Standing Closed Guard Pass Using a Palm-Down Lapel Grip (Intermediate)

Professor Lucas Lepri demonstrates an efficient way to pass the closed guard. Beginning in a strong base, Lucas secures a grip on his opponent’s sleeve with one hand and a palm-down grip on his opponent's lapel with his other hand. Standing and applying pressure to his opponent’s chin is often enough to cause the opponent’s guard to open. If necessary, Lucas switches his grip from the lapel to the knee and forces the guard to open by pushing the knee down to the mat. He then finishes the pass by gripping around the opponent’s head and applying pressure to the chin as he drives his knee to the mat and passes into side control position.