Double-Under Pass
Pressure pass that threads both arms under the opponent’s legs, stacks their hips, and clears to side control or mount.
From Closed or Open GuardTo Side Control / Mount
Overview
The double-under pass (stack pass) wins by getting both arms under the opponent’s legs, lifting and folding their hips toward their shoulders, then walking around the cleared legs into side control. It rewards posture control, tight elbows, and patient stacking more than speed.
#Insert Both Unders
Win the underhooks under the thighs before lifting.
- Break closed guard or elevate both feet from open guard
- Shoot both arms under the thighs and connect your hands or belt grip
- Pinch elbows and drop your head to the centerline
- Establish base so they cannot sit up into your posture
#Stack and Clear
- Lift and fold their hips toward their shoulders
- Walk your body around the cleared side while keeping the stack heavy
- Prevent re-guard by keeping knees tight to their hip line
- Do not release the unders until their legs are past your hip
#Consolidate Side Control
Settle weight before changing levels again.
- Drop into side control with cross-face and far underhook
- Sprawl hips back to kill bridges
- Clear any remaining knee shield before mounting or attacking
- Stabilize chest-to-chest before hunting submissions
Key Grips & Control Points
- Both arms under the thighs with hands clasped or gripping belt/gi
- Head heavy on the centerline to stop them sitting up
- Elbows pinched to keep their knees from re-clamping
- Hip pressure walking toward the shoulder line as the stack builds
Timing & Movement Cues
- Enter when their closed guard opens and both feet are elevated
- Exploit moments where they over-extend for upper-body grips
- Circle when you feel their hips leave the mat and their shoulders become the base
Pressure & Weight Distribution
- Drive hips forward while lifting their legs to remove space
- Keep your head low and heavy so they cannot shrimp free
- Walk your knees up as their hips fold — the pass is a stack, not a jump
Typical Counters to Expect
- Opponent inserts frames on your biceps and hips to stop the lift
- Triangle or omoplata threats when one underhook is shallow
- Electric chair / banana split exposure if you linger in a bad stack against a flexible partner
Follow-Up Options
- Side control with cross-face and underhook once legs are cleared
- Mount if they keep their far shoulder glued and you can step over cleanly
- Leg drag if one leg stays elevated and the other clears first
Setups & Entries
- Open closed guard with posture and knee wedges, then shoot both unders
- Force elevated feet with toreando feints before dropping into double unders
- Use a single under first, then pummel the second arm when they defend high
Training Drills
- Double-under grip inserts from open guard with light resistance
- Stack-and-walk rounds focusing on head position and elbow pinch
- Pass-to-side-control consolidation after the clear
Coaching Notes
- Two unders before you celebrate — one shallow arm invites triangles
- Stack toward the shoulders; circling too early restarts their guard
- Clear legs fully before hunting submissions from a messy stack
Related Study
Connect this movement with complementary positions and attacks.
Summary
Double unders pass by stacking, not sprinting. Secure both arms, fold their hips to their shoulders, walk around the clear, and only then settle into side control.