The Back Step Pass is a critical guard passing technique used to escape leg entanglement danger when facing inverted guards like Grasshopper Guard. Unlike forward-pressure passes that feed into the bottom player’s sweeping and leg attack mechanics, the back step uses retrograde movement to extract your leg from entanglement while simultaneously creating a passing angle toward side control.
This technique operates on a fundamental principle: when your leg becomes endangered by hooks, threads, or rotational attacks, stepping backward removes the lever the opponent needs to complete their technique. The back step is not merely a defensive retreat—it’s a positional repositioning that converts defensive necessity into passing opportunity. As your stepping leg clears the entanglement zone, your weight shifts forward over the opponent’s torso, flattening their inverted posture and establishing the perpendicular alignment characteristic of side control.
The back step is particularly valuable against modern leg lock systems where practitioners use inversions to access heel hooks and kneebars. Against a skilled grasshopper guard player, the window for executing this pass is narrow—you must recognize the entanglement attempt early and initiate the back step before they can fully establish control. Timing the back step to coincide with their inversion transition maximizes success probability, as their legs are temporarily in flux between configurations.
From Position: Grasshopper Guard (Top)
Key Attacking Principles
- Initiate the back step before the opponent fully establishes leg control, not after
- Step backward and away from the entanglement direction rather than pulling straight back
- Maintain low hip position throughout the movement to avoid being elevated
- Use the clearing motion to immediately transition weight forward over opponent’s torso
- Keep the non-stepping leg as a base point while the endangered leg extracts
- Drive crossface pressure as you complete the pass to flatten opponent’s inversion
- Time the back step to opponent’s leg reconfiguration moments for highest success
Prerequisites
- Standing or low combat base position facing opponent’s grasshopper guard
- Recognition that one leg is becoming endangered by hook or threading attempt
- Sufficient space behind the endangered leg to step backward without obstruction
- Weight distributed to allow quick transfer between legs during movement
- Upper body posture maintained to prevent being pulled forward into entanglement
Execution Steps
- Recognize entanglement: Identify that opponent’s legs are threatening to establish hooks behind your knee, thread between your legs, or initiate a rotational attack on your lower limb. This recognition must occur before full control is established.
- Shift weight to base leg: Transfer your weight to the non-endangered leg, creating a stable base point from which to extract the threatened leg. Lower your hips slightly to increase stability and prevent being swept during the transition.
- Execute back step: Step the endangered leg backward and away from the opponent’s body in an arc motion, clearing their hooks and threading attempts. The step should move at a 45-degree angle behind you rather than straight back to maximize clearance distance.
- Clear opponent’s legs: As your leg extracts, use your hands to strip, redirect, or pin any remaining leg contact. Push their legs toward the mat or across their own body to prevent them from following your movement and reestablishing guard.
- Drive forward: Immediately convert the backward momentum into forward pressure, driving your chest and shoulder toward the opponent’s upper body. This collapses their inverted posture and prevents guard recovery attempts.
- Establish crossface: As you drive forward, establish crossface control with your forearm or bicep pressure across their neck and face. This prevents them from turning into you and cements the passing position as you settle into side control.
- Consolidate side control: Complete the pass by establishing perpendicular chest-to-chest positioning with your hips low against their hips. Block their far hip with your near hand to prevent knee insertion and guard recovery.
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | Side Control | 65% |
| Failure | Grasshopper Guard | 25% |
| Counter | Ashi Garami | 10% |
Opponent Counters
- Following with inversion - opponent rolls and reinverts to chase your retreating leg (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Accelerate your forward drive as they begin rolling, using their momentum to flatten them. Establish crossface before they can complete the reinversion. → Leads to Grasshopper Guard
- Shooting legs through - opponent threads their legs underneath as you back step (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Pin their legs to the mat with your hands as you extract, preventing them from following. Sprawl your hips if they manage to get underneath. → Leads to Ashi Garami
- Technical standup - opponent abandons guard and comes up to standing as you disengage (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Recognize their standup attempt early and either complete the pass before they can rise or reset to wrestling engagement at standing. → Leads to Grasshopper Guard
- Reverse De La Riva recovery - opponent switches to RDLR hook as you circle (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: Continue circling in the same direction and use knee slice mechanics to cut through the RDLR hook before it’s fully established. → Leads to Grasshopper Guard
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What is the primary goal of the Back Step Pass? A: The primary goal is to extract your leg from an impending or established leg entanglement while simultaneously creating a passing angle that allows you to advance to side control. It converts a defensive necessity into an offensive passing opportunity.
