What is the Floating Pass?
The floating pass keeps you balanced over open-guard hooks instead of smashing into them. By posting, circling, and timing drops as hooks empty, you clear legs without handing the bottom player easy sweeps. It pairs with toreando, X-pass, and leg-drag chains.
Establish the Float
Get above the hooks without falling in.
- Break or manage primary open-guard grips
- Stand or post in a balanced posture over their legs
- Keep hands ready for sweep defense
- Identify which hook is weakest
Clear and Circle
- Clear or empty the near hook with pants/ankle control
- Circle or step as they try to reattach
- Stay light enough to float, heavy enough to threaten the drop
- Do not turn your back on active hooks
Drop to the Pin
Finish the pass on the mat.
- Drop into side control when both hooks are clear
- Sprawl hips and establish cross-face/underhook
- Kill immediate re-guard attempts
- Stabilize before hunting submissions
Key Grips & Control Points
- Sleeve, pant, or ankle controls that manage their hooks
- Posting hands ready to catch sweeps
- Upright posture with hips light enough to float
- Head position that stays off easy triangle lines
Timing & Movement Cues
- Drop when a hook empties or they overextend for a sweep
- Circle as they try to reattach de la Riva or butterfly hooks
- Pass when their shoulders leave the mat chasing you
Pressure & Weight Distribution
- Float with balance — do not hover so high you get swept
- Clear one hook at a time, then settle weight
- Drop to a real pin; floating forever is not a pass
Typical Counters to Expect
- Tripod and waiter’s sweeps when you float too tall
- Berimbolo entries if you turn away from active hooks
- Collar drags and arm drags as you post
Follow-Up Options
- Side control once both hooks clear
- Leg drag if one leg stays elevated
- Knee slide when they turn to a hip under you
Setups & Entries
- Toreando feints that empty a hook
- X-pass pressure that forces them to chase
- Standing open-guard posture after grip breaks
Training Drills
- Floating balance rounds over cooperative open guard
- Hook-clear to side-control drops
- Float-to-toreando and float-to-leg-drag chains
Coaching Notes
- Balance first, smash second
- Hands save you from sweeps while hips choose the pass lane
- Commit to a pin when the hooks die
Related Study
Connect this movement with complementary positions and attacks.
Summary
Floating passes ride above open-guard hooks, clear them with balance, and drop into side control. Stay ready to post against sweeps, then commit to a pin when the hooks empty.