The Toreando Pass, also known as the Bullfighter Pass, is a fundamental guard passing technique that exploits superior grips and angular movement to control and redirect the opponent’s legs. Named after the bullfighter’s movements when evading a charging bull, this pass emphasizes controlling the opponent’s knees or pant legs while stepping laterally to create passing angles. The technique is particularly effective against players who rely on open guard systems like De La Riva, Spider Guard, or Collar Sleeve Guard. By dominating the leg grips and using explosive lateral movement, the passer forces the guard player’s legs to one side while their upper body remains stationary, creating a clear path to side control or knee on belly. The Toreando Pass is a cornerstone of modern guard passing systems, valued for its versatility across gi and no-gi contexts, its effectiveness against multiple guard styles, and its ability to chain seamlessly with other passing sequences. When executed correctly, it creates immense pressure on the opponent’s defensive structure while maintaining the passer’s balance and base throughout the movement.
Starting Position: Open Guard Ending Position: Side Control Success Rates: Beginner 35%, Intermediate 50%, Advanced 65%
Key Principles
- Establish dominant grips on opponent’s knees or pants before initiating the pass
- Create lateral angles by stepping to the side rather than moving straight forward
- Control opponent’s leg positioning by directing both legs to one side simultaneously
- Maintain strong posture and base throughout the passing sequence
- Use explosive hip movement to transition past the guard quickly
- Keep hands and upper body pressure active to prevent guard recovery
- Chain with other passes when opponent defends effectively
Prerequisites
- Standing or combat base position in opponent’s open guard
- Strong bilateral grips on opponent’s knees, pant legs, or ankles
- Opponent’s legs extended or semi-extended in open guard configuration
- Good base and posture to prevent being swept during setup
- Understanding of opponent’s guard retention patterns and reactions
- Ability to maintain grip control while moving laterally
Execution Steps
- Establish grip control: From standing or combat base, secure strong grips on both of opponent’s knees or pant legs. Your grip should be firm but allow for dynamic movement. Keep elbows tight and maintain upright posture to prevent opponent from breaking your posture or sweeping. (Timing: Take 1-2 seconds to establish secure grips)
- Create initial pressure: Drive both hands forward and slightly downward, pushing opponent’s knees toward their chest. This initial pressure breaks their guard structure and prevents them from establishing strong frames or hooks. Keep your weight centered over your hips. (Timing: Immediate pressure upon securing grips)
- Step laterally to passing side: Take a large lateral step to one side (typically your stronger side first) while maintaining grip pressure on the knees. Your step should be explosive and create approximately 45-90 degrees of angle relative to your starting position. Keep your head and chest forward. (Timing: Explosive lateral movement in one motion)
- Redirect opponent’s legs: As you step, use your grips to forcefully redirect both of opponent’s legs to the opposite side of your movement. If stepping right, push their legs to your left. This creates the ‘bullfighter’ motion where you move one direction while their legs go the other, clearing your passing path. (Timing: Simultaneous with lateral step)
- Drive hips past guard line: Immediately after redirecting the legs, drive your hips forward and past the opponent’s hip line. Your body should now be perpendicular to your opponent. Release the leg grips as you transition to upper body control, preventing them from re-establishing guard. (Timing: Continuous motion following leg redirection)
- Establish side control: Drop your chest and shoulder pressure onto opponent’s torso as you secure side control grips. Control their far shoulder with one hand and use crossface or underhook with the other. Your hips should be heavy on their midsection, preventing guard recovery or escape. (Timing: Immediate consolidation upon passing)
- Consolidate position: Adjust your base by spreading your legs wide for stability. Maintain heavy shoulder pressure on opponent’s chest while controlling their head and far arm. Be prepared to transition to knee on belly or mount if opponent creates space. (Timing: 1-2 seconds to establish stable control)
Opponent Counters
- Opponent establishes strong collar grips to break posture and prevent standing (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Strip grips immediately using two-on-one grip breaks, or establish leg grips first and accept momentary collar contact while executing the pass explosively before they can capitalize
- Opponent uses De La Riva or Reverse De La Riva hook to off-balance passer during lateral movement (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Clear the hooking leg before attempting the Toreando by pushing it across their body or using a specific De La Riva guard pass. Alternatively, switch to a different passing approach when hooks are established
- Opponent frames with feet on hips or biceps to create distance and prevent grip establishment (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Control opponent’s ankle or heel with one hand while using the other to clear their frames. Once one leg is controlled, the Toreando becomes available on that side, or switch to knee cut pass
- Opponent follows the movement and re-guards by turning toward the passer during lateral step (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: If opponent turns successfully, immediately switch to back take as they expose their back, or establish headquarters position and chain to knee slice or double under pass
- Opponent grips passer’s sleeves or wrists to prevent effective hand pressure on knees (Effectiveness: Low) - Your Response: Use wrist rotation and circular hand movements to break sleeve grips while maintaining forward pressure. Consider switching to pant grips at the ankles where sleeve control is less effective
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What is the primary mechanical principle that makes the Toreando Pass effective? A: The Toreando Pass creates opposing vectors of movement where the passer’s body moves laterally in one direction while forcefully redirecting the opponent’s legs in the opposite direction. This separation between upper and lower body breaks the guard player’s ability to maintain connection and creates a clear passing lane. The effectiveness comes from the simultaneous nature of these opposing movements, preventing the opponent from adjusting their position in time to maintain guard.
