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.
From Position: Open Guard (Top) Success Rate: 58%
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | Side Control | 65% |
| Failure | Open Guard | 25% |
| Counter | Open Guard | 10% |
Attacker vs Defender
| Attacker | Defender | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Execute technique | Prevent or counter |
| Key Principles | Establish dominant grips on opponent’s knees or pants before… | Deny bilateral grip control through proactive grip fighting … |
| Options | 7 execution steps | 5 defensive options |
Playing as Attacker
Key Principles
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Establish dominant grips on opponent’s knees or pants before initiating the pass
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Create lateral angles by stepping to the side rather than moving straight forward
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Control opponent’s leg positioning by directing both legs to one side simultaneously
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Maintain strong posture and base throughout the passing sequence
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Use explosive hip movement to transition past the guard quickly
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Keep hands and upper body pressure active to prevent guard recovery
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Chain with other passes when opponent defends effectively
Execution Steps
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Establish grip control: From standing or combat base, secure strong grips on both of opponent’s knees or pant legs. Your gri…
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Create initial pressure: Drive both hands forward and slightly downward, pushing opponent’s knees toward their chest. This in…
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Step laterally to passing side: Take a large lateral step to one side (typically your stronger side first) while maintaining grip pr…
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Redirect opponent’s legs: As you step, use your grips to forcefully redirect both of opponent’s legs to the opposite side of y…
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Drive hips past guard line: Immediately after redirecting the legs, drive your hips forward and past the opponent’s hip line. Yo…
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Establish side control: Drop your chest and shoulder pressure onto opponent’s torso as you secure side control grips. Contro…
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Consolidate position: Adjust your base by spreading your legs wide for stability. Maintain heavy shoulder pressure on oppo…
Common Mistakes
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Stepping forward instead of laterally, reducing the effectiveness of the angular pass
- Consequence: Opponent easily follows the movement with their hips and re-establishes guard, or sweeps the passer
- Correction: Emphasize 45-90 degree lateral steps to create true passing angles. Think of sidestepping rather than advancing directly
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Releasing grip pressure too early before hips are past the guard line
- Consequence: Opponent immediately recovers guard position or creates scramble situations
- Correction: Maintain grip control throughout the entire passing movement until chest pressure replaces hand control. Only release grips when upper body connection is established
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Poor base and posture during setup, allowing opponent to off-balance or sweep
- Consequence: Opponent sweeps the passer or breaks their posture, shutting down the passing attempt
- Correction: Keep weight centered, head up, and base wide during grip establishment. Practice combat base positioning with resistance
Playing as Defender
Key Principles
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Deny bilateral grip control through proactive grip fighting — strip or redirect any hand that reaches for your knees or pant legs before the passer can establish the second grip
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Maintain at least one foot on the passer’s hip or bicep at all times to preserve distance and prevent them from closing the gap needed for the lateral step
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Track the passer’s lateral movement with your own hip rotation rather than staying flat; your hips must always face the passer’s chest to prevent angle creation
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Use your hands and grips offensively — collar grips, sleeve grips, and wrist control create threats that force the passer to address your attacks instead of executing the pass
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Prioritize early intervention over late recovery; defending at the grip fighting stage requires 20% of the energy that defending mid-pass requires
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When the pass is partially completed, immediately transition to a retention guard (De La Riva, Reverse De La Riva, or knee shield) rather than trying to return to open guard
Recognition Cues
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Passer establishes or is actively seeking bilateral grips on your knees, pant legs, or ankles while maintaining an upright standing posture
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Passer begins compressing your knees toward your chest with both hands, breaking your open guard structure and collapsing your leg frames
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Passer shifts weight to one foot and loads the opposite leg for an explosive lateral step while maintaining downward pressure on your legs
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Passer’s head and shoulders begin moving laterally to one side while their hands redirect your legs toward the opposite side
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You feel both knees being pushed together or to one side simultaneously, reducing your ability to create independent leg frames
Defensive Options
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Strip passer’s grip with two-on-one grip break and immediately re-establish foot-on-hip frame - When: At the earliest stage when passer is establishing grips on your knees or pants, before they commit to the lateral step
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Hip-switch to follow the passer’s lateral movement, rotating your body to keep hips and feet aligned toward them - When: When the passer has committed to the lateral step and is mid-movement, track their direction with an immediate hip rotation toward the passing side
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Establish collar drag or sleeve pull to off-balance the passer as they step laterally - When: When the passer begins the explosive lateral step, use their forward and sideways momentum against them by pulling them off-balance with an upper body grip
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.