Toreando Pass Comprehensive Guide
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Toreando Pass·JonThomasBJJ
This video I go through in my opinion the most important pass to understand in jiu jitsu, the toreando pass. The torean…
Toreando Pass
Familyトレアンドパス
TransliterationTranslation
Not yet documented
Overview
The Toreando (bullfighter) Pass family covers the classic standing guard pass where the passer grips both of the opponent's pant legs (gi) or knees (no-gi) and throws them to one side while stepping around — named after the bullfighter's cape movement because the passer redirects the guard player's legs like a matador redirecting a bull. [1] The toreando is the most fundamental standing guard pass in BJJ, taught as the first standing pass in virtually every academy worldwide, and remains effective at the highest levels of competition when executed with speed and proper timing. [1],[2] The pass works by controlling both legs simultaneously and using a quick lateral direction change to outflank them, landing in side control before the guard player can recover. [2],[3] Leandro Lo (5x IBJJF World Champion) was the greatest toreando passer in BJJ history, demonstrating that the 'basic' toreando could defeat the world's best guard players when executed with elite timing. [3]
Bullfighter PassToreandoToreadaMatador Pass
History & Origin
The toreando pass has roots in judo ne waza passing and became a staple of BJJ passing from the art's earliest competition era. [1] The pass gained its 'bullfighter' nickname from the similarity to a matador's cape movement. Leandro Lo (5x World Champion, tragically killed in 2022) elevated the toreando to an art form, demonstrating its effectiveness against every guard system at the highest level of competition. [1],[2]
Effectiveness
Lineage
Competition Record
The toreando is one of the most commonly executed passes at all levels of IBJJF competition. Leandro Lo won 5 World Championships with toreando-dominant passing. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Gripping both of the opponent's legs and redirecting them to one side while stepping around them to the opposite side, landing in side control
Joints Involved — Hands (gripping both pants at the knees or both knees/shins in no-gi), hips (explosive lateral movement to outflank the legs), feet (quick lateral stepping to clear the leg line), shoulders (driving crossface pressure as the pass completes)
Force Vector — Lateral — the legs are pushed to one side while the body moves to the other; the speed of the lateral direction change is what makes the pass work
Pass Mechanic — The toreando works by controlling both legs simultaneously (preventing individual leg defence) and using speed to outflank them: push the legs left, step right (or vice versa); the pass is a race between the passer's lateral speed and the guard player's hip recovery
Position & Entry
Classic toreando from standing — Stand up in front of the opponent's open guard, grip both pant legs at the knees, push both legs to your left while stepping quickly to your right, land in side control with the crossface — the most fundamental standing pass [1]
Toreando from guard break — After standing to break the opponent's closed guard, immediately grip the pants and execute the toreando before they can establish open guard grips
Double-direction toreando — Fake the toreando to one side (push legs right), then immediately switch direction and pass to the other side (push legs left, step right) — the change of direction catches the guard player mid-recovery [2]
Videos
Toreando Pass - Complete Guide
0
Toreando Pass·JonThomasBJJ
This is my comprehensive breakdown of the toreando pass. I will follow this video up with a series of videos covering di…
2 videos
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
3
Moderate3/10
The toreando is a standing pass executed at distance; the primary risk is being swept if the guard player times a counter-sweep during the lateral movement
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Beginner
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— IBJJF — Legal, guard pass scores 3 points
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— IJF — Legal — transitioning past opponent's legs is part ...
