Toreando Pass
Guard pass · Open Guard
The toreando takes you from standing in front of open guard to side control by running around the legs instead of through them. The moment is when he pushes his feet into your hips to hold you away. Grip both pant legs just under the knees, thumb inside the cuff; in no-gi the ankle grip is only transitional, hold it a second, not longer, or he re-frames. Keep your hips back and arms straight, push both legs down and to one side, pinning them toward the mat, and step around to the other side close to his hips. Move one grip to his hip so he cannot turn back in, and come over the top, chest above his chest, before he squares up. If he turns to turtle, take the Seatbelt Back Take.
How to do it
- Stand up and grip both pant legs just below the knees, a fistful of fabric in each hand (or at the ankle cuffs, thumb inside, four fingers around the opening).
- Keep your hips back and your knees bent, out of reach of their feet, and straighten your arms so their legs stay away from your body.
- Push the legs down and to one side, pinning them toward the mat, so their knees point away from the side you will step to.
- Step around the legs to the other side quickly, circling close to their hips, and move one grip to their hip so they cannot turn back in.
- Drop your chest on theirs before they turn in: come over the top, chest right above their chest rather than low at their side, staying up on your toes, then settle in side control or knee-on-belly.
Key details
- Speed and angle beat strength: you move the legs out of the way and run around them instead of pushing through.
- Pin the legs to the mat as you circle; legs pressed down cannot come back up as a frame.
- Keep your hips back while you control the legs, so their feet cannot reach your hips or hook your legs.
- Grip the pants just below the knees: the grip at the knee steers the whole leg.
- Move one grip to the hip as you circle and drop your shoulder onto their belly: the hip grip stops them turning back in.
- Footwork beats grips, above all in no-gi: the cross step must land past the line of their hips, then pivot so your knee points at their far hip. A step only to the hip line puts no pressure on the guard.
Common mistakes
- Circling too wide, far from their hips. — A wide circle takes time, and they bring the knees back in front of you. — Circle close to their hips with your hands pinning the knees.
- Letting go of the legs before you land. — Released too early, the legs swing back in front of you and the guard is back. — Release only when your chest is on them.
- Standing too close, hips over their feet. — Close to them your legs are in reach, and they hook them. — Keep your hips back and arms straight while your hands control the legs.
- Passing from far away, backing up to clear the legs. — Even with the legs cleared you still have to come back over them; they frame on your shoulders and bring the legs back in. — Crowd the space: hinge at the hips, box the knees toward their chest and step over and forward.
If they defend
- They bring the knees back in. → Change direction and toreando to the other side.
How to drill it
Toreando left and right, 20 reps continuous; then 1-minute rounds against a live guard.
What comes next
Where it comes from