Russian Leg Lasso Top is the passing position against one of the most complex lasso guard variations in modern BJJ. From top, the practitioner faces an opponent who has established a deep lasso configuration with their leg threaded through the passer’s arm, creating significant control and off-balancing potential. Unlike standard lasso guard, the Russian variation incorporates additional control points including collar grips, sleeve grips, and foot positioning that create a web of controls. The top player’s primary objective is to systematically dismantle these control points while maintaining base and preventing sweeps. Success requires understanding the mechanical principles of how the lasso works - the opponent uses their leg as a pulley system combined with gi grips to create rotational force. The position demands patience, precise grip fighting, and the ability to create angles that neutralize the lasso’s effectiveness. Elite competitors recognize this as a highly technical passing situation where rushing leads to being swept or submitted, while methodical pressure and position adjustment leads to successful guard passage. The sophisticated nature of Russian Leg Lasso means that top players must develop systematic approaches that address multiple defensive layers simultaneously - breaking or controlling key grips, managing the non-lasso leg to prevent combination attacks, maintaining proper distance and posture to negate sweep mechanics, and creating angles that make the lasso configuration untenable for the bottom player. Understanding the biomechanics of how the lasso generates force allows intelligent passers to position themselves in ways that neutralize these mechanics rather than fighting strength against leverage. Modern passing strategies incorporate a range of approaches from dynamic toreando-style passes that work around the lasso, to pressure-based methodical dismantling of controls, to strategic grip fighting that prevents the Russian Leg Lasso from reaching full effectiveness in the first place.
Position Definition
- Top player’s posture must remain upright with weight distributed through legs and hips, not leaning forward into the lasso control which amplifies the opponent’s mechanical advantage
- One arm is trapped in the lasso configuration with opponent’s leg threaded through, creating a binding effect that must be managed through proper positioning rather than pure strength
- Base maintained through proper foot positioning with wide stance, preventing the rotational sweeps that are the primary offensive threats from Russian Leg Lasso
- Opponent on their back with one leg creating the lasso while the other leg may be positioned for additional control points such as De La Riva hook, shin-to-shin contact, or butterfly hook
- Grips are actively contested with top player working to control opponent’s collar, pants, or belt while opponent seeks sleeve and collar combinations that enhance the lasso’s effectiveness
Prerequisites
- Opponent has established Russian Leg Lasso guard with leg threaded through arm
- Top player has maintained standing or combat base position
- Opponent has secured gi grips that enhance lasso control
- Top player has avoided being swept or pulled into closed guard
- Proper distance management preventing opponent from establishing additional control points
Key Offensive Principles
- Maintain upright posture with hips back to minimize the mechanical advantage of the lasso configuration
- Control opponent’s non-lasso leg to prevent combination attacks and sweep entries
- Break or control gi grips systematically, prioritizing sleeve grips that enhance rotational force
- Create pressure and angles that make the lasso position uncomfortable and unsustainable for bottom player
- Never lean forward or commit weight into the lasso as this amplifies opponent’s control and sweep potential
- Use leg positioning and weight distribution to counter rotational forces generated by the lasso
- Recognize when to address the lasso directly versus when to pass around it using positional adjustments
Available Attacks
Lasso Guard Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 35%
- Intermediate: 50%
- Advanced: 65%
Knee Slice Pass → Half Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 45%
- Advanced: 60%
Toreando Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 25%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 55%
Long Step Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 20%
- Intermediate: 35%
- Advanced: 50%
Leg Drag Pass → Leg Drag Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 28%
- Intermediate: 42%
- Advanced: 58%
Pressure Pass → Half Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 32%
- Intermediate: 47%
- Advanced: 62%
Double Under Pass → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 22%
- Intermediate: 37%
- Advanced: 52%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent has strong collar and sleeve grips enhancing lasso control:
- Execute Grip Break → Open Guard (Probability: 60%)
- Execute Posture Recovery → Standing Guard (Probability: 30%)
If opponent’s lasso is high and tight creating immediate sweep threat:
- Execute Sprawl Defense → Headquarters Position (Probability: 50%)
- Execute Toreando Pass → Side Control (Probability: 35%)
If opponent’s non-lasso leg is uncontrolled and mobile:
- Execute Leg Drag Pass → Leg Drag Control (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Knee Slice Pass → Half Guard (Probability: 40%)
If lasso grip is broken or compromised:
- Execute Pressure Pass → Half Guard (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Lasso Guard Pass → Side Control (Probability: 50%)
Optimal Submission Paths
Shortest path to control
Russian Leg Lasso Top → Lasso Guard Pass → Side Control → Kimura from Side Control
High-percentage passing to submission
