The Toreando from Headquarters rewards the passer who can read distance-creation reactions and convert them into explosive lateral passing. From the established headquarters position with one leg already controlled, the passer transitions to bilateral leg grips and redirects the opponent’s legs laterally while stepping around them to achieve side control. The technique demands coordinated timing between the leg push and the lateral hip movement, precise grip placement at the knee line, and immediate upper body consolidation upon clearing the legs. Unlike pressure passes that grind through defensive structures, the Toreando exploits the space the bottom player creates, making it the essential speed-pass complement in any systematic headquarters-based passing system.
From Position: Headquarters Position (Top)
Key Attacking Principles
- Coordinate the leg push and lateral step as a single unified movement rather than sequential actions, eliminating the timing gap that allows guard recovery
- Grip at or below the knee line on both legs to maximize mechanical leverage for lateral redirection while preventing the opponent from retracting their legs
- Maintain low hip position throughout the lateral movement, driving hips past the opponent’s knee line before releasing leg grips to prevent guard recovery
- Transition immediately from leg grips to upper body control upon clearing the hips, establishing crossface and chest contact before the opponent can create defensive frames
- Use the opponent’s distance-creation reactions as triggers for the pass rather than forcing the toreando against retracted legs or tight guard structures
- Preserve the option to abort and return to headquarters if the opponent reads the toreando early, maintaining position rather than overcommitting to a telegraphed pass
Prerequisites
- Stable Headquarters Position established with one opponent leg controlled between passer’s legs via knee-line pressure and triangulated base
- Opponent extends free leg or pushes on passer’s hips creating bilateral grip opportunity on both legs simultaneously
- Passer has cleared opponent’s upper body grips on collar and sleeves to prevent the opponent from anchoring during lateral movement
- Passer’s weight is centered over hips with upright posture, allowing explosive lateral stepping without forward weight commitment
- Passing direction identified based on opponent’s hip angle and available mat space for lateral movement
Execution Steps
- Acquire bilateral leg grips: From Headquarters with one leg controlled, grip the opponent’s free leg at the knee line or shin with your control hand while your posting hand secures the controlled leg at the same level. Both grips should be at or below the knee to maximize leverage for lateral redirection. This transition from headquarters grip configuration to bilateral leg grips must be smooth and immediate.
- Flatten opponent’s hips: Drive both legs toward the mat with downward pressure through your grips, flattening the opponent’s hips and eliminating their ability to create angles or turn on their side. Keep your elbows close to your body and use your bodyweight through the grips rather than arm strength alone. The opponent’s hips must be flattened before the lateral redirect begins.
- Redirect legs laterally: Push both legs firmly to one side, directing them across the opponent’s body and toward the mat on the opposite side. The push should come from your core and hips rather than just your arms, creating enough lateral force to move the opponent’s legs past their centerline. Maintain grip pressure throughout the redirect to prevent the opponent from retracting their legs.
- Explosive lateral step: Simultaneously with the leg redirect, step your lead foot laterally in the direction opposite to where you pushed the legs. This step must happen at the same moment as the leg push, not after it. Drive your hips forward and laterally, aiming to clear your hip line past the opponent’s knee line in a single explosive movement. Your trailing foot follows immediately to maintain base.
- Clear the hip line: Drive your hips past the opponent’s knee line while maintaining downward pressure on their legs. Your chest should be approaching the opponent’s torso at this point. If the opponent’s legs are still between you and their torso, you have not cleared far enough and must continue the lateral movement before releasing grips. The hip-clearing moment is the critical checkpoint of the pass.
- Release grips and establish upper body contact: Once your hips have cleared past the opponent’s knee line, release the leg grips and immediately transition both hands to upper body control. Your near hand drives a crossface across the opponent’s jaw and neck while your far hand secures an underhook or blocks the far hip. Chest-to-chest contact must be established before the opponent can insert frames or recover knee position.
- Consolidate side control: Drop your hips low and heavy against the opponent’s hips, eliminating all remaining space between your bodies. Settle your weight through your chest and shoulder pressure across the opponent’s upper body while maintaining the crossface. Adjust your base with your legs sprawled behind you and hips driving forward to complete the pass and establish dominant side control position.