Q2: What position do you start Back Step Pass from? A: This technique starts from Grasshopper Guard/Top, specifically when the bottom player’s inverted posture and leg configurations are threatening to establish hooks, threads, or rotational attacks on your lower limbs.
Q3: Why should you step at a 45-degree angle rather than straight backward? A: Stepping at an angle creates lateral distance that prevents the opponent’s legs from tracking your movement. A straight backward step allows their entanglement to follow and potentially tighten, while the angled step breaks their control angle and opens a passing lane.
Q4: What are the critical grips or controls needed during the Back Step Pass? A: During execution, hands are used to strip, redirect, or pin opponent’s legs as they clear. After the step, crossface control with forearm or bicep pressure across the neck is essential for completing the pass. Near hand blocks far hip to prevent guard recovery.
Q5: Your opponent begins rolling to follow your back step - how do you respond? A: Accelerate your forward drive to beat their reinversion timing. Use their rolling momentum against them by driving your crossface as they rotate, flattening their inversion before they can reestablish the guard position. The key is not retreating further but committing forward.
Q6: When is the optimal timing window to initiate the back step? A: The optimal window is during the opponent’s leg reconfiguration phase—when they are transitioning between hook placements or threading attempts. Their legs are temporarily in flux and cannot fully commit to entanglement, making extraction significantly easier.
Q7: What hip position should you maintain during the back step movement? A: Keep your hips low throughout the back step, almost in a sprawling position. High hips during the motion create elevation opportunities for the opponent and make you top-heavy and vulnerable to sweeping techniques. Low hips deny the leverage they need.
Q8: How do you prevent the opponent from recovering half guard as you complete the pass? A: Block their far hip with your near hand immediately as you drive forward, preventing them from inserting their knee between your bodies. The combination of hip blocking and crossface pressure eliminates the space needed for half guard recovery.
Q9: Your opponent threads one leg deeply behind your knee while you are still in combat base - what determines whether you should back step or address the hook directly? A: If the hook is shallow and the opponent has not yet secured a second control point such as an ankle grip or hip clamp, you can strip the hook directly with your hand. If the hook is deep and the opponent is beginning to rotate or secure additional control, the back step is necessary because direct stripping will be too slow and risks tightening the entanglement.
Q10: What is the direction of force during the forward drive phase of the Back Step Pass? A: The force drives diagonally forward and downward toward the opponent’s upper body, specifically targeting their chest and shoulder line. This direction collapses their inverted posture flat to the mat while simultaneously closing the distance needed to establish crossface and perpendicular alignment for side control.
Q11: If your back step clears the entanglement but the opponent recovers butterfly hooks, what chain attack should you use? A: Transition immediately to a butterfly smash or over-under pass by driving your shoulder into their chest and pinning one of their butterfly hooks flat with your hip pressure. Alternatively, if they elevate with the hooks, backstep again or switch to a leg drag by controlling the ankle of their near leg and dragging it across your body.
Q12: What grip on the opponent’s legs is most effective during the clearing phase of the back step? A: Control the opponent’s near-side ankle or shin with your same-side hand while your far hand pushes their far knee toward the mat or across their centerline. This two-point control prevents them from following with either leg and creates the window to drive forward into the pass completion.
Safety Considerations
The Back Step Pass is generally a low-risk technique when executed with proper timing. The primary safety concern is attempting the back step too late when the opponent has already established deep leg control, as explosive extraction against locked entanglements can strain knee ligaments. If your leg is deeply entangled, prioritize controlled disengagement over forcing the back step. During training, partners should allow the back step to complete rather than cranking on partially cleared leg positions. Communicate immediately if knee discomfort occurs during the extraction phase. The forward drive portion carries minimal injury risk but be mindful of your partner’s neck position when establishing crossface.