Executing the Lasso Guard Backstep Pass requires understanding rotational mechanics and precise timing. As the passer, your objective is to exploit the lasso’s directional limitation by stepping your free leg behind you and rotating away from the lasso entanglement. This removes the perpendicular angle that gives the lasso its control power. The primary challenge is managing the transition period where your weight shifts during the backstep—this is when you are most vulnerable to sweeps and back takes. Success depends on coordinating grip management with the rotational movement, ensuring that your trapped arm slides free as your body turns rather than getting locked tighter into the lasso. Initiating the backstep without adequate grip preparation is the most common cause of failure.
From Position: Lasso Guard (Top)
Key Attacking Principles
- Initiate the backstep by stepping your free leg behind you and rotating your torso away from the lasso side—direction of rotation is critical for clearing the arm
- Break or reduce sleeve grip tension before or simultaneously with the backstep to prevent the lasso from tightening during rotation
- Maintain low hips and heavy base throughout the rotation to prevent being swept or having your back taken during the weight transfer
- Control the opponent’s non-lasso leg with your free hand to prevent them from following your rotation or establishing secondary hooks
- Commit fully to the backstep once initiated—hesitation mid-rotation leaves you in a compromised position between passing angles
- Immediately consolidate into side control pressure as soon as the lasso clears—do not pause or stand up in transition
Prerequisites
- At least one foot posted firmly on the mat with the free leg (non-trapped side) ready to step behind in a deep arc
- Some reduction in the opponent’s sleeve grip tension achieved through grip fighting, posture change, or misdirection
- Opponent’s non-lasso leg position identified and accounted for to prevent reguarding during backstep rotation
- Weight distributed forward enough to maintain pressure but not so committed that backstep rotation is inhibited
- Free hand available to control opponent’s hip or knee on the non-lasso side during the rotation
Execution Steps
- Establish passing posture: Stand with combat base, posting your free-side foot firmly on the mat. Keep your trapped arm close to your body rather than extended, minimizing the lasso’s leverage against your shoulder. Distribute weight through your hips to maintain stability against sweep attempts while preparing the base for rotation.
- Reduce lasso grip tension: Use your free hand to strip or loosen the opponent’s sleeve grip on your trapped arm. This can be a direct grip peel, a posture change that slackens the sleeve, or a push on the opponent’s knee that disrupts their leg extension. Full grip break is not required—reducing tension enough to allow arm rotation during the backstep is sufficient.
- Control non-lasso leg: Pin or redirect the opponent’s non-lasso leg with your free hand, controlling at the knee or ankle. This prevents them from establishing a secondary hook, posting on your hip, or following your rotation with a reguard attempt. Without this control, the opponent transitions to De La Riva or butterfly guard during your backstep.
- Initiate backstep rotation: Step your free leg behind you in a deep arc, initiating a rotation away from the lasso side. The step must be deep and deliberate, placing your foot well behind the opponent’s hip line. Keep your hips low during the initial rotation to prevent being elevated or swept during the weight transfer phase.
- Clear trapped arm: As your body rotates away from the lasso, your trapped arm naturally slides free from the opponent’s shin. Guide your elbow down and through the gap created by the rotation rather than pulling straight back. The rotational motion eliminates the perpendicular angle that gives the lasso its mechanical locking power against your arm.
- Drop weight and consolidate: Immediately drive your chest and shoulder pressure into the opponent as the lasso clears. Do not stand or pause in transition—the moment the arm is free, collapse your weight forward to prevent guard recovery. Aim to land with crossface pressure established and your hips driving into their torso to pin them to the mat.
- Secure passing position: Complete the pass by establishing dominant grips in side control. Drive crossface pressure to turn the opponent’s head away, secure an underhook on the far side, and settle your hips low against their body. If the opponent manages a knee shield during consolidation, immediately transition to headquarters passing sequences rather than allowing them to rebuild full guard.
