Basic Stack Pass | Maintaining Pressure

Maintaining pressure in the stack pass involves keeping the opponent crunched and uncomfortable, making it difficult for them to breathe or find an escape. The goal is to prevent them from rolling, returning their hips to the mat, or angling off, which could allow them to regain mobility or create space.

1. When the opponent starts to angle away, use your head to steer back over theirs and flatten them out again. If your outside knee is on the mat, lift it to chase your opponent and maintain pressure.
2. Keep your elbow tight to prevent the opponent from dragging you around the corner. Your head should stay over theirs to control their movement.
3. If the opponent angles towards you, drag them until they are flattened out with their shoulders flat and hips starting to get closer to being over their shoulders.
4. Attempt to place the opponent's knees on the ground just above their ears while staying on the toes or the inside edges of your feet.
5. Circle and prop with your legs to keep the opponent's hip elevated and prevent them from turning into you or away from you.
6. Look for an opportunity to complete the pass on your terms, keeping the opponent's shoulders flat and stuck without allowing them to regain space or mobility.
7. When ready, drive and connect with your belly to close the gap, covering the head or securing an underhook to finalize the pass.

The stack pass should be a physical, psychic, and emotional tax on the opponent, exhausting them and reducing the danger of their guard. By keeping the opponent's legs away from you, you reduce the risk of them attaching to your legs or spinning to your back. The key is to make the opponent feel trapped and unable to roll or tilt, maintaining control until you are ready to advance position and seek a submission.