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BeginnerLeg Trap Sweep
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About This Technique
Leg Trap Sweep
What is it? The Leg Trap Sweep is an effective Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu technique that involves trapping the opponent's leg to unbalance them and achieve a sweeping position, often leading to a dominant position or even a submission opportunity.
Position:
- Initial Position: Open Guard
- Ending Position: Can result in coming up into Mount or Side Control, depending upon execution
Japanese Name:
- N/A
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Establishing Control in Open Guard
- Posture: Start by adopting the open guard position or similar variations such as the spider or collar sleeve guard.
- Grip: Secure one of your opponent's sleeves by grasping it firmly.
- Foot on Hip: Place your opposite foot on the opponent's hip to maintain distance and control.
Step 2: Setting the Trap
- Leg Positioning: Use your other leg to thread through the space between your opponent's legs, ensuring you maintain pressure with your shin across their midline or hip.
- Foot Hook: Curl your foot around their far inner thigh, effectively creating a hook for their leg.
Step 3: Unbalancing the Opponent
- Guidance with Hands: Pull on the gripped sleeve toward you while simultaneously pushing on their hip with your foot. This motion off-balances the opponent, drawing them forward and over you.
- Elevate and Angle: Elevate your hip slightly using the foot on their hip and angle your body partially to aid the sweep.
Step 4: Executing the Sweep
- Leg Roll/Wheel Motion: Utilize the hooked leg to perform a wheel or circling motion. This leads your opponent's center of gravity over their own supporting leg, further unbalancing their posture.
- Follow Through: Continue the momentum to roll your opponent, using your grips to ensure they collapse in the desired direction.
Step 5: Ending in Dominant Position
- As the opponent tips over, follow through with your hips and chest to claim a top position, typically ending in Mount or Side Control.
- Secure Position: Establishing a dominant posture by withdrawing your hooked leg and stabilizing your base (knee control in side control or pinning hips in mount).
Tips for Success
- Timing: The leg trap sweep works best when your opponent is resisting or attempting to pressure into your guard.
- Hip Movement: Smooth and deliberate hip movements are essential. Practicing the rolling motion fluidly will enhance the effectiveness of your sweep.
- Pressure Points: Always keep pressure on their arm and hip to maintain control throughout the sweep.
Note: As with any BJJ technique, drilling under the supervision of a trained instructor ensures safety and technique effectiveness.
How to Execute
# Leg Trap Sweep from Open Guard
## Setup
- **Initial Position Details**: Start in the open guard position, lying on your back with your opponent kneeling in front of you. Your legs should be between you and your opponent, with knees bent and feet active on their hips or thighs.
- **Grips and Controls Needed**: Establish a grip with your left hand on your opponent's right sleeve or wrist. With your right hand, control their left ankle or pant leg. Your right foot should be placed on their left hip, while your left leg remains active, ready to assist in the sweep.
## Steps
1. **Create Space**: Use your right foot on their hip to push and create space. This will help you disrupt their balance and prepare for the sweep.
2. **Control the Sleeve**: Pull your opponent's right sleeve across their body towards your left hip. This movement off-balances them and prevents them from posting their right hand to base out.
3. **Trap the Leg**: With your right hand, pull their left ankle or pant leg towards you. Simultaneously, slide your left leg underneath their right leg, hooking it with your left knee or thigh.
4. **Execute the Sweep**: Push with your right foot on their left hip while pulling their left ankle with your right hand. At the same time, use your left leg to lift and off-balance their right leg, creating a sweeping motion.
5. **Follow Through**: As your opponent falls to their left side, use the momentum to come up on top, transitioning to a dominant position like side control or mount.
## Key Points
- **Important Details to Remember**:
- Maintain a strong grip on the sleeve to prevent your opponent from posting and regaining balance.
- Use your hips actively to create leverage and movement for the sweep.
- Keep your grips and hooks tight to control their lower body effectively.
- **Common Mistakes to Avoid**:
- Not controlling the sleeve effectively, allowing the opponent to post and counter the sweep.
- Failing to use your hips and legs actively, leading to insufficient leverage and an unsuccessful sweep.
- Losing balance when following through, resulting in a scramble instead of a clean transition to a dominant position.
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