Long Step

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.

Common Mistakes

Mistake: Stepping too short, allowing opponent to maintain guard contact with their legs
- Consequence: Opponent easily recovers guard by following your movement with their bottom leg or reinserting their knee shield
- Correction: Commit to a full, explosive step that lands your foot beyond the opponent’s hip line. Practice the distance in drilling to develop proper spatial awareness.
Mistake: Failing to clear the near leg before stepping, getting tangled in opponent’s hooks
- Consequence: Your step is blocked or shortened, and opponent maintains strong guard retention position with frames and hooks
- Correction: Always clear the near-side leg completely before initiating your step. Use your knee or hand to pin it to the mat or push it away from your body.
Mistake: Rising too high or leaning back during the step, losing forward pressure
- Consequence: Opponent creates space underneath and recovers guard easily, or worse, sweeps you as your base is compromised
- Correction: Maintain forward pressure and keep your chest driving forward throughout the step. Your posture should be aggressive and forward-leaning, not upright.
Mistake: Not controlling the far hip, allowing opponent to turn into you
- Consequence: Opponent bridges and turns into you, recovering guard or transitioning to turtle position before you can consolidate the pass
- Correction: Immediately secure the far hip with your hand as you complete the step. Your grip should be strong and your elbow tight to prevent them from inserting their knee.
Mistake: Moving your trailing leg too early, before establishing chest pressure
- Consequence: Opponent escapes by inverting under you or creating space to recover guard during the transition
- Correction: Be patient with your trailing leg. Only bring it through after your chest pressure has fully flattened the opponent and they have stopped moving defensively.
Mistake: Telegraphing the step with body language or weight shifts
- Consequence: Opponent anticipates your movement and adjusts their guard retention strategy, making the pass significantly more difficult
- Correction: Maintain consistent pressure and grip tension before initiating the step. The movement should be explosive and unexpected, not gradual or predictable.

Training Progressions

Week 1-2: Technical Development - Isolate the stepping mechanics and distance management Partner sits in open guard or knee shield and allows you to practice the long step movement repeatedly. Focus on stepping distance, landing position, and maintaining balance. No resistance initially—just develop the motor pattern and spatial awareness. (Resistance: None)

Week 3-4: Adding Pressure - Incorporate chest pressure and hip control into the passing sequence Partner provides light resistance by maintaining frames and attempting to follow your step. Practice clearing the near leg, executing the step, and immediately establishing chest pressure and hip control. Partner should give way if pressure is applied correctly. (Resistance: Light)

Week 5-8: Dealing with Counters - Learn to recognize and respond to common defensive reactions Partner actively attempts to follow your step, create frames, or invert during the pass. Practice identifying these counters and applying the appropriate responses. Work on timing and recognizing when to commit to the pass versus resetting. (Resistance: Medium)

Week 9-12: Full Resistance - Execute the pass against active guard retention and competition-level defense Partner uses their full guard retention system to prevent the pass. You must set up the long step with grips, feints, and combinations with other passing attacks. Focus on creating the opening for the long step through strategic pressure and timing. (Resistance: Full)

Week 13+: Competition Integration - Integrate long step into complete passing system Use the long step as part of a broader passing strategy that includes knee cuts, toreandos, and other passing options. Recognize when the long step is the highest percentage option based on opponent’s guard structure and reactions. Train in rounds with position resets. (Resistance: Full)

Ongoing: Refinement and Adaptation - Adapt the technique to different body types and guard styles Practice the long step against various guard types (butterfly, knee shield, lasso, spider, etc.) and different sized opponents. Develop sensitivity to subtle adjustments needed for each scenario. Film your passing and analyze technical details. (Resistance: Full)

Variations

Standing Long Step: Initiate the long step from a fully standing position rather than headquarters. This variation is particularly effective when the opponent is seated or lying on their back with legs extended. The standing version allows for more explosive movement but requires excellent balance and timing. (When to use: When opponent is playing a seated guard game or attempting to stand up themselves. Effective against guard pullers who remain seated.)

Long Step to North-South: After executing the long step and establishing initial pressure, continue circling around the opponent’s head to transition directly into north-south position rather than side control. This variation is useful when the opponent has strong side control escapes or when you want to attack the far arm. (When to use: When opponent has excellent side control defense or when you want to set up north-south submissions like kimuras or chokes.)

Long Step with Knee Slice Combination: Fake the knee slice pass to draw the opponent’s defensive reaction, then immediately switch to the long step as they commit to blocking the slice. This combination pass is highly effective because it attacks two different passing lanes simultaneously. (When to use: Against opponents with strong knee shield retention who are skilled at blocking knee cuts. The feint creates the opening for the long step.)

Long Step from Butterfly Guard: Execute the long step specifically to counter butterfly hooks by stepping far to the side while simultaneously controlling both of the opponent’s sleeves or collar. This variation requires more precise timing but is extremely effective against butterfly guard specialists. (When to use: When opponent establishes butterfly hooks and is attempting to sweep or elevate. The long step neutralizes their hook leverage.)

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.