Possible Outcomes
| Result | Position | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Success | Side Control | 55% |
| Failure | Headquarters Position | 30% |
| Counter | Half Guard | 15% |
Opponent Counters
- Opponent grabs collar or sleeve during lateral movement, anchoring passer and preventing hip clearance (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: Strip the grip before committing to the lateral step, or change direction and chain into a knee cut pass on the opposite side where the grip becomes a liability for the bottom player → Leads to Headquarters Position
- Opponent retracts both legs quickly, pulling knees to chest and recovering closed or butterfly guard structure (Effectiveness: High) - Your Response: If legs retract before you step, return to headquarters and re-establish leg control rather than chasing retracted legs. If retraction happens mid-pass, convert to a body lock pass or stack pass by driving forward into the retracted legs → Leads to Headquarters Position
- Opponent hip escapes toward passing direction during lateral movement, creating angle and inserting knee for half guard (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Accelerate the lateral step to beat the hip escape, or if they catch your leg, immediately establish crossface and underhook in half guard top and work a knee slice pass before they consolidate the half guard position → Leads to Half Guard
- Opponent posts foot on passer’s hip on the passing side, creating a frame that blocks lateral movement and hip clearance (Effectiveness: Medium) - Your Response: Grip the blocking foot at the ankle and push it past your hip line while continuing the lateral step, or switch to over-under toreando variation that lifts the blocking leg rather than fighting the hip frame directly → Leads to Headquarters Position
Test Your Knowledge
Q1: What is the optimal timing window for initiating the Toreando from Headquarters? A: The optimal timing is when the bottom player extends their free leg or pushes on your hips to create distance. This leg extension provides the grip opportunity and indicates their hips are relatively flat, both essential preconditions. Attempting the toreando when the opponent has retracted legs with knees tight to chest eliminates the grip opportunity and makes the pass significantly harder to execute.
Q2: What conditions must exist in Headquarters before you can attempt the Toreando? A: You need stable headquarters with one leg controlled, the opponent’s free leg extended or pushing creating grip access, their upper body grips on your collar and sleeves cleared so they cannot anchor you during lateral movement, your weight centered over your hips with upright posture for explosive lateral stepping, and sufficient mat space in the intended passing direction for the lateral movement.
Q3: What is the single most critical mechanical detail that determines whether the Toreando succeeds or fails? A: The coordination between the lateral leg push and the lateral step must happen simultaneously as a single movement, not sequentially. If you push the legs first and then step, the timing gap allows the opponent to recover leg position and re-establish guard. The push-and-step must be trained as one coordinated action where both happen at exactly the same instant, eliminating any window for defensive recovery.
Q4: Your opponent posts their foot on your hip on the passing side as you initiate the Toreando - how do you adjust? A: Grip the blocking foot at the ankle and push it past your hip line while continuing the lateral step, converting the foot post into a leg drag opportunity. Alternatively, switch to the over-under toreando variation where you lift the blocking leg rather than fighting the hip frame directly. If neither option works, abort the toreando and return to headquarters rather than forcing the pass against a strong frame that compromises your base and timing.
Q5: Where should you grip the opponent’s legs for the Toreando and why is grip placement critical? A: Grip at or below the knee line on both legs, either at the knee crease, the shin, or the pants at knee level. This placement maximizes the mechanical lever arm for lateral redirection because it is the farthest point from the opponent’s hip joint that still provides reliable control. Gripping higher on the thigh reduces leverage dramatically, requiring more force and giving the opponent greater ability to retract their legs and recover guard structure.
Q6: In which direction should you push the opponent’s legs relative to your lateral step during the Toreando? A: Push the legs to one side while stepping laterally in the opposite direction. The forces are oppositional, creating maximum separation between the opponent’s legs and your hips. Push the legs across the opponent’s body toward the mat on the far side while your lead foot steps in the opposite direction. This oppositional movement is what creates the passing lane and prevents the opponent from following your hip movement with their legs.
Q7: Your opponent retracts both legs quickly to their chest as you transition from headquarters grips to bilateral leg grips - what do you do? A: Do not chase the retracted legs with the toreando. Instead, return to headquarters and re-establish leg control with knee-line pressure. Retracted legs with knees tight to chest eliminate the grip opportunity the toreando requires. From re-established headquarters, apply pressure to draw the legs out again, or transition to a body lock or stack pass that works against retracted legs rather than extended ones. Chasing retracted legs leads to poor grip positioning and failed pass attempts.
Q8: If the Toreando attempt is partially blocked and you cannot clear to side control, what chain attacks are available? A: If the opponent partially defends but you have grip on the legs, switch to a leg drag by pulling one leg across your body instead of pushing both laterally. If they recover one leg but you have cleared past the other, convert to a knee cut through the gap. If the opponent catches your leg during the lateral movement, immediately establish crossface and underhook for a half guard top passing position and work a knee slice. If the opponent hip escapes away, pursue with a body lock pass. The key principle is maintaining contact and converting the failed speed pass into a pressure pass rather than disengaging.
Safety Considerations
The Toreando from Headquarters is a relatively low-risk technique for both practitioners. Primary safety concerns involve the passer’s lateral movement potentially causing knee strain if the foot catches on the mat during the explosive step. Both practitioners should ensure adequate mat space exists in the passing direction. Avoid cranking the opponent’s legs with excessive rotational force during the lateral redirect, as this can strain their knee ligaments. Control the speed of the leg push in training to prevent hyperextension of the opponent’s hip joints.