Coyote Sweep

The Coyote Sweep is a powerful sweep executed primarily from Half Guard, designed to off-balance your opponent and reverse the position. It is named for its dynamic and explosive nature, mimicking the cunning and opportunistic approach of a coyote. This sweep utilizes deep Hooks, Underhooks, and effective use of hip movement to manipulate your opponent’s base and center of gravity.

Key Principles

Underhooks and Connection

  • Establishing a strong underhook is crucial for controlling your opponent’s posture and preventing them from smashing or flattening you.

Leverage and Elevation

  • Use your leg Hooks and hips to lift or off-balance the opponent’s upper body and shift their weight.

Angles

  • Create the correct angle by turning your body toward the underhook side, exposing the opponent’s base for the sweep.

Momentum and Timing

  • Use explosive timing, especially when your opponent moves to adjust their weight distribution.

Steps to Execute the Coyote Sweep

Set-Up in Half Guard

  • Start in a deep Half Guard position with your opponent’s knee trapped between your legs.
  • Establish an underhook on the side closest to your opponent to control their upper body and prevent them from flattening you.

Secure Your Hooks and Frames

  • Use your inside leg (closest to the opponent) to trap their shin or thigh.
  • Your outside leg creates a "kickstand" to assist in generating elevation during the sweep.

Create the Angle

  • Shrimp or lateral shrimp to the side of your underhook, bringing your head close to their hips and angling your body underneath them.
  • Your goal is to position yourself directly under their center of gravity.

Off-Balance Your Opponent

  • Pull with your underhook and drive your hips upward, lifting their weight slightly.
  • Use your inside leg to elevate their thigh while driving their weight forward or to the side.

Execute the Sweep

  • With your underhook, pull their upper body while simultaneously extending your legs to rotate their base.
  • Drive with your hips and roll them over their trapped leg, following their momentum.

Follow Through to a Dominant Position

Variations and Adjustments

Opponent Posts Hand to Defend

  • Transition to Back Take Sweep by using the underhook to climb to their back.

Opponent Has Strong Base

Deep Half Guard Transition

Common Applications

  • Against opponents who apply heavy pressure in Half Guard.
  • As a counter to Smash Pass attempts, using the underhook to prevent control.
  • In scrambles where your opponent’s balance is compromised.
Tip

The Coyote Sweep works best when you combine explosive movement with precise hip movement and angles. Keeping the underhook tight and controlling their trapped leg are critical to its success.

By mastering the Coyote Sweep, you can effectively disrupt your opponent’s balance and transition from Half Guard to dominant positions, making it a versatile tool in your arsenal.

Positioning

The Coyote Sweep is primarily executed from Half Guard, but variations and adaptations make it applicable in several positions where similar mechanics—like Underhooks, hooks, and leverage—are used. Below is a breakdown of the positions where the Coyote Sweep can be effectively executed:

Primary Position

Half Guard

  • The most common setup for the Coyote Sweep. From a deep Half Guard position, with your opponent's leg trapped and a strong underhook, you can create the angles and leverage needed to execute the sweep.

Half Guard Variations

Deep Half Guard

  • If your opponent pressures forward or sprawls during the Coyote Sweep attempt, transition into Deep Half Guard and continue to off-balance them with similar principles.

Z Guard

Knee Shield Half Guard

  • With the knee shield in place, you can establish control over their posture and transition to the Coyote Sweep by removing the knee shield and diving deep for the underhook.

Transitional Positions

Opponent in Combat Base

  • If your opponent kneels with one leg up (combat base), you can trap their up-knee and execute the Coyote Sweep by angling your hips and using the same underhook mechanics.

Failed Butterfly Sweep

Opponent Passing to Half Guard

Guard Transitions

From Closed Guard

From Butterfly Guard

  • Drop one leg into Half Guard to trap their shin or thigh and transition directly into a Coyote Sweep.

From Deep Half Guard

  • If they resist attempts to elevate their hips, transition into Half Guard to set up the Coyote Sweep.

Defensive Positions

Opponent in Side Control Bottom

Opponent in Knee on Belly

  • Transition to Half Guard by trapping their leg, then use the Coyote Sweep to reverse the position.
Tip

The Coyote Sweep thrives in positions where you can:

By understanding these positions, you can set up the Coyote Sweep effectively, whether you're playing Half Guard, recovering from a bad position, or countering an opponent's movements.

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