How many points is a guard pass in jiu-jitsu?
B · Beginner · Points · 4 of 6Passing the guard is worth three points. The athlete on top must get completely past the opponent's legs and hold a controlling position for three seconds, with the opponent on the back or side. Knee on belly is worth two points: a knee or shin across the opponent's torso, the other knee off the mat, facing the head.
How it works
- Guard pass, 3 points: with continuity from top position against a guard, advancing completely past the legs into dominant top control, with the opponent on the back or side and a hip on the mat.
- Top half guard control: an advantage, when the athlete gets chest to chest with one leg still trapped but cannot finish the pass.
- Forced to turtle: an advantage, if the guard player has to turn away to stop the pass.
- Knee on belly, 2 points: a knee or shin on the stomach, chest or ribs of an opponent on the back or side, facing the head, with the other knee off the mat.
- Facing the legs: no score.
- Other knee down: an advantage if the position is not completed.
- No double counting: switching sides or stepping back and returning earns nothing more.
- Forced back: if the opponent forces the athlete back to an earlier position, the score can be earned again.
- Pass to mount: the extra points are added if both are held.
The glossary has the guard pass, the knee on belly, the top half guard control, the guard, the advantage and the three-second stabilization.
Tricky cases
An athlete gets to half guard on top, chest to chest, and is then swept. What is scored for the pass attempt?
An advantage, if the half guard came from trying to pass an open or closed guard.
An athlete passes and then switches knee on belly from one side to the other. Is that 2 more points?
No. Switching sides of knee on belly earns no additional score.
The opponent rolls backwards to their knees to escape a pass. Does the passer get anything?
An advantage, but only once the passer has got hip control from behind the opponent's shoulder.
A spider guard player keeps a straight leg on the passer's arm while the passer's shin is on the torso. Is that a pass?
Not yet. While the bottom athlete's foot-on-bicep leg is straight, the passer is still inside the guard.
Why the rule exists
The legs are the defender's main shield, and getting past them is the turning point of most matches, so the pass is worth more than a sweep or takedown. Knee on belly is a pinning position that leaves the top athlete mobile, and the rule that the athlete must face the head keeps it a controlling position.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Guard pass | 3 points | JJIF Ne-Waza 9.3 |
| Top half guard control, pass not finished | Advantage | JJIF Ne-Waza 9.3.2 |
| Knee on belly | 2 points | JJIF Ne-Waza 9.4 |
| Knee on belly facing the legs | No score | JJIF Ne-Waza 9.4 |
| Ju-jitsu fighting | A 15-second pin for 2 points | JJIF Fighting 6.3.1 |
From the rule book
Ju-Jitsu International Federation and Ju-Jitsu Asian Union, Jiu-Jitsu (Ne-Waza) Rulebook (version 2.7, reviewed 2024), Sections 9.3 and 9.4 and the appendix of key definitions. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the federation's Jiu-Jitsu (Ne-Waza) Rulebook.