Also known as the Tozi pass, the Sao Paulo pass is one of the more unorthodox moves in BJJ and can have a very steep learning curve. Unlike conventional ways to open the closed guard, it relies more on pressure and weight distribution. That’s not to say that the Sao Paulo isn’t fundamentally sound – because it is.
Instead, what is important is that you know exactly what you’re doing, otherwise the pass won’t work. Unlike other guard breaking methods, failure of the Sao Paulo pass can result in getting submitted or swept quite easily. Because of this, we don’t recommend this move for beginners. Having said that, this move has regularly been hit by the likes of Braulio Estima and Roger Gracie at the highest levels, which says a lot about its credentials.
Table of Contents
Setting up the correct grips
A big factor in starting the Sao Paulo pass is establishing the correct grips. This goes for all moves in BJJ, but is especially relevant here. To begin with, you want to underhook your opponent’s arm on the one side. This should be a deep underhook where your elbow is free from safety. Of course, this doesn’t mean putting your hand on the mats where it’s vulnerable either. Instead, you should have a deep underhook, similar to that of a half guard pass.
The next grip is to be placed on the shin of the opponent’s other leg. Some people place this grip on the opponent’s knee, and whilst this isn’t necessarily wrong, it means your arm is closer to their arm. The last thing you want is for the opponent to grip your wrist and set up a triangle choke from the position. In brief, with one grip acting as an underhook and the other firmly on the opposite shin, you have set up the beginnings of the pass.
General body positioning when doing the Sao Paulo pass
Whilst your grips are important, so is the position of your body. The first thing you want to do is keep your head low onto the chest of the opponent which adds pressure and keeps your body weight low. Next, you want to keep the elbow of the underhook tucked in tight.
Remember, the goal of the underhook is that as you turn away from the opponent, it stops you from getting your back taken. Similarly, the arm pushing on the shin should have a tight elbow too, as otherwise you may get hit with a Kimura submission. However, if your elbows are tucked inwards then you are safe from elbow locks.
The next step will focus on your lower body. Here, you want to face away from the underhooked side, after doing this, you want to switch your hips. The reason for doing this is that it allows you to push the shin down with ease. If your legs are below the shin, then your own leg will physically block the opponent’s leg from being pushed. Alternatively, you can use your hips to pry open their foot which again allows easier passing.
Breaking the closed guard and finishing the Sao Paulo pass
At this point, you should be close to breaking the closed guard and getting ready to pass. The Sao Paulo pass may look fundamentally wrong to an outsider, but with the above rules followed, you should remain safe. Remember, this pass may be more difficult if the opponent begins to use lapels against you in the gi.
Anyway, to finish the pass you need to push the shin down and step over it with your leg. At this point you will be in a top half-guard position and with an underhook on the far side. From here you can chose a knee slice pass or a double underhook pass, the choice is yours but the main thing is that you’ve passed their leg with an underhook. In short, the Sao Paulo break has done the hard part and you’re now in the final stages of the pass.
Troubleshooting the Sao Paulo pass (problems and issues)
As has been established, there’s a lot of intricate details involved with using this passing method. Sometimes in BJJ, you may get away with sloppy application of a technique, as long as the move is timed well and you have a good understanding of the position. With the Sao Paulo pass, it mostly has to be perfect otherwise you may be in trouble. As mentioned, a lot relies on keeping your arms safe. In brief, if the opponent is able to move your arms then you will be in trouble.
This could lead to a triangle, kimura, omoplata or a sweep into mount. With this said, you should hide your arms and only move them on your terms. If the opponent manages to get a dominant grip on your arm then you may struggle. As well, this pass may be harder in the gi. Some people are able to manipulate your movements by moving you about in the gi, or threaten chokes with lapels. This is something to be mindful of.
Summary on the Sao Paulo Pass
The Sao Paulo pass is legitimate, but as said in the beginning it has a steep learning curve. With this said, the move may be best to drill heavily before putting it into practice, or you may begin by using this move on training partners with significantly less skill than you before you get the hang of it. Alternatively, if you truly don’t mind getting submitted whilst learning then going for it is also a great option.
Perhaps the main benefit of the move is that it can catch people out. Some people have a very tough closed guard to open, so by doing this you may do something they’re not used to which results in a pass. In conclusion, the Sao Paulo pass is an effective, but complicated pass that needs a lot of attention but can also be well worth it to enhance your game and add variety.
