YR Sports Lab
"Torreando" is Spanish for the moment a bullfighter sidesteps a charging bull and sweeps its cape to redirect it. The Torreando Pass (also called the Bullfighter Pass) brings that same image onto the mat: standing, you grip both of your opponent's pant legs, then pivot and throw their legs to one side while you step to the other, landing in side control before their hips can square back up. It's one of the most fundamental standing passes in jiu-jitsu, and it's also the technique behind a legendary 1996 match that cracked open one of the toughest guards of its era. This entry breaks down its origin story, step-by-step mechanics, five modern variations, common counters, and where it actually sits in match data and safety.
1. Origins: the image of a matador sweeping the bull aside
Per instructional outlet Evolve Daily, the name "toreando" maps directly onto the technique's logic: instead of colliding head-on with the opponent and grinding through with pressure, the top player moves like a matador, stepping laterally to sweep the opponent's legs to one side while moving to the other, which is exactly why the English-speaking world also calls it the Bullfighter Pass. The same source notes that in the 1990s, standing passes became increasingly common as a way to open an opponent's closed guard, and the toreando pass rode that wave into widespread use; being a speed-and-movement-based pass, it tends to favor smaller, more agile grapplers.
The match that really put this pass on the map in Brazilian jiu-jitsu circles was a 1996 bout between Roberto "Roleta" Magalhaes and Fabio Gurgel. Magalhaes was born in Aracaju, Brazil, and was known for inventing the inverted guard, widely regarded as one of the toughest guard players of his era; two independent accounts, Elite Sports and BJJ Fanatics, both report that he was also awarded his black belt by Carlos Gracie Jr. at Gracie Barra in 1996, and later that year used his inverted guard to defeat Wallid Ismail in the World Championship semifinal (a separate match from the one against Gurgel) en route to the title, part of four IBJJF World Championships over his career. On the other side was Fabio Gurgel: two independent accounts, Wikipedia and Elite Sports, both report that he co-founded Alliance Jiu-Jitsu with Romero "Jacaré" Cavalcanti in 1993, and was himself a four-time World Champion, winning in 1996, 1997, 2000 and 2001. According to Evolve Daily's account, Gurgel used the toreando pass to cleanly break through Magalhaes' famously difficult guard in that match, and the fight has been referenced repeatedly ever since as the moment that spread the technique's reputation across Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
From old-school ankle grips to the modern push-and-pull
Instructional site Grapplearts catalogs five modern variations of the toreando pass, and one, the Push and Pull Toreando, has been widely adopted by top competitors in recent years, including eight-time IBJJF World Champion Leandro Lo: one hand rotates the opponent's knee outward while the other pins the opposite knee to create entry space, with grips that can land on the pant leg, shin, or even the foot, giving it far more flexibility than the old-school version that only gripped the ankles. Leandro Lo passed away suddenly in 2022, but this variation remains one of the most commonly taught standing-pass variations in gi competition today.
2. Mechanics: from the grip to the finish
Different instructional platforms describe the grip placement somewhat differently, but the core logic is the same: control the opponent's lower body or hip, create an angle, then circle to the side before their hips can square back up. Grapplearts' most basic version, the Old School Toreando, works like this:
| Stage | Key points |
|---|---|
| ① Stand back and steady | Stand far enough back that the opponent's legs can't hook around your own |
| ② Grip both ankles | Grip both of the opponent's ankles |
| ③ Feint to bait a reaction | Move the opponent's legs slightly to one side first, drawing their hips and weight to shift in response |
| ④ Throw the legs and step | Off the rebound from the feint, throw the legs the other way while your own feet move in a quick zigzag to the opponent's side |
| ⑤ Finish in knee-on-belly | This version typically finishes in knee-on-belly |
Black belt instructor Jason Hunt's version, taught on BJJ Fanatics, uses a different grip entirely: it starts by controlling the opponent's ankles, then works the hands in between the legs to lock the opponent's hip by connecting the same-side elbow to their knee, maintains that hip connection throughout the backward step, pushes the opponent's opposite knee to the other side of the body, and finishes by circling around the legs. Beyond these two grips, Grapplearts also documents three other common variations: the Force Legs to Floor version, which needs gi friction and grips the pant leg below the knee to drive the opponent's legs to the mat before circling around to pin the belly with the shoulder; the more flexible Push and Pull version described above, which can grip the knee, shin, ankle, or foot depending on the situation; the Steering Wheel version, which uses a wide turning motion to spin an opponent who has curled into a defensive ball around into north-south; and the One Hand on Hip version, which grips the hip instead and travels a path closer to the opponent's head. These variations share the same core logic, differing mainly in grip placement and how the footwork adjusts to the opponent's reaction.
