The Long Step Pass is a fundamental pressure passing technique that neutralizes guard retention by stepping far around the guard player’s knee shield or butterfly hooks. This pass creates a powerful angle that prevents hip escape while establishing control on the far side of the opponent’s body. The technique emphasizes distance management and timing—stepping too early allows the guard player to follow, while stepping too late gives them time to recover guard. The Long Step is particularly effective against modern guard retention systems that rely on frames and distance management. By committing to the far step, you force the opponent into a defensive position where their primary defensive tools (frames, hip movement, knee shields) become ineffective. This pass integrates seamlessly with other pressure passing sequences, creating a comprehensive passing system that addresses multiple guard variations. The Long Step represents the intersection of pressure passing principles and dynamic movement, requiring both technical precision and explosive execution.
Starting Position: Headquarters Position Ending Position: Side Control Success Rates: Beginner 35%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 65%
Key Principles
- Establish dominant grips before initiating the step to prevent guard recovery
- Step far enough to clear the opponent’s defensive frames and knee shields
- Maintain chest-to-chest pressure throughout the passing sequence
- Control the far hip to prevent the opponent from turning into you
- Use head position to drive opponent’s head away and create passing angle
- Timing the step when opponent’s frames are extended or compromised
- Transition smoothly from the step into side control consolidation
Prerequisites
- Established grips on opponent’s collar and pants or sleeve
- Standing position or headquarters position with good posture
- Opponent is in seated guard, butterfly guard, or knee shield position
- Clear understanding of opponent’s guard retention strategy
- Proper distance management to avoid being swept during entry
- Strong base to resist opponent’s off-balancing attempts
Execution Steps
- Establish dominant grips: From headquarters position, secure a strong collar grip with one hand (typically cross-collar grip) and control the opponent’s far sleeve or pant leg with your other hand. These grips prevent the guard player from creating distance or recovering guard during your pass. (Timing: Establish grips while opponent is attempting to frame or create distance)
- Clear the near leg: Use your knee or hand to clear the opponent’s near-side leg (knee shield or butterfly hook) by pushing it to the mat or pinning it away from your body. This creates the pathway for your long step and prevents the opponent from following your movement with their leg. (Timing: Clear the leg as opponent extends their frame or attempts to create space)
- Execute the long step: Take a large step with your outside leg, planting your foot near the opponent’s far hip or beyond their body line. This step should be explosive and committed—stepping too short allows the opponent to recover their guard. Your stepping leg should land in a strong base position. (Timing: Step immediately after clearing the near leg, before opponent can recover position)
- Drive chest pressure: As you complete the step, drive your chest forward and down onto the opponent’s upper body, using your head to push their head away from you. This pressure prevents them from turning into you and recovering guard. Your weight should be distributed through your chest, not your knees. (Timing: Apply pressure simultaneously with the step completion)
- Control the far hip: Use your hand to secure the opponent’s far hip, preventing them from bridging or turning into you. This control, combined with your chest pressure, creates a powerful pinning position that makes guard recovery nearly impossible. Your elbow should be tight to prevent them from inserting their knee. (Timing: Establish hip control as soon as your chest makes contact)
- Bring your trailing leg through: Once your chest pressure is established and the opponent is flattened, bring your trailing leg through to complete the pass, landing in side control position. Keep your weight distributed through your chest and hip as you transition to prevent last-second guard recovery attempts. (Timing: Move trailing leg only after opponent is fully flattened and controlled)
- Consolidate side control: Establish standard side control position with cross-face, far hip control, and proper weight distribution. Immediately address any remaining defensive frames and secure your position before transitioning to submissions or further position advancement. (Timing: Consolidate immediately upon achieving side control)
Opponent Counters
- Opponent follows your step with their bottom leg, maintaining guard contact (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Step even farther, beyond their hip line, and immediately apply downward pressure to prevent them from turning. Use your hand to pin their near hip to the mat.
- Opponent creates a strong frame and pushes your head away during the step (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Break the frame by circling your head under their arm or using a hand to clear their elbow. Maintain forward pressure throughout to prevent them from creating distance.
