Long Step Pass

Pass
Also known as:
Long Step

The Long Step Pass is a dynamic guard pass where the passer steps one leg far back and around the opponent's legs in a wide arc, clearing guard hooks and entanglements in a single explosive movement. It works from numerous guard positions because it bypasses frames and grips by changing the angle drastically rather than fighting through them.

Quick Reference

Key principles

  • · The long step must be an explosive, committed movement—stepping the leg far enough back and around to completely clear the opponent's hooks and knee lines.
  • · Upper body control (collar grip, underhook, or cross-face) must be established before stepping to prevent the opponent from following your movement.
  • · Hips stay low and heavy after the step lands to prevent guard re-establishment and kill hip escape attempts.
  • · Anticipate the opponent turning away to turtle or re-guarding by immediately securing a knee cut angle or back exposure after landing.
  • · The non-stepping leg acts as a post and base throughout the transition, preventing sweeps during the moment of commitment.

Execution

  1. 1 Establish a dominant upper body grip—such as a collar grip with cross-face, or an underhook—while controlling the opponent's near-side hip or leg.
  2. 2 Explosively step your inside leg in a wide arc behind and past the opponent's guard legs, clearing all hooks, lasso wraps, or De La Riva entanglements in one motion.
  3. 3 As the long step lands, immediately drop your hip weight toward the mat on the far side, collapsing onto the opponent to flatten them.
  4. 4 Secure side control pressure or transition to leg drag position by driving your chest into the opponent and blocking their near-side hip with your knee or shin.
  5. 5 If the opponent turtles or turns away during your pass, follow directly into truck entry or back exposure rather than forcing the flatten.

Common mistakes

  • × Stepping too short or timidly, leaving the foot within range of the opponent's legs, which allows them to re-hook and recover guard.
  • × Neglecting upper body control before initiating the step, causing the opponent to follow the movement with a hip escape and re-guard.
  • × Standing too tall after the step instead of immediately dropping hip pressure, giving the opponent space to insert a knee shield or frame.

Do it from

Positions and situations where the Long Step Pass shows up.

Headquarters Position Stack Pass pass Standing Guard
17 less common
Butterfly Guard Top Butterfly Half Guard Top Closed Guard Top De La Riva Guard Top Double Sleeve Guard Feet On Hips Guard Half Guard Top Knee Shield Half Guard Top Lasso Guard Top Leg Weave Open Guard Top Quarter Guard Reverse De La Riva Guard Top Reverse X-Guard Seated Guard Shin-to-shin Guard Top Spider Guard Top

Chains into

Where to go next when the Long Step Pass lands, or gets defended.

Leg Drag Pass pass Smash Pass pass Truck Entry transition

Where it lands

The position you end up in.

Side Control Top

Common defenses

How opponents shut the Long Step Pass down.

Guard Retention escape