Double Underhook Sweep

The Double Underhook Sweep is a powerful technique often executed from Butterfly Guard or similar positions, where you use two underhooks to control your opponent's upper body, break their base, and create leverage to sweep them. This sweep is highly effective because it limits your opponent's ability to post or recover balance, making it a reliable tool to transition to a dominant position like Mount or Side Control.

Key Principles

Underhooks and Connection

  • Double Underhooks provide tight control over your opponent’s upper body, allowing you to manipulate their posture and limit their mobility.

Leverage and Momentum

Angles

  • Creating a slight angle ensures better leverage to complete the sweep and prevents your opponent from countering or regaining posture.

Steps to Perform the Double Underhook Sweep

Set-Up in Butterfly Guard

  • Sit upright in Butterfly Guard with your feet hooked inside your opponent’s inner thighs.
  • Engage your core and stay connected to your opponent to prevent them from breaking free or flattening you.

Establish Double Underhooks

  • Shoot your arms underneath their arms and lock your hands around their back or hips in a Gable Grip or S-Grip.
  • Pull your opponent’s torso forward, breaking their posture and bringing their weight onto your hooks.

Create the Angle

  • Use a slight hip movement to scoot out to one side, creating an angle for the sweep.
  • Your head should be positioned on the side of the angle, close to their torso, for better leverage.

Elevate with Your Hooks

  • Use your butterfly hooks to lift their hips while driving with your underhooks to tilt them to the side.
  • Exploit their weight distribution by pulling with your Underhooks while pushing upward with your hooks.

Direct Their Fall

  • Redirect their weight to the side of your underhooks, guiding them over your hooks with a smooth, controlled motion.
  • As they fall, maintain control to prevent them from scrambling or recovering posture.

Transition to a Dominant Position

  • As they land, follow their momentum and transition to Mount, Side Control, or another dominant position.

Variations and Adjustments

Against a Posture Reset

Opponent Defending with Wide Base

  • Use your underhooks to pull them forward, then sweep with a stronger elevation from your Hooks.

Submission Transition

Common Applications

Against Forward Pressure

  • Effective against opponents leaning forward to pass your guard.

Breaking Strong Posture

  • Use the double underhooks to pull their posture forward and expose their base for the sweep.

As a Counter to Combat Base

  • When your opponent is kneeling, use double underhooks to lift and sweep them.
Tip

Stay connected! Tight Underhooks and active hip movement are critical to controlling your opponent and preventing counters during the sweep.

By mastering the Double Underhook Sweep, you can effectively control your opponent's posture, limit their options, and transition to dominant positions, making it a fundamental part of a strong Butterfly Guard game.

Positioning

The Double Underhook Sweep can be executed from a variety of positions where you have the opportunity to secure double underhooks and leverage your Hooks or legs to disrupt your opponent’s base. Below is a list of key positions where this sweep is commonly applied:

Primary Position

Butterfly Guard

  • The most common position for the Double Underhook Sweep. From here, you use double underhooks to break your opponent's posture and elevate their center of gravity with your butterfly hooks.

Guard Variations

Closed Guard

  • Transition from Closed Guard by breaking your opponent's posture, securing double underhooks, and opening your guard to create the necessary angle for the sweep.

Half Guard

  • When your opponent pressures forward in Half Guard, secure double underhooks and use a butterfly hook on the inside leg to execute the sweep.

Z Guard

X Guard or Single-Leg X Guard

  • When transitioning out of these positions, establish double underhooks to disrupt their balance and execute a modified sweep.

Passing or Defensive Positions

Opponent in Combat Base

Opponent Posturing During Guard Pass

Transitioning Between Guards

From Open Guard

  • Use grips to pull your opponent forward and establish double underhooks, transitioning into Butterfly Guard or Half Guard to execute the sweep.

From Deep Half Guard

  • Transition to double underhooks when your opponent leans forward to apply pressure, enabling you to elevate their hips and complete the sweep.

Standing or Semi-Standing Scenarios

Opponent Leaning Forward While Standing

  • Secure double underhooks and use your Hooks or De La Riva to lift their legs and destabilize their base.

Opponent Attempting to Break Guard While Standing

  • Use the opportunity to transition into double underhooks and lift their hips for the sweep.

Defensive or Counter Scenarios

Opponent Driving Forward During a Scramble

  • Secure Double Underhooks when they are overcommitted and leaning forward, then use your legs or Hooks to sweep.

Opponent Resisting Butterfly Sweep

  • When your initial Butterfly Sweep attempt is blocked, adjust to double underhooks to regain control and redirect their balance.
Tip

The Double Underhook Sweep thrives in positions where you can use tight Underhooks to limit your opponent's ability to post or regain posture. The combination of hip movement, leverage, and elevation with your Hooks is critical to its success.

By understanding these positions, you can effectively integrate the Double Underhook Sweep into your game, allowing you to capitalize on your opponent's forward pressure or overcommitment in multiple scenarios.

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