Russian Leg Lasso Top → Knee Slice Pass → Half Guard Pass → Mount → Armbar from Mount
Pressure-based control path
Russian Leg Lasso Top → Pressure Pass → Half Guard → Half Guard Pass → Side Control → Americana from Side Control
Dynamic passing approach
Russian Leg Lasso Top → Toreando Pass → Side Control → North-South → North-South Choke
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 40% | 30% | 15% |
| Intermediate | 55% | 45% | 25% |
| Advanced | 70% | 60% | 35% |
Average Time in Position: 45-90 seconds
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
The Russian Leg Lasso represents one of the most mechanically sophisticated guard variations in modern jiu-jitsu, utilizing principles of leverage and rotational force that make it formidable against even elite passers. From the top position, your success depends entirely on understanding that you are fighting against a pulley system - the opponent’s leg creates a fulcrum point around which they can generate tremendous rotational force with minimal energy expenditure. The cardinal sin in this position is leaning forward, as this converts your bodyweight into the very force that powers their sweep mechanics. Instead, you must maintain an upright posture with your hips positioned behind your center of gravity, effectively removing the fuel from their mechanical advantage. The systematic approach requires addressing control points in proper sequence: first neutralize the sleeve grip which controls your posture, then control the non-lasso leg which provides their base for sweeps, and only then address the lasso itself through angle creation rather than strength application. Understanding that the lasso becomes geometrically weaker as you create certain angles allows you to solve this puzzle through position rather than power. The specific angle that defeats Russian Leg Lasso involves moving your body toward the side of the lasso while controlling their non-lasso leg - this creates a configuration where their leg can no longer generate rotational force and the lasso binding becomes ineffective. From this compromised position, multiple passes become available including knee slice, leg drag, and toreando variations. The key insight is recognizing that you don’t need to remove the lasso through force - you simply need to move to positions where the lasso cannot function mechanically.
Gordon Ryan
Russian Leg Lasso is one of those guards that looks terrifying but becomes manageable once you understand the game plan - the key is never giving them the grips and posture control they need to make it work. In competition, when I face this guard, my immediate focus is on the sleeve grip because without that, they can’t control my posture and the whole system falls apart. I keep my hips back and my weight distributed through both legs wide, which makes their rotational sweeps basically impossible even if they have the lasso established. The mistake I see competitors make constantly is trying to force a pass while the opponent has full control - that’s just giving them the sweep. Instead, I work patiently to break the sleeve, control their other leg with a pants grip, and then I can start creating the angles I need to pass. Once I have their non-lasso leg controlled, I can work the Toreando or Leg Drag which are both high-percentage against this guard. The thing about Russian Leg Lasso is that it’s energy-intensive for the bottom player to maintain, so if you prevent their immediate sweep threats and make them hold the position, they’ll often transition to something else, giving you easier passing opportunities. Time is on your side if you maintain good base and deny their grips. One specific detail that really helped my passing is understanding that when they have the lasso tight, I’m not fighting to get my arm out - instead I’m controlling their body position and moving to angles where the lasso becomes ineffective. It’s a positional solution rather than a strength solution, which is way more efficient especially in longer matches.
Eddie Bravo
The Russian Leg Lasso is some next-level lasso game, man - it’s like regular lasso on steroids with extra control points that create all kinds of problems for the top guy. But here’s the thing - it’s also super complicated for the bottom player to maintain, which means if you stay calm and work your counters, you can turn their complexity against them. When I’m teaching guys to pass this, I tell them to think about it like defusing a bomb - you gotta cut the right wires in the right order. First wire is that sleeve grip they have on your trapped arm because that’s what lets them break your posture and create the angles for sweeps. Without that grip, the whole thing loses like 60% of its power. I like to fight that grip aggressive, using two hands if I need to, because once it’s gone, I can start working my passing game. The other key is staying super wide with your stance - think sumo wrestler wide - because that base makes their rotational sweeps way less effective. From there, I like the leg drag because you’re working with their momentum instead of against it, and it gets you around all that lasso chaos. Don’t sleep on the backstep either - sometimes the best way to deal with lasso is to go where they’re not expecting and circle behind them. The Russian version tries to prevent that with their positioning, but if you time it right when they’re transitioning or adjusting, you can catch them. The main thing is not panicking when you get caught in this guard - yeah, it’s complex and they’ve got a lot of control, but if you work your systematic approach and don’t give them the reactions they want, you’re gonna get through it. Most people who play this guard are relying on you making mistakes, so if you just don’t make those mistakes and work your game patiently, you win.