Toreando Pass
Pass
The Toreando (Bullfighter) Pass is a speed-based guard pass where the passer grips the opponent's legs and redirects them to one side while stepping around to achieve side control. It is one of the most versatile passes in BJJ, applicable from virtually any open guard where you can grip the knees, pants, or ankles.
Quick Reference
Key principles
- · Control both legs at the knees or pants to stack the opponent's defensive frames into one unified obstacle you can redirect.
- · Use lateral movement and a quick directional change to swing the legs past your hips rather than trying to push through them.
- · Pin the hips to the mat by driving the legs to the opposite side and applying downward pressure before transitioning to upper body control.
- · Anticipate the opponent re-guarding by immediately dropping chest pressure and establishing crossface or underhook as you clear the legs.
- · Keep your hips low and posture upright during the pass to prevent collar or sleeve grips from pulling you into guard.
Execution
- 1 Grip both knees or pant legs firmly while maintaining good posture and a strong base standing or on your knees.
- 2 Push both legs to one side (e.g., your left) while simultaneously stepping your lead foot (right) past the opponent's hip on the opposite side.
- 3 Drive the legs toward the mat with downward pressure to pin the opponent's hips and prevent them from turning toward you.
- 4 Release the far-side grip and immediately secure upper body control—crossface, underhook, or collar grip—while sliding your chest across their torso.
- 5 Settle into side control with heavy shoulder pressure, blocking the near hip with your knee to prevent guard recovery.
Common mistakes
- × Bending at the waist and leaning forward over the legs instead of moving laterally, which allows the opponent to pull you into closed guard or invert.
- × Releasing the leg grips too early before establishing upper body control, giving the opponent space to re-insert knees and recover guard.
- × Passing with feet too close together or crossing feet, destroying your base and making you vulnerable to sweeps during the transition.
Do it from
Positions and situations where the Toreando Pass shows up.
Collar Sleeve Guard Top
De La Riva Guard Top
Feet On Hips Guard
Open Guard Top
Seated Guard
Spider Guard Top
Standing Guard
6 less common
Butterfly Guard Top
Closed Guard Top
Double Sleeve Guard
Lasso Guard Top
Reverse De La Riva Guard Top
Squid Guard
Chains into
Where to go next when the Toreando Pass lands, or gets defended.
Where it lands
The position you end up in.
Headquarters Position
Side Control Top
Common defenses
How opponents shut the Toreando Pass down.
Use it against
The Toreando Pass is an answer to these.
Open Guard Bottom
2 less common
Collar Sleeve Guard Bottom
Spider Guard Bottom
Chains & Sequences
Commonly taught paths through the graph that feature this technique.
Toreando to Truck Back Take