3. Entry timings and setups
First, when the opponent's leg lock is loosening as they adjust their sitting angle. Open guard requires constantly resetting the legs to stay square to the top player's hips, so the instant an opponent is mid-adjustment on their hook angle, their legs briefly lose synchronized pressure, opening the window to step back and grip the pant legs.
Second, when the opponent's upper-body control hand (gripping a hip or sleeve) briefly releases. During the step, as long as the opponent's hand hasn't reconnected to your hip, the angle created by the movement won't be immediately canceled out, which is why the instant that upper-body grip releases is the safest moment to commit to the step.
Third, in no-gi, once both hands already control the opponent's shin or ankle and their weight is clearly shifted to one side. Without gi friction to rely on, it's common to first establish a firmer lower-leg grip before pairing it with the same throw-and-step motion the moment the opponent's weight shifts.
4. Strengths and limitations
| Strengths | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Doesn't require closing distance or matching the opponent's body weight, relying on stance movement and speed instead, so it's less dependent on size or strength than pressure passing | Requires solid footwork and balance, so practitioners with limited hip mobility or an unstable base tend to pick it up more slowly |
| High success rate in the gi, where fabric friction stabilizes the leg control, making it a shared entry-level pass taught across every belt level | No-gi loses the pant-leg grip, usually forcing a switch to gripping the shin or ankle instead, which raises the overall difficulty compared to the gi version |
| Five variations give it real flexibility, letting the grip and path adapt to the opponent's build and reaction, making it a core skeleton of the standing-pass system | If your footwork lags even slightly behind the throwing motion, the opponent can easily reconnect a grip on your hip or re-hook guard |
5. Common counters
Instructional platforms consistently agree on the core defensive principle against the toreando pass: the earlier you break the grips and the stepping path, the smaller your chance of being passed. Three counters come up repeatedly:
First, strip or reverse the grip the instant it lands. Before the opponent's hands finish setting on your pant legs, immediately strip the grip, or instead grab their collar and pull down while shooting in for a single-leg, which is the highest-percentage moment to counter.
Second, use your near arm to block the stepping line. Trap the opponent's same-side bicep with a C-grip using your near arm to block the path the step needs to travel, then post your far foot on their shoulder to rebuild guard.
Third, if the pass does land, don't give up: push the opponent's head down to buy time. If the step has already completed, pushing the opponent's head toward the mat is a common "last line of defense" move that delays them from fully settling into side control, buying time to rebuild a frame.
Follow-up options when you're already halfway passed
If the opponent has already closed distance and is about to land side control, rather than fighting to preserve your original guard structure, it's often better to close the distance yourself and fight for a collar or sleeve grip, since many black belts deliberately let the opponent close in so they can attack a triangle or another submission instead.
If side control is already fully established, prioritize framing your bottom arm against the opponent's hip or shoulder to prevent an immediate transition to knee-on-belly, and pull your near-side arm back against your body to keep them from securing far-side control.
6. Competition frequency
Unlike most techniques, the toreando pass has real academic research behind its usage rate. A 2019 study by Williams, Callaway and colleagues, published in the International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, analyzed 140 official white and blue belt matches. The results: 93% of white belt passing attempts came from just three techniques: the knee slice, knee pin and bullfighter; at blue belt, the variety of passes used clearly expands, but those same three techniques still account for 71%. That means at the lower and intermediate belt levels, the toreando pass is one of the most frequently landed passes in actual competition, not just a classroom fundamental. Neither the IBJJF nor ADCC publishes belt-by-belt breakdowns of technique usage, and no reliable data exists yet on its actual share at black belt; the only honest description available is qualitative: "as belt level rises, passing options diversify, but standing passes remain a core skeleton of both instruction and competition at every level."
On the rules side, the toreando pass is a standard guard pass involving no joint manipulation or compression submission, and as of the 2026 IBJJF rule set, it's legal across every belt and age division, in both gi and no-gi competition, with no additional restrictions.
7. Safety notes
The toreando pass itself isn't a submission and doesn't put direct pressure on an opponent's joints or airway, but "passing guard" as a whole is a notably common injury scenario in recent surveys. A 2025 study by Santacaterina and colleagues, surveying 360 Italian BJJ practitioners, found that "attempting to pass guard" was the single most common injury mechanism across all categories, accounting for 26% of cases; that figure covers all passing techniques, not the toreando pass specifically. The main risk comes from knee torque during stance transitions and losing balance while stepping. For a deeper dive into the lateral-movement mechanics and knee-protection training behind guard passing, see our other article: Torreando Pass: Lateral Displacement Mechanics and Knee-Protection Guide (Chinese only).
・Before firing the stepping motion, confirm neither foot is planted on your own or your partner's gi, to avoid tripping and falling sideways mid-step
・Beginners should slow down the stand-back, feint and step-through stages and confirm both partners are synced before speeding up
・When being passed, roll with the direction of the throw rather than bracing your knee against the rotation, to avoid unnatural torque on the joint
・On a slick or worn-out mat, slow down the footwork drilling to avoid slipping and rolling an ankle
FAQ
Can white belts use the Torreando Pass right away?