Q2: How should you modify the Toreando Pass when facing an opponent with strong De La Riva guard? A: Against strong De La Riva guard, you must first address the hook before attempting the Toreando. Clear the De La Riva hook by pushing the hooking leg across the opponent’s body or stepping back to create space. Once the hook is cleared, establish your knee grips and execute the Toreando immediately before they can re-establish the hook. Alternatively, use a specific De La Riva pass first to clear the position, then chain into Toreando as they attempt to recover to open guard.
Q3: Why is the angle of your lateral step critical to the success of the Toreando Pass? A: The lateral step angle (typically 45-90 degrees from your starting position) is critical because it creates a geometric advantage that prevents the opponent’s hips from following your movement. If you step too far forward (less than 45 degrees), the opponent can easily adjust their hips to track your movement and maintain guard. If you step truly perpendicular (90+ degrees), you may lose forward pressure and create space for guard recovery. The optimal 45-90 degree angle combines lateral movement with forward advancement, making it impossible for the opponent to maintain guard structure while keeping you close enough to immediately establish upper body control.
Q4: What are the most common grip variations used in the Toreando Pass and when should each be employed? A: The most common grip variations are: 1) Knee grips - standard approach providing good control and leverage, used as default in gi; 2) Pant grips below the knees - stronger control but requires closer proximity; 3) Ankle/cuff grips - maximum leg immobilization, best against flexible opponents or when they use strong frames; 4) Sleeve and knee combination - when you already have sleeve control from standing, maintain it while adding knee control; 5) Two-on-one leg control - both hands on one leg with body positioning controlling the other, used when opponent’s grips prevent bilateral control. The choice depends on opponent’s guard style, their grip fighting, and your current grip configuration.
Q5: How does the Toreando Pass integrate into a comprehensive guard passing system? A: The Toreando Pass functions as a high-level entry point in a guard passing system that chains with multiple other passes. When executed from standing, it complements knee cut passes, double under passes, and leg drag sequences. If the opponent defends the Toreando by following your movement, you can transition to over-under pass or back take. If they create distance to counter, you can switch to long step or knee slice passes. The Toreando’s primary value in a system is its ability to quickly clear open guard configurations and create binary defensive choices - either the opponent allows the pass or they expose themselves to complementary passing sequences. Elite passers use the Toreando as both a primary pass and a setup for their entire passing game.
Q6: What is the most critical timing element in executing the Toreando Pass? A: The most critical timing element is the simultaneous execution of the lateral step and leg redirection. These two movements must happen as one coordinated action, not as separate sequential steps. If you redirect the legs first and then step, the opponent has time to recognize the pass and defend. If you step first and then redirect the legs, they can establish hooks or frames during your movement. The explosive, simultaneous nature of coordinating these elements is what creates the ‘bullfighter’ effect where you evade in one direction as the opponent’s ‘charge’ (their legs) goes the other direction, unable to change course mid-movement.
Q7: What common defensive response should you anticipate when executing the Toreando Pass and how do you counter it? A: The most common and effective defensive response is when the opponent follows your lateral movement by turning their hips and shoulders toward you, attempting to maintain guard as you move. To counter this response, you should immediately recognize the turning motion and transition to a back take or establish headquarters position. Since they are actively turning into you, their back becomes exposed, making this defensive choice create offensive opportunities for you. Alternatively, if you recognize they habitually turn to defend the Toreando, you can use this knowledge to fake the Toreando motion to bait the turn, then capitalize on their predictable reaction with a pre-planned technique.
Safety Considerations
The Toreando Pass is generally a safe passing technique when practiced with proper control and awareness. Primary safety considerations include controlling your explosive lateral movement to avoid knee injuries to yourself (from sudden directional changes) and to your partner (from excessive force when redirecting their legs). When redirecting the opponent’s legs, maintain awareness of their knee and hip flexibility - do not force their legs beyond their comfortable range of motion, particularly when they are less flexible. During drilling, communicate with your partner about the speed and force level, especially when first learning the explosive timing. Be cautious when executing the pass near the training area boundaries to avoid driving your partner into walls or other students. In competition or live sparring, be aware that the Toreando can create scramble situations where both practitioners may end up in awkward positions - maintain control throughout the pass to prevent accidental injuries. Partners with existing knee or hip injuries should communicate these limitations before training this pass.
