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Class Two Passing the Guard with Leg Drag

Two weeks since my first Brazillian Jiu Jitsu class, my skinned knees finally healed up enough to get back on the mats (not to noobs, don't try a class in tracksuit trousers - get some gi trousers or spats or just wear some knees guards - tracksuit cotton seems to rip up your skin something terrible).

Last night was a big class. We began with a warmup - working with a partner and doing some basic movement - get the hips away, climb the legs up into arm bar. No need to actually make the other guy tap, just get into position rapidly. Then a similar thing - from guard, his/her hands on either side of your torso on the floor. Grab the wrist, sit up and snake your opposite hand over his arm and around to grab your wrist. Again, no tapping.

Then technique time - we did two techniques:

Passing the guard with a leg drag



  • Standing with opponent on his back trying to get you in guard.
  • Grab his left leg with your right hand and drag it to the left.
  • This turns his body to his right side.
  • Sit into him, your left knee over his right inner thigh.
  • Tuck your body down low.
  • "Give him a pat on the back for being so accommodating" (as my teacher said) and grab the back of his Gi.
  • Get your shoulder under his.
  • Tuck your left elbow in and get a good grip on his left leg and push it down.
  • Get a grip of his lapel with your left hand.
  • Now tuck your right leg up close to his back, pass your left leg over his body and place it in front of his torso.
  • Lean back, right hand around to meet your left and take his back.


I think I got that right. Here's something that's about as similar as I can find on youtube:

Leg hook and reverse - Don't know what this is actually called

  • On your back, take left left and hook it around his right.
  • Place right foot into his hip, just above your left foot.
  • Lean up to grab his belt with your right hand on his right flank
  • Pull him down to your left
  • Spin on your back putting your head by his belt
  • Roll over your shoulders

At that point there's some magic with keeping your calf on his and grabbing his leg that I can't picture. Eventually, you end up in a similar position to the leg drag, where you can take his back.

Then we rolled. I worked slowly with another white belt first - the Judo guy from last time. He is strong, and heavy, a good guy to train with - pretty relaxed, doesn't really try to force anything. Round two with a different white belt - much more aggressive, less relaxed rolling. He trained faster, movements more jerky but less subtle. It felt almost as if the first guy didn't care if he tapped me, the second guy felt like he cared more.

Next up was a blue belt. Calm. Relaxed. He played with me. I can't say I gave him any challenge, but he took good positions, never tried to crank anything fast. I'm reminded in the middle of training with him that sometimes it's tricky to know when you're got with someone who isn't putting the hurt on. But that's good too - awareness of when you are in a loosing position is something. Tried to use the leg drag we were drilling earlier. No success there. He controlled my hips with his feet too well.

Then I rolled with the instructor - David. Super relaxed. I never got into a position that he didn't either want me to be in, or actively let me get into. His legs are always working - wrapping, coiling, maneuvering me around the mat. Key takeaways here - don't let people get your back. Don't let them lie on top of you and take your breath. Your brain needs oxygen to work so if they are lying on you and you can't breath, you can't think, you can't work your own game. Tried to shrimp out when he was in side control. Also tried lifting the hips before a shrimp. Both worked vaguely (though I suspect because he let them work). I was never really in a position to even attempt getting something on him. Totally outclassed. Fantastic!
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