top game and I’m not there yet. Lastly, part of it is how I’ve been thinking more about longevity in this sport and what kind of jiu-jitsu I will be able to play when I’m 40, 50, 60 years old (I’m 29 now, which is young for a non-competitive ‘hobbyist’, but I do have 8 years of mileage on me). Probably won’t be inverting and cartwheeling over my opponents- but hopefully crushing through guards with the kind of pressure that makes your opponent relieved when you finally get into side control.

It seems like there is a bit of a renewed interest in this old-school pressure passing in terms of the instructional market; I have managed to pick up some recently released material such as Marco Barbosa- Pressure Passing, and refer back to my usual resources (Ryan Hall, Rob Biernacki) for their insight into this as well. (BTW I heard a story on Reddit that Ryan Hall has unbelievably heavy and painful pressure for a guy his size). There’s some great stuff on youtube, such as BJJ Scout’s Murilo Santana, Demien Maia, and Miyao studies. Gordon Ryan’s just released his new guard passing instructional where he has encompassed pressure passing (he calls it ‘tight passing’) into his system, alongside “loose” and “submission” passing. Fabio Gurgel’s just released one with Stephen Kesting too, which seems targeted towards older hobbyists as a sustainable and realistic approach to guard passing.

In terms of success, I would definitely say my pressure passing and even the holding of dominant top positions has considerably improved. Over under has become my go-to pass, and I have built some basic combinations from it, depending on my opponent’s reactions. I feel more aware of my balance; having to usually maintain a tripod-like posture, and I think I’m getting swept less. I’ve become aware of the power of jamming my opponent’s hips and keeping them flat on the mat, and the usefulness and psychological blow of a brutal cross-face. I’m using my head more, literally- as a fifth post, usually driving up under my opponent’s jaw (the “pez dispenser”). I am definitely passing more guards.

From all this, what i really want to do is up my submission rate from top positions, especially side control. In nogi I am focusing on the arm triangle and the the armbar, and in gi I am working on lapel chokes. I’d also like to get a tap solely from my pressure, from a bigger opponent. >:)