Layers of Guard

Like an onion, the guard has many layers. You pass by peeling the layers back one by one.

Passing the guard involves getting past multiple layers of defenses:

1. Generally, you first need to get past your opponent's legs...
2. Then, you need to get past your opponent's arms...
3. And finally, you need to stabilize the position after you've passed.

There may be some unusual exceptions to the description above, but the key takeaways for passing most guards are:

• focus on getting past your opponent's legs before you worry about their arms
• focus on getting past your opponent's arms before you complete the pass and stabilize the position.