# Leg-Drag Pass

> A passing position that directs both of the guard player's knees across one hip, exposing the side and often the back.

- **Canonical page:** https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/leg-drag-pass
- **Markdown:** https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/leg-drag-pass.md
- **JSON:** https://www.ossmeta.com/api/public/techniques/leg-drag-pass
- **Category:** pass
- **Format:** both
- **Level:** intermediate
- **Aliases:** leg drag, leg-drag position
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-25

## What it is

The leg drag moves the guard player's legs across the passer's body while the passer occupies the space beside the hips. This turns both knees away from the passing side, making it difficult to frame with the legs or square the torso.

Leg drags arise from toreando exchanges, berimbolo counters, De La Riva passing, and scrambles. The best versions connect lower-body stapling to control of the far hip or shoulder so the guard player cannot simply roll through.

## Key principles

- Keep both knees pointing away from the passing side.
- Control the far hip to stop the opponent from rolling square.
- Place your own hip close enough to block leg recovery.
- Climb from lower-body control to the shoulders without leaving a gap.

## Common entries

- **Toreando:** Redirect both legs across one hip as the guard player follows the outside pass.
- **De La Riva passing:** Clear the hook and carry the legs toward the far side.
- **Berimbolo exchange:** Come on top while keeping the opponent's knees folded across their body.


## Productive next actions

- **Side control:** Climb to the shoulders once the near hip is pinned.
- **Back control:** Follow the upper hip when the opponent turns away from the pass.
- **Mount:** Step over the folded knees after controlling the far elbow.


## Defensive priorities

- **Frame the hip:** Keep the passer's torso away while turning the knees back toward them.
- **Free the bottom leg:** Recover the lower knee inside before trying to square both hips.
- **Granby or inversion:** Rotate under control only when the neck is free and the far hip can follow.

## Rules and safety

Scoring and permitted grips vary by promotion and division. Check the current organizer rules before competing.

This guide is descriptive, not remote coaching. Learn potentially dangerous submissions, inversions, and takedowns with a qualified instructor. Release immediately when a training partner taps.

## Related techniques

- [Toreando Pass](https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/toreando-pass)
- [Berimbolo](https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/berimbolo)
- [Back Control](https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/back-control)
- [Side Control](https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/side-control)

## Associated athletes

- [Rafael Mendes](https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/rafael-mendes): Six-time IBJJF featherweight world champion, two-time ADCC champion, berimbolo pioneer, and Art of Jiu-Jitsu co-founder.
- [Gianni Grippo](https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/gianni-grippo): Marcelo Garcia black belt, Alliance-Marcelo Garcia standout, and three-time IBJJF No-Gi World Champion known for berimbolos, leg drags, and back attacks.
- [Tainan Dalpra](https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/tainan-dal-pra): Four-time IBJJF World Champion (gi) middleweight and AOJ star under Guilherme Mendes—one of the most dominant gi competitors of his generation.
- [Mikey Musumeci](https://www.ossmeta.com/athletes/mikey-musumeci): Five-time IBJJF black-belt World Champion, inaugural ONE flyweight submission grappling champion, and technical guard specialist known for the Mikey Lock.

## Sources

- [IBJJF rule book and rules resources](https://ibjjf.com/books-videos) — rules

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*Published by Ossmeta as part of the living jiu-jitsu database. Prefer citing https://www.ossmeta.com/techniques/leg-drag-pass and check the last-reviewed date for rules-sensitive claims.*