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— ADCC — Legal, guard pass scores 3 points
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Speed is the toreando's weapon — the pass is a race between your lateral movement and the guard player's hip recovery; if you're faster, you pass (Leandro Lo's approach) [1]
✓Grip both legs before moving — controlling both legs simultaneously prevents the guard player from using individual legs for defence
✓The direction change is the key — push the legs one way, step the other way; this is the core mechanic
✓Crossface immediately upon landing — the pass isn't complete until the crossface is established in side control
✓Train the toreando from standing — it is a standing pass; attempting it from kneeling reduces its speed advantage
✓Chain the toreando with knee cut and leg drag — the opponent's defence of the toreando often opens the knee cut or leg drag [2]
✓Leandro Lo footage is the best study material — he won 5 World Championships with a toreando-dominant game
Common Mistakes
!Gripping only one leg — the toreando requires controlling both legs; one-leg control allows the other leg to re-guard
!Moving the legs without stepping around — pushing the legs to the side without the body advancing means the guard player simply recovers
!Not establishing crossface — landing in side control without the crossface allows immediate guard recovery
!Moving too slowly — the toreando is a speed pass; slow execution gives the guard player time to adjust
!Bending forward to grip — keep the back straight and use the legs for level change; bending forward exposes the head to guillotines
!Only passing to one side — develop the toreando in both directions
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Hip Movement — recovering the hips faster than the passer moves laterallySleeve Grips — gripping the passer's sleeves prevents the leg gripFeet on Hips — placing feet on the passer's hips prevents the approachCollar Tie — gripping the passer's collar prevents them from disengaging to passCounter-sweep — sweeping as the passer commits to the lateral movement
Setup Chain
1Stand Up — establish standing position in front of the guard
2Strip Guard Grips — remove the guard player's sleeve and collar grips
3Grip Both Legs — secure both pant legs at the knees
4Push and Step — throw the legs to one side, step to the other
5Land in Side Control — drive crossface and establish control
6Consolidate — secure crossface and underhook
Sources & References
Primary Source
Jiu-Jitsu University (Saulo Ribeiro, 2008)
1BookJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Description sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [2] Leandro Lo competition career
2BookLeandro Lo competition analysis
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationJiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008)
Description sources — [1] Jiu-Jitsu University (Ribeiro, 2008) [2] Leandro Lo competition career
5CitationLeandro Lo competition analysis
Community
Athletics
Requires
lateral speed (the pass is a speed race), grip strength (controlling both legs), agility
Favours
fast athletes, long arms (grip reach), lateral quickness
Key muscles
legs (lateral stepping), forearms (grip), shoulders (crossface on landing), core (direction changes)
Sub-techniques
Cartwheel Pass
SubFamilyThe Cartwheel Pass is a dynamic, acrobatic guard pass where the passer cartwheels over the guard player's legs, landing in side control on the other side — a surprise technique that bypasses the guard entirely through aerial movement. [1] While athletic and visually spectacular, the cartwheel pass is a legitimate competition technique used by agile guard passers to outflank defensive guard players. [1,2]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Standard Toreando Pass
SubFamilyThe Standard Toreando Pass is the classic execution of the bullfighter pass — gripping both pant legs at the knees, throwing the legs to one side while stepping around to the other, landing in side control — the most fundamental standing guard pass in BJJ and the technique that Leandro Lo perfected. [1] This standard version uses the pure speed-and-direction-change mechanic without modifications. [1,2]
Explore
X-Pass
SubFamilyThe X-Pass is a quick standing guard pass where the passer steps one leg over the opponent's shin/ankle area while driving through to side control — named for the crossing leg motion that navigates past the guard player's legs. [1] The X-pass is one of the fastest standing passes, often catching guard players off guard with its speed and directness. [1,2]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Notes
The toreando (bullfighter) pass is one of the fastest guard passes — the passer controls both legs and redirects them to one side while stepping around. Named for the bullfighter's cape movement. (Ribeiro, Jiu-Jitsu University)
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the biggest mistake people make when attempting a Toreando pass?
A common mistake is maintaining too much distance from your opponent because you're afraid of being tied up, which means even if you clear the legs, your opponent can use their hands to get their legs back in play. According to Jon Thomas, you need to get close enough to be in the danger zone where you can threaten the knee cut while keeping your legs back so your opponent can't control you.
How should I position my body as I approach the Toreando pass?