Position Integration
The Toreando Pass serves as a cornerstone technique in modern guard passing systems, functioning as both a standalone pass and an integral component of passing chains. It fits into the BJJ positional hierarchy as a primary standing or combat base pass used to clear open guard configurations and progress toward dominant top positions (side control, knee on belly, or mount). The Toreando excels against open guard systems including De La Riva (after clearing the hook), Spider Guard, Collar Sleeve Guard, and Seated Guard positions. It integrates seamlessly with pressure passing systems by creating initial penetration past the guard, at which point pressure can be applied in side control. The pass also complements speed-based passing approaches where the explosive lateral movement fits naturally. Within a guard passing progression, the Toreando typically appears after standing has been established and guard opening has occurred, but before final pressure consolidation in top position. It creates decision points for the opponent that expose them to complementary techniques: if they don’t follow the movement, the Toreando completes; if they turn to defend, back takes or over-under passes become available; if they create distance, long step or knee slice passes open up. This integration into broader passing systems makes the Toreando valuable not just as an individual technique but as a strategic tool that structures the entire guard passing game.
Expert Insights
- Danaher System: The Toreando Pass represents a perfect example of mechanical efficiency in guard passing. The fundamental principle at work is the creation of opposing force vectors - your body accelerates in one lateral direction while simultaneously redirecting the opponent’s legs in the opposite direction. This creates a mechanical impossibility for the guard player: they cannot maintain connection to you when their lower body moves one direction while their upper body remains relatively stationary. The biomechanical advantage comes from controlling the opponent’s knees or lower legs, which gives you leverage over their entire leg structure. When you push both knees to one side, you’re not just moving their legs - you’re collapsing their guard’s structural integrity. The critical technical element is the timing relationship between your lateral step and the leg redirection. These must occur simultaneously, not sequentially. Sequential execution allows the opponent to adjust; simultaneous execution overwhelms their ability to react. Study the angle of your lateral step carefully - 45 to 90 degrees from your starting position is optimal. Less than 45 degrees and you’re moving too much forward, allowing their hips to follow; more than 90 degrees and you lose forward pressure. The Toreando also exemplifies systematic passing principles: it creates binary decision points for the opponent where both options lead to your advancement. They either allow the pass, or they turn to defend and expose back-taking opportunities.
- Gordon Ryan: The Toreando Pass is one of the highest percentage passes in modern competitive BJJ because it works against virtually every open guard system and can be executed with explosive speed that’s difficult to defend against. What makes this pass so effective in competition is that it immediately puts the guard player in a defensive crisis - they have to make split-second decisions and any hesitation results in you passing. The key to making the Toreando work at elite levels is understanding grip fighting. You cannot execute this pass without first winning the grip battle and securing control of their legs. I spend significant time hand fighting and clearing their grips before I ever attempt the pass. Once I have my grips, I’m looking for the exact moment when their defensive grips are weak or when they’re adjusting position - that’s when I explode into the Toreando movement. One critical detail that separates good from great execution: when you redirect their legs, you’re not just pushing them aside, you’re placing them on the mat in a specific location that makes guard recovery impossible. I aim to pin both legs to the mat on one side of their body, far enough away that they cannot easily bring them back into play. Another competition reality: the Toreando chains perfectly with other passes, so even if they defend it once, I’m immediately threatening knee cuts, leg drags, or double unders. They can’t just defend one pass; they have to defend an entire system, which is mentally and physically exhausting for them.
- Eddie Bravo: The Toreando Pass is fundamental, but where it gets really interesting is when you start playing with the rhythm and combining it with misdirection. The traditional Toreando is very linear - grip the legs, step to one side, push legs to the other side. That works great, but high-level guys will start to anticipate it. What I like to do is use fake Toreando movements to set up other passes or create psychological pressure. I’ll show the Toreando motion, get them to react by turning or framing, then immediately switch to a completely different pass based on how they responded. This is especially effective in no-gi where the grips are less stable and everything happens faster. Another innovation is what I call the ‘step-through Toreando’ where instead of stepping to the side and pushing their legs opposite, you step between their legs at an angle while controlling one leg, essentially splitting their guard. This creates different angles and opens up leg drag positions or truck entries. The beauty of the Toreando is its versatility - you can do it standing, from combat base, even from some seated positions if you have the right grips. In 10th Planet system, we use it as an entry point to create chaos in their guard and then capitalize on whatever defensive choice they make. Remember, guard passing isn’t about forcing one technique to work; it’s about creating problems that have no good solutions. The Toreando creates that kind of dilemma perfectly when you understand how to chain it with other techniques and when you’re willing to be creative with the basic framework.