Lasso Guard Pass

Play as Attacker Play as Defender

The Lasso Guard Pass is a fundamental skill for defeating one of the most controlling open guard variations in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The lasso guard utilizes the opponent’s sleeve grip combined with a leg threaded behind the arm to create powerful control that can sweep, submit, or prevent passing. Understanding how to systematically dismantle this guard structure is essential for any serious competitor.

The pass requires a combination of precise grip control, posture management, and strategic pressure application to neutralize the lasso hook while maintaining balance. Successful execution involves recognizing the mechanical disadvantages created by the lasso position and exploiting them through systematic steps that progressively remove the guard player’s control points.

This technique integrates principles of base maintenance, pressure passing, and tactical grip fighting to achieve dominant top position. The key insight is that the lasso creates a lever system through the trapped arm, and the passer must change the angle of that lever rather than fighting it directly. By stepping outside the lasso leg and rotating the shoulder, the passer converts a strong control into a weak one before completing the pass to side control.

From Position: Lasso Guard (Top) Success Rate: 58%

Possible Outcomes

Result	Position	Probability
Success	Side Control	65%
Failure	Lasso Guard	25%
Counter	Lasso Guard	10%

Attacker vs Defender

	Attacker	Defender
Focus	Execute technique	Prevent or counter
Key Principles	Control the lassoed arm to prevent opponent from maintaining…	Maintain constant tension on the sleeve grip and lasso leg e…
Options	6 execution steps	4 defensive options

Playing as Attacker

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Key Principles

• Control the lassoed arm to prevent opponent from maintaining distance and angle

• Maintain strong upright posture to reduce the effectiveness of the lasso hook

• Step outside the lasso leg to change angles and reduce leverage

• Use strategic grips to prevent re-guards and sweep attempts

• Apply consistent pressure to force opponent into defensive reactions

• Clear the lasso hook systematically before attempting to pass

• Secure the pass with proper weight distribution and hip control

Execution Steps

• Establish sleeve control: Grip the sleeve of your lassoed arm with your free hand, creating a strong connection. Pull the slee…

• Establish standing base: Stand up while maintaining the sleeve grip, bringing both feet flat to the mat with a wide stable ba…

• Step outside the lasso leg: Take a large step with your outside leg (the leg on the same side as the lasso) around and outside o…

• Clear the lasso hook: With your free hand, reach across and grip the opponent’s lasso leg at the shin or ankle. Pull this …

• Control the hips: Drive your outside knee forward into the opponent’s hip while maintaining control of their leg and s…

• Secure side control: Slide your knee across the opponent’s stomach as you release the leg grip and establish upper body c…

Common Mistakes

• Releasing the sleeve grip too early during the pass

  • Consequence: Opponent can re-establish distance and full lasso control, forcing you to restart the entire passing sequence
  • Correction: Maintain the sleeve grip until you have secured the pass and established side control. The grip is your primary control throughout the entire technique.

• Leaning forward or hunching over while attempting to pass

  • Consequence: Creates opportunities for opponent to sweep you forward or take your back as you become off-balance
  • Correction: Keep your chest upright and shoulders back. Your power comes from hip and leg pressure, not leaning forward.

• Stepping too close to the opponent when moving around the lasso leg

  • Consequence: Limits your mobility and keeps you within range of opponent’s guard retention and sweep attempts
  • Correction: Take large steps with a wide base. Create angles by stepping far outside the lasso leg, giving yourself space to work and limiting their defensive options.

Playing as Defender

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Key Principles

• Maintain constant tension on the sleeve grip and lasso leg extension to preserve the mechanical advantage of the position

• Keep hips angled perpendicular to the passer to maximize sweep vectors and prevent them from flattening you

• Use the non-lasso leg actively to control distance, establish secondary hooks, or threaten sweeps when the passer commits to clearing

• Anticipate the passer’s angle change and follow with hip movement before they can pin your hips to the mat

• Threaten sweeps continuously so the passer cannot focus solely on dismantling your guard without consequence

Recognition Cues

• Passer grips the sleeve of your lasso arm with their free hand and begins pulling it across their body, indicating they are establishing control for the pass