- Opponent inverts or goes upside down to follow your movement (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Recognize the inversion early and transition to a different passing angle. Alternatively, follow their inversion and establish back control or turtle position as they attempt to recover.
- Opponent secures deep half guard or hooks your trailing leg during the pass (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Immediately address the deep half position by stepping your hooked leg back and establishing an underhook or whizzer. Do not continue the pass if your leg is trapped.
- Opponent bridges explosively as you step, creating space to recover guard (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: Anticipate the bridge and use their upward movement to increase your forward pressure. Drive your chest down as they bridge up, using their energy against them.
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: Why is it critical to clear the opponent’s near-side leg before executing the long step? A: Clearing the near-side leg prevents the opponent from following your step with their bottom leg and maintaining guard contact. If you don’t clear the leg first, the opponent can easily track your movement and prevent the pass by keeping their leg in front of your body, or worse, they can use their leg to off-balance you during the step. The clear creates the pathway for your step and ensures the opponent cannot follow your movement.
Q2: What is the primary purpose of controlling the far hip during the long step pass? A: Controlling the far hip prevents the opponent from bridging and turning into you, which would allow them to recover guard or transition to turtle position. The far hip control, combined with chest pressure, creates a powerful pin that makes it nearly impossible for the opponent to generate the movement needed for guard recovery. Without this control, even good chest pressure can be defeated by a strong bridge and turn.
Q3: How should you respond if the opponent inverts or goes upside down to follow your long step? A: When the opponent inverts to follow your movement, you should recognize the inversion early and either transition to a different passing angle or follow their inversion to establish back control or turtle position. Do not continue forcing the original passing angle as this will likely fail. Instead, adapt to their movement and capitalize on the defensive position they’ve created (turtle or exposed back). Advanced passers can also use downward pressure on the opponent’s legs to prevent the inversion from completing.
Q4: What is the relationship between the long step pass and the knee slice pass? A: The long step and knee slice are complementary passes that attack different areas of the guard and can be combined effectively. The knee slice cuts through the center line while the long step goes around the outside. By threatening both passes, you create a dilemma where the opponent cannot effectively defend both angles simultaneously. Many high-level passers use knee slice feints to create openings for the long step, or vice versa, making both passes more effective when used together than in isolation.
Q5: Why is it important to wait until the opponent is flattened before bringing your trailing leg through? A: Bringing the trailing leg through too early—before establishing complete chest pressure and flattening the opponent—creates a window for escape. When you move your trailing leg prematurely, you temporarily reduce your base and pressure, allowing the opponent to bridge, create space, or invert underneath you. By waiting until the opponent is fully controlled and flattened, you ensure they have no movement or leverage to capitalize on the brief moment of reduced control during the leg transition. This patience is what separates successful passes from near-misses.
Q6: How far should you step during the long step pass, and why does this distance matter? A: You should step far enough to land your foot beyond the opponent’s hip line, typically near or past their far hip. This distance is critical because stepping too short allows the opponent to easily follow your movement with their bottom leg and maintain guard contact. The long step’s effectiveness comes from creating a position where the opponent’s legs physically cannot reach you, forcing them to rely solely on frames and bridges, which are much easier to defeat than active leg-based guard retention.
Safety Considerations
The long step pass is generally a safe technique when executed with proper control and timing. However, practitioners should be aware of several safety considerations: Avoid stepping with excessive speed onto an opponent’s body, as this can cause rib or chest injuries from the sudden impact. When driving chest pressure, ensure you’re distributing weight through your torso rather than dropping your full body weight suddenly. Be mindful of your partner’s neck position—do not drive their head at extreme angles that could cause cervical strain. When practicing with beginners, use controlled movement and progressive resistance to prevent panic reactions that could lead to injury. Tap immediately if your leg becomes trapped in deep half or other leg entanglements during the pass—forcing the pass with a trapped leg can result in knee injuries.
