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Butterfly GuardBottom
IntermediateBasic Butterfly Sweep
N/A
Taught by:Adam FarnslerAndre GalvaoBernardo FariaCraig JonesGordon RyanJohn DanaherKeenan CorneliusLachlan GilesMarcelo GarciaMikey MusumeciNathan MerkleRob BiernackiRob Shiffler
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About This Technique
Basic Butterfly Sweep
The Basic Butterfly Sweep is an effective and versatile technique from the Butterfly Guard, often used in both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and submission grappling. It can provide a strong and unexpected way to off-balance and sweep your opponent.
Position
- Butterfly Guard
Japanese Name
- N/A
Step-by-Step Instructions
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Establish the Guard:
- Start in Butterfly Guard. Sit on your buttocks with your legs out and feet placed inside your opponent's inner thighs. Keep your knees slightly bent.
- Keep a slight forward posture while maintaining good balance.
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Secure Grips:
- Use your right hand to secure a grip on the opponent's left lapel or control their arm.
- Use your left arm to grip the opponent's right sleeve or wrist.
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Position Yourself:
- Scoot your hips slightly backward to ensure your weight is evenly distributed. Maintain close contact with the opponent's torso using your chest.
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Lift and Sweep:
- With your left foot, elevate your opponent's right leg by hooking it with your instep firmly against their thigh.
- Simultaneously, push the opponent’s left side with your right grip, pulling with your left to off-balance them.
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Leverage Your Body:
- Lean back slightly, using the leverage of your left leg to lift and overturn the opponent’s leg, flipping their body.
- Use your hips to aid the momentum.
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Finish the Sweep:
- Roll to your right side while maintaining your grips, using the lifting movement applied by your left leg.
- Follow through until you are tilted enough to bring the opponent down on their back.
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Secure Side Control:
- Once you start ascending, release your grips, adjust, and move into a secured Side Control, ensuring you maintain pressure to stabilize the position.
Tips and Details
- Timing is crucial; execute the sweep as your opponent attempts to shift or establish their posture.
- Focus on moving not just with your arms, but ensure coordination with your hips and legs.
- Aim to keep your opponent off-balance without force, using finesse and leverage.
Common Mistakes
- Over-reliance on arm strength instead of hip and leg leverage.
- Failing to maintain close chest contact, allowing the opponent to posture up or nullify your grip dynamics.
Overall, this technique emphasizes positioning and timing, ensuring that even beginners can effectively level the playing field when executed properly.
How to Execute
# Basic Butterfly Sweep from Butterfly Guard
## Setup
- **Initial Position Details**: Begin in the seated Butterfly Guard position. Your opponent should be kneeling in front of you. Your feet are placed inside your opponent's thighs, with the soles of your feet against their inner thighs. Your knees should be slightly flared out to maintain control and balance.
- **Grips and Controls Needed**: Secure an overhook with one arm around your opponent’s shoulder, pulling them close to you. With your other hand, reach for and control their opposite arm by gripping the sleeve or wrist. This grip will help prevent them from posting their hand to stop the sweep.
## Steps
1. **Establish Connection**: Pull your opponent forward with your grips, ensuring their weight is slightly over you. Use your legs to pull yourself in closer if necessary.
2. **Create an Angle**: Lean back slightly and scoot your hips out to the side of your underhook, creating an angle. This motion should help load your opponent's weight onto your hooked leg.
3. **Lift with Your Hook**: Use your butterfly hook (the foot on the same side as your underhook) to elevate your opponent’s leg. Simultaneously, push off the ground with your opposite foot to lift your hips.
4. **Drive with the Underhook**: As you lift, drive your opponent’s upper body over to the side using the underhook, and maintain control of their arm to prevent them from posting.
5. **Finish the Sweep**: Continue to elevate and turn your opponent with your hook and underhook until they are off balance and fall to the side.
6. **Follow Through**: As they are swept, follow their movement and come up on top, transitioning into a dominant position such as side control or mount.
## Key Points
- **Important Details to Remember**: Use your grips and hooks effectively to control and off-balance your opponent. The sweep is most effective when you use your entire body and not just your legs.
- **Common Mistakes to Avoid**:
- Failing to control your opponent’s arm can result in them posting and stopping the sweep.
- Not creating a proper angle can make it difficult to off-balance your opponent effectively.
- Overcommitting your own weight can lead to losing your balance and ending up on your back without control.
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