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | Side Control | 45% |
| Success | Headquarters Position | 10% |
| Failure | Lasso Guard | 30% |
| Counter | Back Control | 15% |
Opponent Counters
- Guard player pulls sleeve grip tight and extends lasso leg during backstep, re-locking the arm before rotation completes (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Commit to a stronger initial grip break before backstep or use a pummel motion to circle your arm free during rotation rather than pulling linearly → Leads to Lasso Guard
- Guard player follows your rotation with hip movement and inserts a De La Riva hook on the stepping leg (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Control non-lasso leg firmly before initiating backstep or accelerate the rotation to complete the pass before the hook can be established → Leads to Lasso Guard
- Guard player inverts and takes the back during the mid-rotation phase when your base is narrowest (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Keep hips low and maintain forward pressure throughout rotation—do not allow weight to shift backward during the step—and use free hand to block hip inversion → Leads to Back Control
- Guard player releases lasso voluntarily and immediately reguards to closed guard or butterfly before consolidation (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Accelerate consolidation to side control the moment the lasso releases, driving crossface immediately rather than completing a now-unnecessary full rotation → Leads to Lasso Guard
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What is the primary direction of rotation during the backstep pass and why? A: You rotate away from the lasso side by stepping your free leg behind you. The rotation goes toward the side of your free arm, which removes the perpendicular angle that gives the lasso its control. Rotating toward the lasso would tighten the entanglement further, making the position worse.
Q2: Why is reducing sleeve grip tension critical before initiating the backstep? A: If the opponent maintains full sleeve grip tension, the backstep rotation will tighten the lasso rather than freeing your arm. Even partial grip reduction allows the arm to slide free during rotation. Without addressing the grip first, the backstep can actually worsen your positional disadvantage significantly.
Q3: Your opponent extends their lasso leg fully as you begin to backstep—how do you adjust? A: A fully extended lasso creates maximum leverage but also maximum commitment from the guard player. Use this against them by accelerating your backstep with an aggressive deep rotation that exploits their rigid leg position. Alternatively, push their extending knee inward to collapse the lasso structure before completing the backstep.
Q4: What role does the non-lasso leg play in defending against the backstep, and how do you neutralize it? A: The non-lasso leg can follow your backstep rotation to establish a De La Riva hook, post on your hip to maintain distance, or create butterfly hooks for reguarding. Control it at the knee or ankle with your free hand before initiating the backstep to eliminate these defensive options and clear the rotation path.
Q5: What is the optimal timing window for initiating the backstep pass? A: The optimal window opens when the opponent adjusts their lasso grip, reaches for a secondary grip like a collar, or shifts their hips to set up a sweep. These moments create brief lapses in lasso tension and attention that allow the backstep to succeed before they can re-establish full control and defensive readiness.
Q6: Your backstep clears the lasso but the opponent immediately shoots their hips to recover guard—what do you do? A: Immediately drop your weight and drive crossface pressure to pin them to the mat. Do not pause or attempt to stand after clearing the arm. The transition from arm clearance to consolidated side control pressure must be seamless—any hesitation gives the opponent time to insert knee shields, reguard, or invert.
Q7: What grip should your free hand establish during the backstep rotation? A: Your free hand should control the opponent’s pants at the knee on the non-lasso side throughout the backstep. This grip prevents reguarding and provides a steering mechanism during rotation. After the arm clears, transition this grip to an underhook or crossface as you consolidate into side control or headquarters position.
Q8: If your backstep attempt fails and you end up back in lasso guard, what should your immediate strategy be? A: Do not immediately reattempt the backstep—the opponent is now anticipating that direction. Instead, change levels or angles with a different passing approach such as a stack pass or knee cut to reset their defensive focus. Return to the backstep only after establishing a different threat that forces them to redistribute their attention and grip configuration.
Safety Considerations
The backstep pass is generally low-risk from a safety perspective, but the rotation can place stress on the trapped arm’s shoulder joint if the opponent maintains a tight lasso grip during the turn. Never force the rotation against locked resistance—reduce the grip first. Partners should release the lasso immediately if the passer reports shoulder discomfort during the backstep rotation. Avoid explosive backstep attempts when warming up or training with less experienced partners who may not release grips smoothly.