Over-Under Pass
The over-under pass in no-gi: one arm over the leg and one arm under to create a body lock and drive through the guard with controlled pressure.
Adapted from the original page. Grappling.Games did not write this. Sources.
Manage injuries →Position map Connects to 5 positions across 2 relationshipsOpen in the map →12345←Enters from
The over-under pass is a body lock pass variant where one arm goes over one of the bottom player’s legs (pressing it down) and the other arm goes under the other leg (lifting it). This asymmetric arm position creates a hip-twist on the bottom player that removes their base and prevents hip escape. The bottom player cannot address both arms at the same time — defending the over arm frees the under arm to lift, and defending the under arm frees the over arm to press.
It is related to the body lock pass but more specific — the over-under arm position creates a locking mechanism that the bottom player cannot resolve by simply framing. Used from top butterfly guard when both hooks are active, from top half guard, or from a failed toreando that the bottom player has recovered to seated.
The defining characteristic of the pass is the head position: the head is pressed into the bottom player’s chest throughout, which closes the guillotine threat and provides additional pressure. Removing the head from this position is the primary technical error in the pass.
INV-P01Invariant "The top player must clear the line of the feet before advancing. Attempting to pass while the feet are active is attempting to pass through the guard rather than around it."
Why it works hereThe over-under handles the foot line through the arm structure itself. The over arm presses one leg flat to the mat, removing it from the passing lane; the under arm lifts the other leg, preventing it from hooking. Both feet are controlled simultaneously by the body lock — they are not redirected and then re-cleared, they are structurally occupied for the duration of the pass.
See full invariant page → The over-under pass addresses clear the feet through the arm structure itself. The over arm presses one leg to the mat, removing it from the passing lane. The under arm lifts the other leg, preventing it from hooking. Both feet are controlled simultaneously by the over-under position — feet are cleared not by redirecting them but by structurally occupying them with the arm lock.
INV-P02Invariant "After clearing the feet, the top player must advance to and hold the line of the knees. This is the intermediate control position between the feet and the hips."