Bullfighter Pass

Last updated: May 28, 2026

What is the bullfighter pass?

The bullfighter pass is one of the most widely used standing guard passes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The top player stands above an opponent who is on their back or seated with an open guard, grabs the opponent’s pant legs (or shins and ankles in no-gi), and uses a quick lateral motion to redirect the legs to one side while moving the body to the other. The pass typically ends in side control or knee on belly, and occasionally on the back.

It belongs to a category of techniques called speed-based or “loose” passes, which rely on misdirection and angles instead of pinning weight on the opponent. According to Evolve MMA, the pass became a common option in the 1990s once grapplers began standing up to open the closed guard, which left the opponent’s legs exposed and ready to be gripped. The match most often cited for putting the technique on the map at high-level BJJ is Fabio Gurgel against Roberto “Roleta” Magalhaes at the 1996 Brasileiro de Equipes, where Gurgel used it to neutralize one of the most unpredictable open guards of that era, as documented by BJJ Heroes.

The bullfighter pass appears under several different names. Toreando, toreada, toureando, and matador pass all refer to essentially the same technique.

Where the name comes from

“Toreando” is a Portuguese word describing the motion a bullfighter makes when avoiding a charging bull. BJJ Heroes notes that the term is the past tense of the bullfighting action, while “toreada” is the present-tense form and the more common name in Portuguese. As Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu spread internationally, “bullfighter” became the standard English translation, and “matador pass” emerged as a third name used by coaches such as Stephan Kesting.

The naming captures the visual: the passer redirects the opponent’s legs the way a matador uses a cape to send the bull past him, then steps in to take the side the legs no longer cover.

How the bullfighter pass works

The technique begins with the top grappler standing above an opponent in open guard. Both hands establish grips on the opponent’s pant legs, usually just below the knee or down at the ankles, with the no-gi version using the shins or ankles directly. From there, the passer pushes the opponent’s legs in one direction while moving their own body to the opposite side, clearing a path to a top pinning position.

The defining characteristic is misdirection and speed. The grips control where the legs can go, and the passer’s footwork carries them around the obstacle. Once past the legs, the finish is usually side control or knee on belly, depending on how the opponent reacts.

Bullfighter pass vs leg drag

Both passes start from a similar position, and both move past one side of the guard, which is why the two are often confused. The key difference sits in how the legs are handled.

Feature	Bullfighter pass	Leg drag
Style	Speed and misdirection	Pressure and isolation
Leg control	Both legs together	One leg dragged across centerline
Best against	Open guard, supine players	Sitting and butterfly guards
Common finish	Side control or knee on belly	Side control with pinned leg
Difficulty	Beginner-friendly	More technical

The bullfighter is faster and looser; the leg drag is more controlling and harder to escape from once locked in. According to Evolve MMA, the two often chain together: many grapplers attempt the bullfighter first and transition to a leg drag when the opponent recovers grips and the initial attempt stalls.

Variations

Stephan Kesting has documented five widely recognised variations of the bullfighter pass, each suited to different reactions from the bottom player.

Variation	Brief description
Old-school throw-past	Control the ankles, redirect both legs to one side, finish in knee on belly.
Pin with shoulder	Grip below the knees, force the feet to the floor, and drop a shoulder onto the belly to secure side control.
Push-pull	One hand pushes a leg down while the other steers the hip, exposing the back or side.
Steering wheel to north-south	Used when the opponent balls up; the legs are spun like a steering wheel into the north-south position.
One hand on hip	A double v-grip on the shins switches to one grip on the hip, allowing a tighter circle into side control.

No-gi versions use ankle or shin grips in place of pant grips, and the pass tends to move even faster without cloth to slow the exchange, as noted by BJJ World.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it called the bullfighter pass?

The motion mimics a matador sidestepping a charging bull. The passer redirects the opponent’s legs to one side, like a cape pulling the bull past, then circles to the open side to take a top position.

Is the bullfighter pass the same as the toreando pass?

Yes. Toreando, toreada, toureando, matador pass, and bullfighter pass all describe the same technique. Toreando is the original Portuguese name; bullfighter is the English translation that became common as BJJ spread outside Brazil.

Does the bullfighter pass work in no-gi?

Yes. Instead of pant-leg grips, the passer holds the ankles or shins. BJJ World notes that the no-gi version tends to move faster than the gi version because there is no cloth friction to slow the exchange.

Is the bullfighter pass good for beginners?

It is one of the first passes taught at most academies. Tsavo Neal of BJJ Equipment writes that it was the first pass he learned as a white belt and the one he now teaches new students, largely because the mechanics are simple and the pass scales to all levels.

Who is credited with popularising the bullfighter pass?

No single person invented it. The pass came into common use in the 1990s once standing guard openings became standard. The 1996 match where Fabio Gurgel used it to pass Roberto “Roleta” Magalhaes is often cited as the moment it gained recognition at the elite level. A rudimentary version had already appeared in Anton Geesink’s 1977 Judo book, according to Grapplearts.

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Sources

1. BJJ Heroes. “Toreando Guard Pass.” Accessed May 2026.
2. Evolve MMA. “What Is The Toreando Pass In BJJ.” Accessed May 2026.
3. Evolve MMA. “How To Perform The Leg Drag Guard Pass.” Accessed May 2026.
4. BJJ Equipment. “Toreando Pass BJJ: The Best Guard Pass For Beginners.” Tsavo Neal. Accessed May 2026.
5. BJJ World. “Toreando Pass Mastery.” Accessed May 2026.
6. Grapplearts. “The 5 Main Variations of the Toreando Guard Pass.” Stephan Kesting. Accessed May 2026.
7. JiuJitsu.com. “The Bull Fight Pass.” Rafael Lovato Jr. Accessed May 2026.

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