Hinge at your hips, keep your legs relatively straight, and keep your elbows back. This positioning allows you to stay in the danger zone where you can execute a knee cut threat while keeping your legs protected from being controlled by your opponent.
What's the ideal chest-to-chest positioning I should reach before finishing?
You want to achieve a position where if you drew a line from the center of your chest to your opponent's chest, you'd be right above them, with one leg positioned high and one leg near the hip. This chest-over-chest positioning is crucial before attempting your finish, as coming in too low or trying to go straight to neon belly will allow your opponent to create space and escape.
Should I always try to force the Toreando pass, or should I mix it with other attacks?
You should mix the Toreando with other attacks like knee cut threats, stack pass threats, and double under threats rather than forcing it every time. Jon Thomas emphasizes that if you're only committed to the Toreando, it can be very difficult because it may not be the right situation for your opponent's leg positioning.
Do I need to grab the pant leg to make the Toreando pass work?
You don't necessarily need to grab the pant leg, as pants can be unreliable and slide during rolling. According to Jon Thomas, it's more important to develop the ability to use your forearms to control the feet and set up your passes from there, making the technique work in both gi and no-gi.
How does the Toreando Pass work?
The Toreando (bullfighter) Pass family covers the classic standing guard pass where the passer grips both of the opponent's pant legs (gi) or knees (no-gi) and throws them to one side while stepping around — named after the bullfighter's cape movement because the passer redirects the guard player's legs like a matador redirecting a bull. The toreando is the most fundamental standing guard pass in BJJ, taught as the first standing pass in virtually every academy worldwide, and remains effective at the highest levels of competition when executed with speed and proper timing.
Where does the Toreando Pass come from?
The toreando pass has roots in judo ne waza passing and became a staple of BJJ passing from the art's earliest competition era. The pass gained its 'bullfighter' nickname from the similarity to a matador's cape movement.
Is the Toreando Pass legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal — Legal, guard pass scores 3 points; IJF: legal — Legal — transitioning past opponent's legs is part of newaza; ADCC: legal — Legal, guard pass scores 3 points; Unified MMA: legal — Legal; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Toreando Pass?
Danger rating 3/10. Low — the toreando is a standing pass executed at distance; the primary risk is being swept if the guard player times a counter-sweep during the lateral movement
How do I set up the Toreando Pass?
The standard setup chain: Stand Up → Strip Guard Grips → Grip Both Legs → Push and Step → Land in Side Control → Consolidate.
How do I defend against the Toreando Pass?
Standard counters include: Hip Movement — recovering the hips faster than the passer moves laterally / Sleeve Grips — gripping the passer's sleeves prevents the leg grip / Feet on Hips — placing feet on the passer's hips prevents the approach / Collar Tie — gripping the passer's collar prevents them from disengaging to pass.
What are the variants of the Toreando Pass?
Common variants: Classic toreando (grip both legs, throw to one side, step around [1]); Double-direction toreando (fake one way, pass the other); Toreando to knee cut (starting with toreando then transitioning to knee cut whe…); Toreando to leg drag (transitioning to leg drag when one leg is controlled); Speed toreando (explosive fast-twitch version without heavy pressure); Long-range toreando (executing from further distance against open guards [2]).
How effective is the Toreando Pass in competition?
The toreando is one of the most commonly executed passes at all levels of IBJJF competition. Leandro Lo won 5 World Championships with toreando-dominant passing.
What are common mistakes when doing the Toreando Pass?
Top errors to watch for: Gripping only one leg — the toreando requires controlling both legs; one-leg control allows the other leg to re-guard / Moving the legs without stepping around — pushing the legs to the side without the body advancing means the guard pla… / Not establishing crossface — landing in side control without the crossface allows immediate guard recovery / Moving too slowly — the toreando is a speed pass; slow execution gives the guard player time to adjust.
What are other names for the Toreando Pass?
The Toreando Pass is also known as Bullfighter Pass, Toreando, Toreada, Matador Pass.