This is my take on Marcelo Garcia’s hip switch pass. At least, when I visited Marcelo’s gym in NYC, the hip switch pass was a big part of the game there. As I’ve been playing with it, especially on bigger guys, I’ve noticed a couple entries to leg attacks that will either give a submission or, by avoiding the submission you get the pass. The basic idea is: Flatten their hips to the mat with your body.

I got caught with this submission about 15 years ago and it’s stuck with me. To my mind it’s the most annoying way to get subbed in BJJ just because of the emotional roller coaster from “I took their back I rule” to “wtf was that cheap $*#!” Some folks like to build games around doing weird submissions from inferior positions. I know a couple of black belts who love to give up their back so they can try to catch arm-bars.