Combat Sports
Double-Under Guard Pass
The double-under guard pass is a grappling technique for moving around a partner’s legs into side control. It develops coordinated pulling, hip movement, and trunk control.
- Intermediate
- Compound
- Moderate injury risk
- Rest 1 min
How to do it
- Kneel between your partner’s legs while they lie on their back with their knees bent.
- Slide both arms beneath your partner’s thighs.
- Connect your hands palm-to-palm behind their thighs.
- Draw your partner’s hips toward your lap.
- Walk your knees toward one side with your chest close to the backs of their thighs.
- Guide their legs toward the opposite side until your torso clears their knees.
- Release your grip around their thighs.
- Settle your chest across their upper torso in side control.
Form cues
- Keep your elbows close.
- Move your hips with your shoulders.
- Keep breathing through the effort.
Common mistakes
- Interlocking fingersUse a palm-to-palm grip so your fingers cannot get trapped as your partner moves.
- Trying to pass straight forwardTravel around the outside of the legs rather than driving through them.
- Dropping into side controlLower your weight gradually so your partner can comfortably accept the finishing position.
Safety
Driving the thighs toward the face can load your partner’s neck and upper back. Sudden rotation while their hips are trapped can also strain the lower back.
- Agree on the passing side, endpoint, and stop signal before starting with a cooperative partner using minimal resistance.
- Keep your partner’s shoulders supported on the mat without folding their knees toward their face.
- Release pressure immediately if your partner taps, signals discomfort, or reports neck or back pain.
- Practice on a clear padded surface with enough room for both partners to turn.
If either partner has neck, back, or hip pain or a recent injury, get advice from a physiotherapist or doctor before practicing this pass.
Muscles worked
Primary muscles
Secondary muscles
Equipment
- Combat Training Mat
Sets and reps
- Sets
- 2–3
- Target
- 4–6 reps per side
- Rest
- 1 min
Treat each rep as a slow technique drill, returning to the starting position between passes.