Understanding the Top Game: Guard Passing and Control Defense

 

In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the Top Game refers to the set of techniques and strategies used when you are in a dominant position, typically on top of your opponent. The top game has two primary, interlinked objectives:

 

1. Passing the Guard: This is the initial goal, where you systematically overcome your opponent’s guard (their legs) to achieve a more dominant position, such as side control, knee-on-belly, or mount.
2. Control and Defense: Once you have passed the guard, the objective shifts to maintaining control. This involves defending against your opponent’s attempts to sweep you (reverse positions), submit you, or escape.

 

“Refining” these skills means moving beyond the basic techniques and understanding the strategic concepts, nuances, and psychological aspects that separate a good top player from a truly dominant one.

 

2. Core Concepts for Refining Your Top Game

 

An advanced BJJ program focused on the top game will go beyond simple, mechanical movements to teach a deeper, more conceptual understanding of the position.

 

 Positional Pressure and Weight Distribution: The most fundamental concept is using your body weight to create overwhelming pressure on your opponent. Advanced training focuses on how to distribute your weight strategically to make your opponent’s hips heavy, their movements slow, and their guard difficult to recover.

 The “Pin-and-Bore” Principle: Taught by coaches like John Danaher, this concept involves pinning one part of the opponent’s body (e.g., a leg) to the mat and then systematically “boring” your way through their defense to pass their guard. This is a methodical, step-by-step approach that prioritizes control and minimizing risk.

 Creating Dilemmas: Advanced guard passing is not just about a single move; it’s about forcing your opponent to make a choice. By simultaneously threatening to pass to one side while also threatening a submission or a pass to the other, you create a dilemma that makes it impossible for them to defend both at the same time.

 “Faking” and Timing: The top game is a game of feints and timing. You learn to “fake” a pass or a submission to get a reaction from your opponent, and then use that reaction to set up your real attack.

 Control Defense: From a dominant position, your goal is to shut down your opponent’s offense. This involves understanding how to manage their hips, how to block their escape paths, and how to defend against common sweeps and submission attacks from the bottom.

 

3. What to Expect from Training Focused on the Top Game

 

Training designed to refine your top game will involve a systematic approach that includes a blend of drills, positional sparring, and live rolling.

 

 Advanced Guard Passing Drills: Classes will focus on high-repetition drills that isolate specific guard passing techniques, such as the X-pass, the leg drag, or the toreando pass. The goal is to perfect the movements until they become second nature.

 Positional Sparring: A significant portion of the class is dedicated to positional sparring. You and a partner will start from a specific position (e.g., your opponent has you in a half-guard, or a closed guard), and you will work to pass their guard. This controlled environment allows you to practice the techniques against a resisting opponent without the stress of a full match.

 Live Rolling: The class culminates in live rolling, where you can apply all the techniques and strategies you’ve learned against a fully resisting opponent. The intensity is high, but partners are always matched based on experience to ensure safety.

 

4. Top Coaches and Teams for Guard Passing

 

Many top-tier academies and coaches are renowned for their guard passing and top game.

 

 Andre Galvao (Atos Jiu-Jitsu): A legendary competitor and coach, Galvao is considered one of the best guard passers of all time. His school, Atos Jiu-Jitsu, is known for its high-level, modern sport BJJ curriculum.

 Lucas Lepri (Alliance Jiu-Jitsu): A multiple-time world champion, Lepri is famous for his precise and methodical guard passing. He has a systematic approach to passing the guard that is highly effective.

 John Danaher (Danaher Death Squad / B-Team): Known for his systematic, conceptual approach to teaching, Danaher has coached many of the top leg lock specialists in the world, but his principles for positional control and creating dilemmas are highly effective for the top game as well.

 Gracie Barra: The organization’s curriculum, especially in the advanced tiers, provides a strong emphasis on positional control and guard passing. This is a core part of the Gracie Barra philosophy of teaching a complete BJJ game.

 Bernardo Faria: The creator of the “Faria sweep” and a five-time world champion. He is known for his simple yet overwhelmingly effective pressure passing game, which is a great system for those who like to use their body weight to pass the guard.

 

 Conclusion: The Path to BJJ Dominance

 

For advanced BJJ practitioners, refining your top game is the key to becoming a more dominant and effective grappler. By moving beyond basic guard passing techniques and focusing on advanced concepts like positional pressure, creating dilemmas, and strategic control defense, you can develop a well-rounded and powerful BJJ game that is difficult for any opponent to handle. Training with top-level coaches and integrating these concepts into your training is the definitive path to BJJ dominance.

Understanding the Top Game: Guard Passing and Control Defense