Long Step Pass
Guard pass · Half Guard
The long step takes you from half guard top past his knee shield to side control without fighting the shield. The moment is when the shield is up and pushing into you. Post one hand on his far hip so your weight keeps him flat, and drive your head inside the shield, between his legs to his chest, with a collar grip or an arm around his head, so the shield has nothing to push. Then take one long step back and around with your back leg, landing far past his knees; your hips turn so your back faces his legs, which frees the trapped leg. Drop your hips at once and turn back chest to chest into side control. Several short steps each land you on the shield again. If he follows with the knees, switch to the Knee Slice Pass; if he turtles, take the Seatbelt Back Take.
How to do it
- Post a hand on their far hip, arm straight, so your weight keeps them flat on their back.
- Shift back, lower your head below their knee line and drive it inside the shield, between their legs to their chest, so the shield cannot push you back while you step.
- Take one long step around their knee shield with the back leg, landing far past their knees, not in several short steps.
- Turn your hips so your back faces their legs, which frees your trapped leg and puts your hips past theirs.
- Drop your hips at once and settle into side control, turning back to face them chest to chest.
Key details
- The post on their far hip keeps them flat while you step, so they cannot turn and follow you with their knees.
- One long step past the knees, not several short ones: each short step lands you on the shield again.
- Drop your hips into side control at once; high hips leave room for a knee.
- You step into empty space instead of fighting force against force with the knee shield.
- Your head goes inside the knee shield onto their chest, not up on top of them: a head above them gives the shield room to frame.
- Throw the long step as you engage, before they settle their grips: it puts them on the defensive at once and opens the next pass.
Common mistakes
- A short step that lands beside their knees. — You land on their shield again. — Step far past the knees in one move.
- No post on the hip. — Without a post they slide their knees after you and block the step. — Post on the far hip before you step.
- Hips high after the step. — With your hips high they bring a knee inside and recover guard. — Drop your hips into side control the moment you land.
- Stepping with your hips close to their hips. — They turn in fast and your foot stays trapped. — Drop your hips far away from theirs to make room, then pull the trapped leg out.
How to drill it
Long step from half-guard top, 10 each side; then against a knee shield.
What comes next
Where it comes from