Yes, it's one of the first guard passes white belts learn. A study analyzing 140 official white and blue belt matches found that 93% of white belt passing attempts came from just three techniques: the knee slice, knee pin and bullfighter. The toreando pass involves no joint manipulation at all, relying purely on stance movement and grip angles, making it a staple of every academy's fundamentals passing curriculum.
How do I escape once someone has the Torreando Pass grips on me?
The earlier you react, the better. The moment your opponent's hands land on your pant legs, immediately strip the grips or grab their collar and pull down while shooting in for a single-leg. If they've already started stepping, a common fix is to trap their same-side bicep with your near arm to block the stepping line, then post your far foot on their shoulder to rebuild guard.
How is Torreando different from the Knee Cut and Leg Drag passes?
All three are guard passes, but they draw energy from different places. Knee cut and leg drag both close the distance first and then use body weight and pressure to grind through the guard. Torreando never closes the distance at all; it relies on lateral stance movement and speed to circle to the side before the opponent's hips can square back up, which is why it works especially well in the gi, where grips are more stable.
Does the Torreando Pass still work in no-gi?
Yes, but it's a bit harder. In the gi, you can grip the pant legs directly and use fabric friction to steer the legs; without fabric to grab in no-gi, the usual substitute is gripping the shin or ankle directly, along with faster footwork to compensate for the lack of friction. That's why the ankle-control variation is the more common version seen in no-gi competition.
Is passing guard really more injury-prone than submissions?
Looking at injury mechanisms overall, guard passing is indeed a common injury scenario, but the risk mainly comes from knee torque during stance transitions, not from the toreando pass itself being especially dangerous. A survey of 360 Italian BJJ practitioners found that "attempting to pass guard" was the single most common injury mechanism, accounting for 26% of cases. Slowing down stance transitions and avoiding planting your feet while forcing a hip turn are the key ways to reduce that risk.
References
1. Evolve Daily. What Is The Toreando Pass In BJJ. evolve-mma.com (accessed 2026/09; supports the origin of the "toreando" name, the 1990s rise of standing guard passing, and the account of the 1996 Roberto Magalhaes vs. Fabio Gurgel match that spread the technique)
2. Grapplearts. The 5 Main Variations of the Toreando Guard Pass. grapplearts.com (accessed 2026/09; supports the mechanics of the five variations and the account of Leandro Lo using the push-and-pull toreando variation)
3. BJJ Fanatics. All About The Torreando Pass. bjjfanatics.com (accessed 2026/09; supports Jason Hunt's version starting from ankle control into a hip lock, maintaining that hip connection during the step, and pushing the opponent's knee to the other side of the body)
4. Elite Sports. Roberto "Roleta" Magalhaes, Owner Of Roleta Jiu-Jitsu. elitesports.com (accessed 2026/09; supports Roberto Magalhaes' birthplace in Aracaju, his invention of the inverted guard, his 1996 black belt promotion by Carlos Gracie Jr., and his four World Championship titles)
5. BJJ Fanatics. Inverted Guard BJJ. bjjfanatics.com (accessed 2026/09, cross-checked against the previous source; supports Roberto Magalhaes' 1996 black belt promotion by Carlos Gracie and his inverted-guard win over Wallid Ismail in that year's World Championship semifinal)
6. Wikipedia contributors. Fábio Gurgel. en.wikipedia.org (accessed 2026/09; supports Fabio Gurgel co-founding Alliance Jiu-Jitsu with Romero Cavalcanti in 1993, and his four World Championship titles)
7. Elite Sports. Master Fabio Gurgel, Founder of Alliance Jiu-Jitsu Team. elitesports.com (accessed 2026/09, cross-checked against the previous source; supports Alliance being co-founded in 1993 by Cavalcanti, Fabio Gurgel, Fernando Gurgel and Alexandre Paiva, and Fabio Gurgel's four World Championship titles)
8. Williams JM, Callaway A, Gara MN, Tattersall P. (2019). Technique utilisation and efficiency in competitive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu matches at white and blue belts. Int J Perform Anal Sport;19(3):353-369. (academic journal, not indexed in PubMed, abstract verified 2026/09; supports the statistic that among 140 analyzed matches, knee slice, knee pin and bullfighter accounted for 93% of white belt passes and 71% of blue belt passes)
9. Santacaterina F, Tamantini C, Camarro G, et al. (2025). Is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu a Traumatic Sport? Survey on Italian Athletes' Rehabilitation and Return to Sport. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol;10(3):286. PubMed 40843817 (supports the finding that among 360 Italian BJJ practitioners surveyed, "attempting to pass guard" accounted for 26% of injury mechanisms, the highest of any category)