Bodylock Pass

Pass
Also known as:
Body Lock Pass

The bodylock pass uses a tight clasped grip around the opponent's waist or hips to control their movement while driving past their legs. It is effective from standing or kneeling positions where you have already secured a body lock, underhook, or clinch control, and it typically forces the opponent to turtle as you clear their guard.

Quick Reference

Key principles

  • · Maintain chest-to-chest or chest-to-hip pressure so the opponent cannot create frames or insert their knees.
  • · Lock your hands with a Gable grip or S-grip around their waist, keeping elbows tight to eliminate space.
  • · Use lateral hip switching and angling to walk past the legs rather than trying to push straight through.
  • · Drive your weight forward and low to flatten the opponent, anticipating their hip escape or knee re-insertion attempts.
  • · When they turn away to avoid the pass, follow immediately to secure the turtle position rather than chasing side control.

Execution

  1. 1 Secure a tight body lock grip around the opponent's waist with your chest driving into them, eliminating any space between your bodies.
  2. 2 Step one leg up to a combat base position on the side you intend to pass, keeping heavy downward pressure.
  3. 3 Angle your hips and walk laterally, using short steps to clear their legs while maintaining the lock—do not release the grip.
  4. 4 As their legs clear and they begin to turn away, follow their hip rotation and transition your weight onto their back to establish turtle control.
  5. 5 If they do not turtle, slide your hips to the mat and settle into side control while transitioning your grips to crossface and underhook.

Common mistakes

  • × Locking the grip too high around the ribcage instead of the waist, which allows the opponent to hip escape and re-guard easily.
  • × Lifting the hips and creating space while stepping around, giving the opponent room to insert a knee shield or half guard.
  • × Rushing to release the body lock for side control grips before fully clearing the legs, letting the opponent recover guard.

Do it from

Positions and situations where the Bodylock Pass shows up.

Body Lock Leg Drag Position
2 less common
Underhook Control Overhook Control Clinch

Where it lands

The position you end up in.

Turtle Top