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Toreando Pass

PassStanding open-guard passBelt: white+Risk: moderateIBJJFADCCNo-GiSub-OnlyMMA

The Toreando Pass is a dynamic standing guard pass where you redirect the opponent’s legs laterally and quickly move around their hips to secure side control. It is essential for passing open guard against mobile opponents and is highly effective in both gi and no-gi formats due to its speed and angle change.

Start
Standing in opponent's open guard
End
Side control
Prerequisites: Standing posture in open guard · Controlling opponent's ankles · Lateral movement footwork

Steps

  1. 1
    Establish ankle grips
    From standing, grip both of your opponent’s ankles with your hands (C-grip or pant grip in gi), keeping your elbows close to your body and posture upright.
  2. 2
    Step laterally to create an angle
    Take a lateral step to one side (usually 45°), shifting your weight onto the foot closest to the direction you’re passing, while keeping your hips back and chest forward.
  3. 3
    Push and redirect the legs
    Simultaneously extend your arms to push the opponent’s legs across their body, aiming to stack their knees together and prevent them from framing with their feet.
  4. 4
    Swing your hips around the legs
    As you redirect the legs, swing your hips and torso around to the side, keeping your head low and eyes on their hips to avoid upkicks.
  5. 5
    Replace grips for control
    Release one ankle grip and immediately post your hand on the opponent’s far-side hip or ribcage to block their hip movement.
  6. 6
    Drop your chest to pin the hips
    Lower your chest onto their hips, distributing your weight chest-heavy and keeping your knees off the mat for mobility.
  7. 7
    Secure side control
    Release the remaining ankle grip, slide your knee nearest to their head behind their back, and establish a cross-face and underhook to settle into side control.

Key details most people miss

  • Timing the lateral step with the leg push is critical—if you step too early or late, the opponent can recover guard.
  • Keep your elbows tight to your ribs during the push to prevent the opponent from latching onto your sleeves or wrists.
  • Aim to pin the opponent’s knees together as you redirect, which limits their ability to frame or invert.
  • Your head should travel ahead of your hips during the pass to avoid getting entangled in leg attacks.

Common mistakes

  • If you grip too high on the shins instead of the ankles, the opponent can easily pummel their legs back inside.
  • Failing to angle your body during the lateral step allows the opponent to square up and recover guard.
  • Letting go of both ankle grips at once gives the opponent space to frame or invert for leg attacks.
  • Dropping your knees to the mat too early makes you vulnerable to being re-guarded or swept.

Counters & responses

They try: Opponent frames with stiff arms on your shoulders or biceps
You do: Switch to a knee-cut pass or circle back to reset grips, using your free hand to clear the frame.
They try: Opponent inverts or spins under for leg entanglement
You do: Keep your hips back and hands controlling the ankles, circling away and posting on their hip to prevent inversion.
They try: Opponent hooks your arm with their far leg (lasso or De La Riva)
You do: Break the hook by circling your elbow tightly to your hip and step back to clear the entanglement before re-engaging.
They try: Opponent sits up as you pass to wrestle up or arm-drag
You do: Drop your chest forward and use your posting hand to stiff-arm their upper body, sprawling your hips back to deny the sit-up.

Drill prescription

6 rounds × 2 min; partner plays open guard with 40% resistance; passer must execute 5 clean Toreando passes per round, judged by achieving chest-to-hip pin and cross-face without losing control.

How the masters teach it

Videos are still being curated for this technique. AI suggests these instructors:
Lucas Lepri — Emphasizes grip transitions and angle changes for high-percentage Toreando passing in both gi and no-gi.Leandro Lo — Known for explosive, fast-paced Toreando passes with deep hip penetration and relentless pressure.Rafael Mendes — Focuses on grip efficiency and using the Toreando to blend into knee-cut and leg-drag sequences.Andre Galvao — Integrates Toreando passes with strong upper body posting and movement drills to maximize control.
#open-guard#standing-pass#side-control-entry#gi#no-gi#explosive#angle-change#speed-based#long-limbed#competition