Position Integration
The long step pass is a cornerstone technique in modern pressure passing systems and integrates seamlessly with multiple guard passing strategies. It serves as a natural follow-up to knee slice passes when the opponent blocks the centerline, and it counters many modern guard retention systems that rely on frames and distance management. The pass connects directly into side control, from which you can advance to mount, take the back, or attack submissions. The long step is particularly valuable against knee shield, butterfly, and lasso guard variations where traditional pressure passes may be blocked by the opponent’s leg positioning. It also serves as an essential component of stack passing systems, as the same principles of stepping around the legs apply when the opponent is inverted. Understanding the long step improves your overall passing game by teaching critical concepts of distance management, timing, and angle creation that apply across all guard passing scenarios.
Expert Insights
- Danaher System: The long step pass represents a critical understanding of spatial relationships in guard passing. The fundamental problem of passing the guard is that the opponent’s legs create a barrier between you and the dominant position. The long step solves this problem by creating a geometric impossibility—you place your body in a position where the opponent’s legs simply cannot reach you. This is not about speed or athleticism; it’s about understanding angles and distance. The key technical detail that most people miss is the relationship between the step distance and the opponent’s leg length. You must step far enough that even if they extend their leg completely, they cannot maintain guard contact. This is why I emphasize measuring the step—your foot should land near or beyond their far hip. The second critical element is the immediate application of chest pressure. The step and the pressure are not sequential; they are simultaneous. As your foot lands, your chest must be driving forward. This prevents the opponent from having even a microsecond to adjust. When executed correctly, the long step creates what I call a ‘passing singularity’—a position from which guard recovery becomes physically impossible rather than merely difficult. This is the essence of systematic passing: creating positions where the opponent’s defensive options are reduced to zero through superior positioning, not superior athleticism.
- Gordon Ryan: The long step is one of my highest percentage passes in competition because it’s almost impossible to defend if you time it correctly. The key isn’t just the step itself—it’s creating the situation where the step will work. I’m constantly using grip fighting and pressure to get my opponent to extend their frames or commit to blocking a different pass. Once their legs are extended or their attention is divided, I explode into the long step. The step needs to be aggressive and committed. You can’t be tentative. I see a lot of people step halfway and wonder why it doesn’t work. You need to step so far that your opponent has no chance of following you with their legs. I also focus heavily on the chest pressure immediately after the step. A lot of guys step correctly but then hesitate with the pressure, and that hesitation is enough for a good guard player to start recovering. I’m dropping my chest and driving forward before my foot even fully plants. Another competition detail: I always control the far hip with my hand, not just with my body position. In training, you might get away with loose hip control, but in competition, that’s where you’ll get bridged and lose the position. The far hip control is what prevents the bridge and turn—it’s non-negotiable. I also use the long step in combinations constantly. I’ll threaten a knee cut to get them to block center, then immediately hit the long step to the outside. Or I’ll fake the long step one direction to get them to follow, then switch and long step the other direction. At the highest level, the long step works best when it’s part of a passing system, not an isolated technique.
- Eddie Bravo: The long step is a fundamental pass, but where it gets interesting is how you can modify it for different situations and guard types. In the 10th Planet system, we use a variation of the long step that we call the ‘long step smash’ where we’re not just stepping around—we’re stepping and immediately driving the opponent’s legs down to the mat as we apply chest pressure. This creates a more aggressive pin and prevents them from trying to invert or do any weird recovery stuff. One thing I really emphasize is using the long step against rubber guard and other flexible guard players. When someone is really bendy and can hold onto your posture with their leg, the long step is perfect because you’re removing yourself from their range of motion entirely. They can’t hold you if you’re not there. I also teach a variation where you long step and immediately look for a leg drag grip as you’re passing. So your hand that was controlling the pants switches to a leg drag grip mid-pass, and now you’re entering leg drag position instead of standard side control. This is especially useful in no-gi where side control escapes are more common. The creativity in the long step comes from understanding that it’s not just a pass—it’s a principle of creating distance and angle that can be applied in multiple ways. You can long step from standing, from headquarters, from combat base, even from half guard top when you’re trying to pass. The fundamentals stay the same: get around their legs, apply pressure, control the far hip. But how you get there and what you do afterward—that’s where you can get creative and develop your own style. Just make sure you’re still finishing the pass, not getting fancy and losing position.