--- title: Two-on-one pass-off description: Patient escape from front headlock using inside-position thumb grip and two-on-one wrist control. Wait for hands to unlock, then pass head to outside. section: body tags: [bjj, move, front-headlock-bottom, seated-guard, two-on-one, grip-fighting, patience] genre: reference stability: developing lastUpdated: 2026-04-26 url: https://fardiniqbal.com/docs/body/mat/moves/two-on-one-pass-off --- **Source:** Volume 02, §5 —   ([full transcript](/docs/body/mat/sources/only-way-out/volume-02#5-the-two-on-one-method--when-patience-wins)) *** ## Purpose [#purpose] When you can't walk to the side, use patience and grip fighting. Establish inside position, wait for partner to unlock, pass head to outside. ## Entry condition [#entry-condition] Front headlock. You can establish inside-position thumb grip. ## Mechanics [#mechanics] ### Establishing inside position with the thumb [#establishing-inside-position-with-the-thumb] Two ways to keep your chin in: * **Chin tucked to inside of shoulder** (instinctive, default — this is good). * **Chin turned slightly to the outside** — used if Chris is really trying to force my head across his centerline; in that case I want my chin out the other way. Either way, **we are not sticking our head up** and creating separation between chin and sternum, which would let our partner punch the strangle arm through. 1. **Bring partner's hands down in front of your chest**, low enough to get a good grip. 2. **In a perfect world**, opposite hand to opposite hand: Chris's right arm + my right arm. But you can't always do that. 3. **Often you have to use your second hand first**: bring partner's arm down slightly, bring your elbow forward, then **insert your thumb** inside. * The detail: Chris has a strong grip. I can't get my right thumb in without lifting my chin (exposing my head). * From this position, take your **outside hand** and **pull down just enough** to get partner's hand on your sternum. * Then **pivot**, **bring your right elbow forward** — this lets you take your thumb to the inside. 4. **Take your left hand and double up** — two-on-one wrist grip. **Now wait.** As partner goes to strangle from here, he'll find it very difficult. So often what will happen is **he'll unlock his hands**. The moment he unlocks: **pass off**. ### The pump-handle pass-off (head to the outside) [#the-pump-handle-pass-off-head-to-the-outside] **The pass-off:** use your two-on-one to take your partner's arm **from one side of your head to the other**. This is similar to what we do when partner is on the back — a **two-on-one pass-off**, sometimes called a **pump-handle escape**: taking partner's arm and moving it from the opposite side of their head to the same side. Whenever his arm and his head are on the **same side**, the strangle is causal — the threat is gone. **Sequence:** 1. Keep your **chin in**. 2. **Pull down with your outside hand.** 3. Place your **thumb on the inside.** 4. Get **double thumb grips** — two-on-one — and **wait**. 5. As partner goes to separate the hands, **move and take your head to the outside**. There's already a lot of separation. As he comes in to chase us, we **place our feet up here**, and now we're ready to go into our attacks. ### Off-ramps from the head pass [#off-ramps-from-the-head-pass] Once your head is on the outside, you have a **whole host of good options**: * Arm drag. * Thumb post. * High stop. * Double-leg your partner. * Sit back to a **seated butterfly**, **half guard**, **half butterfly**, or **put your back on the floor**. Three core sub-skills here: 1. **Grip fighting.** 2. **Getting your head to the opposite side.** 3. **Retreating / reclining backward** to whatever guard variant suits you. Now you've got your legs between you and your partner — ready for offense. ## Key details [#key-details] 1. **Pull down with outside hand** to get partner's grip on sternum — don't try to force your thumb in from neutral; use the outside hand to create the opening first. 2. **Pivot, bring right elbow forward to insert thumb** — this is the mechanical trick that gets the thumb to inside position without lifting the chin. 3. **Double up — two-on-one wrist grip** — both hands on one wrist, controlling the strangle arm. 4. **WAIT — partner will unlock when strangle fails.** This is the patience component. The strangle is very difficult with your two-on-one in place, so they will eventually unlock. 5. **Pass head from one side to other (pump-handle).** Use the two-on-one to move partner's arm across. Once head is on the outside, strangle threat is gone. 6. **Once head is outside, strangle threat is gone.** Place feet between you and partner, choose your attack — arm drag, sit back to guard, snap-down. ## Common failures [#common-failures] * **Lifting the chin to get the thumb in.** Never create air gap between chin and sternum. Use the outside hand to pull partner's grip down first, then pivot to insert. * **Rushing the pass-off before partner unlocks.** If partner's hands are still locked, the pump-handle is much harder. Be patient — the two-on-one makes their strangle ineffective, so they will eventually unlock. * **Not placing feet between you and partner after the pass.** Once your head is outside, you need your legs as a barrier. Without them, partner can re-engage from a strong angle. * **Sticking head up.** Any separation between chin and sternum lets partner punch the strangle arm through. ## Connections [#connections] * **From:** [Front headlock (bottom)](/docs/body/mat/positions/front-headlock-bottom) → **To:** Seated guard * **Principles:** [Inside position](/docs/body/mat/principles/inside-position), [Retract](/docs/body/mat/principles/retract) * **Skills:** [Grip fighting](/docs/body/mat/skills/grip-fighting) * **Leads to:** Arm drag series (§6), snap-down (§7), sit back to butterfly/half guard