What is the X-Pass in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

The X-Pass is a standing open-guard pass where the passer steps laterally around one of the opponent's legs and drops to a side-control position. The name refers to the crossing footwork pattern that creates the lateral step.

What are the key mechanics of the X-Pass?

The passer establishes grips, such as pant cuffs or ankles, and uses a lateral step to walk around an opponent's leg. As the body clears the leg, the passer drops chest-first onto the torso to land in side control, using standing posture to deny the opponent leverage.

How do you defend against the X-Pass?

Defensive options include maintaining strong frames to prevent the passer from getting close, inverting as the lateral step initiates, or establishing single-leg-X or de la Riva grips to deny the standing pass geometry.

What are common mistakes when performing the X-Pass?

Common errors include stepping too slowly, failing to establish grips before the step, dropping to side control before clearing the leg, stepping vertically instead of laterally, and standing too close to the opponent's guard geometry.

intermediateblue beltguard passes

X-PASS

Passagem X

In Short

The X-Pass is a fundamental standing open-guard pass where the practitioner steps laterally around an opponent's leg in an X-pattern to drop into side control. It denies the opponent leverage for bottom-up recovery and is taught in modern open-guard curricula.

Also known as: X-Pass Variant, Lateral X-Pass

The x-pass is the standing open-guard pass in which the passer steps laterally around one of the opponent's legs, then drops to a side-control position. The technique is one of the most fundamental standing passes and is taught at every academy as part of the modern open-guard pass curriculum. The 'X' name describes the crossing footwork pattern that produces the lateral step.

The mechanics begin from a standing engagement with the passer above the opponent's open guard. The passer establishes grips (typically pant cuffs in gi, or ankles in no-gi) and uses a lateral step to walk around one of the opponent's legs — the step traces an X-shape pattern with the passer's feet crossing as the body moves around the leg. As the passer's body clears the leg, the passer drops chest-first onto the opponent's torso to land in side control. The x-pass's mechanical advantage is that the standing posture denies the opponent the leverage that bottom-up guard recovery requires, and the lateral step happens faster than the opponent can invert or scoot away.

The x-pass has been used extensively by competitors who specialize in standing-game pass systems. Notable practitioners include Rafael Mendes, Lucas Lepri, and various modern lightweight specialists who use the standing-pass approach as a primary pass-strategy. The technique pairs particularly well with leg-drag entries — the x-pass step can fluidly convert to leg-drag if the opponent attempts to recover guard with a knee-shield. Defensively the x-pass is countered by maintaining strong frame against the standing passer (don't let them get close enough to step), by inverting as the lateral step initiates, or by establishing single-leg-X or de la Riva grips that deny the standing pass geometry.

KEY POINTS

01Stand above the opponent's open guard with grips established.
02Step laterally around one of the opponent's legs in an X-pattern.
03Cross the feet as the body moves around the leg.
04Drop chest-first onto the opponent's torso to land in side control.
05Use the standing posture to deny bottom-up recovery leverage.

COMMON MISTAKES

✕Stepping too slowly and allowing the opponent to invert.
✕Failing to establish grips before initiating the step.
✕Dropping to side control before the step clears the leg.
✕Stepping vertically rather than laterally around the leg.
✕Standing too close to the opponent's open-guard geometry.

TRAINING DRILLS

→Standing posture drill (50 reps).
→X-pass footwork drill without an opponent.
→X-pass against cooperative partner.
→X-pass against progressive resistance.
→Live rolling with x-pass as the primary standing pass.

Frequently Asked

What is the X-Pass in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?: The X-Pass is a standing open-guard pass where the passer steps laterally around one of the opponent's legs and drops to a side-control position. The name refers to the crossing footwork pattern that creates the lateral step.
What are the key mechanics of the X-Pass?: The passer establishes grips, such as pant cuffs or ankles, and uses a lateral step to walk around an opponent's leg. As the body clears the leg, the passer drops chest-first onto the torso to land in side control, using standing posture to deny the opponent leverage.
How do you defend against the X-Pass?: Defensive options include maintaining strong frames to prevent the passer from getting close, inverting as the lateral step initiates, or establishing single-leg-X or de la Riva grips to deny the standing pass geometry.
What are common mistakes when performing the X-Pass?: Common errors include stepping too slowly, failing to establish grips before the step, dropping to side control before clearing the leg, stepping vertically instead of laterally, and standing too close to the opponent's guard geometry.