The Toreando Pass from De La Riva Guard is a speed-based guard passing technique where the top player strips the DLR hook and ankle grip, establishes bilateral control of the opponent’s legs, and uses explosive lateral movement to redirect the legs to one side while circling around to achieve side control. This pass directly exploits a structural vulnerability in De La Riva guard: the bottom player’s offensive power depends entirely on the hook-plus-grip control system, so once these controls are neutralized, the guard framework collapses and the legs become manageable obstacles rather than offensive weapons. The toreando’s lateral passing vector is particularly effective against DLR because it moves perpendicular to the guard player’s primary sweeping axis, making it difficult for them to generate off-balancing force during the pass.
The technical challenge of executing the toreando from DLR lies in the sequencing between hook removal and pass execution. Unlike a standard toreando against generic open guard where both legs are relatively free, the DLR hook creates an anchor point that must be specifically addressed before the legs can be redirected. The most reliable approach involves stripping the ankle grip first to remove the guard player’s primary connection, then using knee pressure or a quick backstep to clear the DLR hook, and immediately executing the toreando before the bottom player can re-establish control or transition to X-Guard or Single Leg X. This three-phase sequence of grip strip, hook removal, and explosive pass must flow seamlessly to prevent recovery.
At competitive levels, the toreando from DLR becomes most dangerous when integrated into a passing chain system. The initial toreando attempt forces the guard player to commit their legs defensively to one direction, which opens knee slice, leg drag, or backstep opportunities on the opposite side. This chain-passing methodology transforms the toreando from a single technique into a systematic tool for progressively dismantling DLR guard structure, creating compounding problems that even elite guard players struggle to solve simultaneously.
From Position: De La Riva Guard (Top) Success Rate: 55%
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | Side Control | 55% |
| Failure | De La Riva Guard | 30% |
| Counter | Half Guard | 15% |
Attacker vs Defender
| Attacker | Defender | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Execute technique | Prevent or counter |
| Key Principles | Strip the ankle grip before addressing the DLR hook, as the … | Prioritize grip retention above all else, as the ankle grip … |
| Options | 7 execution steps | 4 defensive options |
Playing as Attacker
Key Principles
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Strip the ankle grip before addressing the DLR hook, as the grip powers the hook’s off-balancing capability and removing it first weakens the entire guard structure
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Clear the DLR hook through positioning rather than force, using knee pressure, backstep motion, or hip angle changes that make the hook structurally unsound
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Establish bilateral grips on opponent’s pants or ankles immediately after hook removal, as this window of vulnerability closes rapidly when the guard player begins recovery
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Commit fully to the lateral passing direction once initiated, as half-committed toreando attempts are the primary failure point and create sweep vulnerability
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Maintain upright posture and hips back throughout the hook removal phase to prevent forward sweeps that exploit your weight distribution
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Pin opponent’s hips flat before or during the pass to eliminate their ability to create angles, invert, or transition to alternative guard positions
Execution Steps
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Strip the ankle or pants grip: Use your free hand to strip the opponent’s grip on your ankle or pants leg by peeling their fingers …
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Neutralize the DLR hook: Once the ankle grip is broken, address the DLR hook by driving your knee forward and down toward the…
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Establish bilateral pants grips: Immediately secure grips on both of the opponent’s pants at the knee or ankle level. Both hands must…
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Flatten opponent’s hips: Drive both of the opponent’s legs toward the mat with downward pressure, forcing their hips flat and…
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Redirect legs laterally: Push the opponent’s legs explosively to one side while simultaneously beginning your lateral arc in …
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Circle around the legs: Sprint laterally in the opposite direction from where you redirected the legs, using quick shuffling…
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Establish side control: As you clear the opponent’s legs, immediately drop your chest onto their torso with your hips low an…
Common Mistakes
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Attempting to toreando with an active DLR hook still engaged behind the knee
- Consequence: The active hook provides the guard player with a direct mechanical connection to sweep you forward or sideways during the lateral movement, resulting in a high-percentage sweep or back take
- Correction: Always clear the DLR hook completely before initiating the toreando. Verify the hook is cleared by feeling that your lead leg moves freely without resistance before establishing bilateral grips and starting the lateral pass.
