Stack

Stack commonly refers to the posture where the top player uses their weight and pressure to compress or "stack" the bottom player's hips and legs toward their chest. This position is often used as part of a Stack Pass or as a defensive measure against submissions like the Armbar or Triangle Choke. The stack position emphasizes controlling the bottom player's hips and neutralizing their mobility to dominate or pass their Guard.

Key Features of the Stack Position

Body Position

  • The top player leans forward, placing heavy pressure onto the bottom player's hips and legs, folding their body.
  • The bottom player is typically on their back with their legs pushed toward their head, limiting their ability to frame or move.

Control Points

  • Hands often grip the opponent’s pants, hips, or belt to maintain control over their legs.
  • The top player drives their shoulders or chest into the opponent's hamstrings or lower back to pin them effectively.

Posture and Base

  • Maintain a strong, balanced base to avoid sweeps or counters.
  • Your hips should be low and stable, with your legs wide for added stability.

Common Uses of the Stack Position

Guard Passing

  • The Stack Pass involves using the stack position to immobilize the bottom player's legs while circling around to Side Control.

Submission Defense

  • Against submissions like the Armbar or Triangle Choke, the stack position helps relieve pressure and enables the top player to break free.

Control and Pressure

  • The stack position can be used to exhaust the bottom player by applying relentless pressure and denying their ability to reset.

Techniques from the Stack Position

Stack Pass

  • Drive your opponent’s knees toward their chest, pin their hips, and circle around their legs to pass into Side Control.

Submission Escapes

Armbar Escape

  • Stack their hips forward, using pressure to loosen their grip and pull your arm out.

Triangle Escape

  • Posture up slightly, stack their legs toward their chest, and use your free arm to break their grip.

Transition to Mount

  • After stacking and passing, step over their torso into Mount.

Back Take

  • Use the stack to roll them forward, exposing their back for Back Control.

Defensive Considerations for the Bottom Player

Framing

  • Use your arms to frame against their shoulders or hips to relieve pressure.

Hip Movement

  • Shrimp your hips away to create space and recover guard.

Counterattack

Tips for Effective Stack Position

  • Maintain relentless pressure to limit their ability to move or counter.
  • Keep your base wide to avoid being swept while stacking.
  • Adjust your grips and posture to secure control and execute smooth passes.

The stack position is a fundamental tool in BJJ for passing, controlling, and defending. It highlights the importance of weight distribution, frames, and hip movement in positional dominance.

Advancing Stack

Transitions from Stack

To Side Control Top

  • After stacking their hips, circle around their legs while maintaining pressure to transition into Side Control.

To Mount Top

  • Once their hips are immobilized, step over their torso and secure Mount.

To Back Control

  • Roll them forward while maintaining grip on their legs, exposing their back for Back Control.

To North South

  • After stacking, shift your weight forward and move around their head to establish North South.

To Double Underhook Pass

  • Control both legs and drive forward into a Stack Pass setup, transitioning into a more dominant position.

Submissions from Stack

Paper Cutter Choke

  • After stacking and passing, control their collar and use your grip to apply a choke.

Wrist Lock

  • If they frame against your chest or shoulders while stacked, trap their wrist and apply pressure.

Arm Triangle

  • Transition to Side Control from the stack and secure their head and arm for the choke.

Armbar

  • If they extend their arm defensively, use the stack to isolate it and pivot into an Armbar.

Triangle Counter Choke

  • Use their triangle choke attempt to wrap their neck with their own leg and apply a counter choke.

Sweeps from Stack (Bottom Player Defense)

Pendulum Sweep

  • Use the momentum of their forward pressure to swing your legs and topple them to the side.

Butterfly Sweep

  • Insert a hook under their thigh, elevate their hips, and sweep them over.

Back Roll Sweep

  • Roll backward while gripping their arms or hips, using their forward momentum to reverse the position.

Hip Bump Sweep

  • Push their chest or hips forward while bridging to reverse them.

Passes from Stack (Top Player)

Stack Pass

  • Pin their legs toward their chest, grip their hips or pants, and walk around their guard into Side Control.

Leg Weave Pass

  • Trap their legs together while stacking, driving forward into a dominant passing position.

Over-Under Pass

  • Scoop one leg while pinning the other, then drive through while maintaining stack pressure.

Knee Cut Pass

  • Adjust from the stack to slice your knee across their guard and pass into Side Control.

Escapes from Stack (Bottom Player)

Bridge and Frame Escape

  • Use a strong bridge and frames against their chest or hips to create space and recover guard.

Invert Escape

Shrimp to Recover Guard

  • Use your hips to create space while framing against their shoulders, then reinsert your legs into guard.

Arm Drag Escape

  • Drag their arm across your body while stacked, creating space to escape or take their back.

Triangle Adjustment Escape

  • If they stack during a triangle attempt, adjust your angle and tighten the choke.

Takedowns from Stack

Roll to Back Take Takedown

Sweep to Stand-Up Takedown

  • Sweep their base while stacked, then rise to your feet to finish a takedown.

Leg Drag to Single-Leg Takedown

  • Drag one of their legs across your body while stacked, transitioning to a standing Single-Leg Takedown.

Pressure to Trip

  • Use heavy stack pressure to force their balance backward, tripping them to the ground.

The stack position is a versatile tool for offensive control and defense, emphasizing pressure, weight distribution, and problem solving to execute attacks or counter effectively. It integrates seamlessly into guard passing strategies and defensive techniques.

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