From Beginner to Pro: How to Pass the 3/4 Mount in Jiu Jitsu

The 3/4 mount is a common and versatile position that is used by BJJ practitioners for both offensive and defensive purposes. It is a transitional position between the full mount and side control, where the attacker has one leg trapped and the other leg free to move around their opponent’s body. If you’re on the bottom in 3/4 mount, you’re in a vulnerable position, as your opponent can easily transition to the full mount and take control of the fight. Therefore, it’s important to know how to pass the 3/4 mount to regain control and prevent your opponent from advancing to a more dominant position.

The Fundamentals of Passing the 3/4 Mount

To pass the 3/4 mount effectively, you need to have a solid understanding of the key concepts and principles that underpin successful guard passing in BJJ. These include maintaining good posture, controlling your opponent’s hips, and breaking down their base. Good posture means keeping your back straight, your head up, and your elbows tight to your body. This helps to prevent your opponent from getting under your arms and attacking with submissions like armbars or chokes.

Controlling your opponent’s hips is also crucial, as it allows you to limit their mobility and prevent them from transitioning to more advantageous positions. To control your opponent’s hips in 3/4 mount, you can use your hands to grip their thigh or knee and pull it towards you. This creates a space between their upper body and their lower body, which you can exploit to start passing their guard.

Breaking down your opponent’s base means taking away their ability to maintain balance and stability. This is usually done by controlling their legs and forcing them to post their arms on the ground for support. Once their base is broken down, you can start to move around their body and look for opportunities to pass their guard.

Common 3/4 Mount Passing Techniques

There are several effective techniques for passing the 3/4 mount, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The knee slide is one of the most popular and versatile techniques, as it allows you to maintain control of your opponent’s hips while you slide your knee across their body to reach side control. To execute the knee slide, start by gripping your opponent’s pants at the knee with both hands. Use your legs to push their trapped leg towards their free leg, creating a space for you to slide your knee through. As you do this, use your opposite hand to control their far-side lapel and pull yourself towards them to maintain control.

The over-under pass is another effective technique for passing the 3/4 mount, especially if your opponent has a strong base and is difficult to move. To execute the over-under pass, start by controlling your opponent’s far-side leg with both hands, pulling it towards you to create space between their legs. Use your other arm to reach over their body and grab their opposite lapel, pulling it towards you to break down their base. As you do this, step your same-side leg over their leg and slide your other leg under their body to reach side control.

The stack pass is a powerful and aggressive technique that can be used to quickly transition from 3/4 mount to side control. To execute the stack pass, start by gripping your opponent’s collar with both hands, pulling their upper body towards you to break down their posture. Next, use your legs to lift their hips off the ground and stack them on top of their upper body. This puts a lot of pressure on their lower back and can force them to turn onto their side, creating an opportunity for you to slide your knee across their body and reach side control.

Counter Attacks and Adjustments

In BJJ, there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and your opponent may be able to defend against your passing attempts. It’s important to have a range of counter-attacks and adjustments that you can use in response to their movements. For example, if your opponent starts to push your knee away as you attempt the knee slide, you can switch to the leg drag technique, where you use your hand to push their knee out of the way and drag their leg across your body to reach side control.

Similarly, if your opponent starts to sit up and grab your lapel as you attempt the over-under pass, you can switch to the X-pass technique, where you step your leg over their hip and use your other leg to push their knee to the ground. This creates space for you to slide your knee across their body and reach side control.

 

The 3/4 mount is a transitional position that can be challenging to pass, but with the right techniques and adjustments, you can regain control and prevent your opponent from advancing to a more dominant position. By maintaining good posture, controlling your opponent’s hips, and breaking down their base, you can create opportunities to pass their guard and achieve a more advantageous position. With practice and persistence, you can become a proficient guard passer and add another dimension to your BJJ game.