• Passer stands up while maintaining sleeve control, shifting their weight to a wide base with hips back, signaling they are preparing to change angles

• Passer takes a large step with their outside leg around your lasso leg, landing near your hip with their knee pointing outward, which is the critical angle change that weakens your lasso

• Passer reaches for your lasso shin or ankle with their free hand while rotating their trapped shoulder backward, indicating they are about to clear the hook

Defensive Options

• Re-extend the lasso and pull the sleeve grip tight while posting your free foot on the passer’s hip to re-establish distance - When: Early in the pass when the passer is standing up but has not yet stepped outside your lasso leg

• Follow the passer’s angle change with a hip switch, turning to face them as they step outside, and immediately attack with a sickle sweep or hook sweep using your free leg - When: When the passer steps outside your lasso leg but before they clear the hook, exploiting their weight shift during the angle change

• Transition to De La Riva guard or spider guard with the non-lasso leg as the passer begins to neutralize the lasso - When: When you feel the lasso control deteriorating and the passer is successfully creating angles that weaken your hook

Variations

Knee Slice Lasso Pass: After clearing the lasso hook, instead of moving directly to side control, drive your knee across the opponent’s stomach in a slicing motion while controlling their far hip. This variant is effective when the opponent has strong hip mobility and might recover guard during a standard pass. (When to use: Against flexible opponents or when you need extra control during the transition to top position)

Pressure Stack Lasso Pass: Rather than standing completely, maintain a lower pressure-passing posture while controlling the sleeve. Drive your shoulder into their lasso leg while stacking their hips upward. Use your weight to flatten the lasso hook and walk around to side control while maintaining downward pressure throughout. (When to use: When opponent has strong standing guard retention or when you prefer pressure-based passing styles)

Leg Drag from Lasso Clear: After clearing the lasso hook, immediately control both of opponent’s legs together and drag them across to one side while circling to the opposite direction. This creates a leg drag position and prevents guard recovery. Secure the pass by controlling the legs until you establish chest-to-chest control. (When to use: When opponent has dangerous guard recovery or when you want to prevent them from following your movement)

Toreando Style Lasso Pass: Control both legs simultaneously while standing. Rather than clearing the lasso first, use a bullfighter-style pass to throw both legs to one side while you circle to the opposite side. The momentum helps clear the lasso hook while preventing guard retention. (When to use: Against opponents who are less aggressive with the lasso or when you want to use speed and timing rather than methodical clearing)

Position Integration

The Lasso Guard Pass is a fundamental component of any comprehensive passing system, particularly for those who face opponents with strong open guard games. This technique integrates seamlessly with other standing passes and pressure passing systems, as it shares common principles with techniques like the bullfighter pass, knee slice pass, and leg drag. The systematic approach to dealing with the lasso - controlling grips, establishing position, creating angles, and securing the pass - reflects the same step-by-step methodology used in high-level guard passing. Once the lasso is cleared, the pass naturally flows into standard top positions like side control or can be adapted into other passing sequences such as leg drag or knee slice. Understanding this pass also improves your overall guard passing game because it teaches critical concepts like sleeve control, posture management, and hip control that apply to defeating many other open guard variations. The lasso pass is particularly relevant in gi training where sleeve grips and leg threading are common, and it represents essential knowledge for advancing from intermediate to advanced levels of guard passing proficiency.

Related Techniques

• Lasso Guard - Starting position - the guard system being passed

• Side Control - Primary ending position after successful pass completion

• Knee Slice Pass - Follow-up finishing option after clearing the lasso hook

• Leg Drag Pass - Alternative finish after neutralizing lasso control

• Bullfighter Pass - Alternative toreando-style approach to defeat lasso guard

• Collar Sleeve Guard - Related position opponent may transition to during pass attempt

• De La Riva Guard - Related guard with similar passing concepts

• Spider Guard - Related guard opponent may switch to when lasso is threatened

• Standing Position - Intermediate position used during the standing passing sequence

• Leg Drag Control - Control position achieved through leg drag variant of this pass

• Headquarters Position - Transitional position often used when disengaging from lasso