Over-Under Pass

Also known as: Over Under · Pressure Pass · Bernardo Pass

One arm over a leg, one arm under the other, head pinned low on the hip — then walk your hips around the underhooked leg with crushing pressure. Bernardo Faria won five world titles with little else.

Guard Pass · Gi & No-gi · Difficulty 3/5 · Usually learned at Blue belt

Starts from Open Guard as the passer → lands in Side Control.

The details that make it work

1. Your OVER arm pins their leg to your side; the UNDER arm hugs the other thigh with your shoulder driving into their hip.
2. Head stays low and outside their hip — their strongest frames can never reach your posture.
3. Walk the legs sideways around the underhooked thigh; pressure never releases until the shoulder line.

Where it goes wrong

• Head high or on the center line, eating triangles and getting rolled.

How opponents counter it

• Kick the under-hooked leg free and hip escape before the head pins
• Roll them over the top as their weight commits forward

Is the Over-Under Pass legal in competition?

Legal in all major rulesets at all levels (IBJJF, ADCC, sub-only). Rules change — always confirm against the current official rulebook for your event.

Related techniques

• Double Under Pass
• Body Lock Pass
• Knee Cut Pass

All moves from Open Guard · Back to Grapplepedia