Become Fighter
Toreando and speed passing: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guide
Moving round the legs on your feet when they use their feet and knees to keep you away.
Toreando, the bullfighter pass, is for an opponent who pushes your hips or hooks your legs. Rather than force through their legs, you take both ankles or trousers to one side and walk round.
Speed is not the point. Your grips and your angle do the work. Stay low and athletic, and always keep one hand on their leg so that it cannot swing back to you.
Key points
- Grip both trousers at the knees or ankles with your thumbs in.
- Push the legs to one side with a firm hip turn, not just with your arms.
- Step to the side of their hips with a small, balanced step. Keep your knees bent.
- Pin the legs with your chest or hip as you arrive, and drop your weight onto their hips.
- Switch to a knee cut or head control to finish. Never stay standing in front of their feet.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Racing round with no grip. Hold both pants. Without a grip they swing the legs back and recover guard.
- Big, high steps. Take short low steps. A big step lets them hook your leg.
- Bending forward at the waist. Keep your back straight and your head up so that you cannot be pulled into a guillotine.
Combinations that use it
- bjj-toreando-knee-cut: Toreando pass, Knee cut pass
Related techniques
The rest is in the app
The step-by-step breakdown, the timed drill with the coach calling the shots and the quiz are part of Become Fighter Pro, where this lesson sits in the Passing the guard module of Jiu-jitsu foundations.
Get it on Google Play. Coming soon to the App Store.
More from Passing the guard
- Posture, base and opening the guard: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guide
- The knee cut pass: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guide
- The stack pass and passing safely: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guide
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Combat sports training is hard on the body. Warm up, stay within your limits and check with a doctor first if you have a health condition. Practise in a clear space and stop if you feel pain or dizziness. Learn partner work only under a qualified coach.