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Leaning forward with weight ahead of hips during the grip strip and hook removal phase
- Consequence: Forward-weighted posture is exactly what DLR guard is designed to exploit. The hook and any remaining grips create maximum sweeping leverage when your center of gravity is ahead of your base, resulting in being pulled into a forward sweep or berimbolo entry.
- Correction: Sit your hips back and keep your chest upright throughout the entire hook removal phase. Your weight should be slightly behind your knees with your core engaged to resist forward pulling forces.
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Half-committing to the lateral passing direction by taking slow or tentative steps
- Consequence: Slow lateral movement gives the guard player time to recover their hooks, re-establish grips, or transition to an alternative guard position. The toreando’s effectiveness depends entirely on speed differential between your movement and their recovery.
- Correction: Once grips are established and legs are redirected, commit explosively to the full lateral arc. The pass should feel like a sprint, not a walk. Practice the footwork until the lateral movement is automatic and explosive.
Playing as Defender
Key Principles
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Prioritize grip retention above all else, as the ankle grip combined with the DLR hook is your primary defensive structure and the toreando cannot be executed while both are intact
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Maintain constant hook tension by pulling your knee toward your chest and driving your foot actively into the back of the passer’s knee, making hook removal require significant effort
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Keep your free leg active on the passer’s hip or bicep as a secondary frame that prevents them from establishing bilateral grips even if the hook is cleared
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Transition to alternative guard positions immediately when DLR structure is compromised rather than fighting to re-establish controls under pressure
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Track the passer’s hips with your own hip rotation during the lateral arc to prevent them from clearing your legs and establishing chest contact
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Use the passer’s lateral momentum against them by timing sweep entries during their directional commitment when their base is most compromised
Recognition Cues
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Passer strips or begins fighting your ankle or pants grip with their free hand while maintaining upright posture with hips back
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Passer drives their knee forward into your DLR hook or takes a backstep to collapse the hook’s leverage angle
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Passer establishes bilateral grips on both of your pants legs at the knees or ankles simultaneously
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Passer begins pressing your legs toward the mat with downward pressure to flatten your hips
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Passer initiates explosive lateral movement to one side while redirecting your legs to the opposite side
Defensive Options
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Aggressive grip fighting to retain ankle grip and re-establish DLR hook before pass can be initiated - When: As soon as you feel the passer begin stripping your ankle grip or pressuring your DLR hook. This is the first and most effective line of defense.
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Transition to X-Guard or Single Leg X by threading bottom hook as passer clears DLR hook - When: When the DLR hook is being cleared but the passer has not yet established bilateral grips on your legs. Thread your bottom foot to the passer’s far hip while converting the DLR hook to an X-Guard hook.
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Hip escape and insert knee shield as passer completes lateral arc to block side control consolidation - When: When the toreando is already in progress and the passer has cleared your legs. Time the knee insertion as they transition from lateral movement to chest drop. This is a last-resort defense.
Position Integration
The Toreando Pass from De La Riva Guard occupies a central role in the DLR passing ecosystem as the primary speed-based option that complements pressure-oriented alternatives like the knee slice and backstep. It serves as an excellent chain-starting technique because the lateral movement it forces from the guard player opens secondary passing options on the opposite side. When chained with the knee slice and leg drag, it creates a three-directional passing threat that prevents the DLR player from committing fully to any single defensive structure. The toreando also integrates naturally with the broader open guard passing framework, as the same grip configurations and footwork patterns transfer directly to passing spider guard, lasso guard, and collar-sleeve guard, making it a high-return technical investment for practitioners developing a complete top game.