Elevator Sweep

The Elevator Sweep is a dynamic and versatile sweep often executed from Guard positions, particularly Butterfly Guard, Closed Guard, or Open Guard. It uses a combination of hooks, leverage, and momentum to lift and redirect your opponent’s center of gravity, causing them to lose their base and fall, allowing you to transition into a dominant position like Mount or Side Control.

Key Principles

Hooks and Leverage

  • Your legs act as elevators, lifting and redirecting your opponent’s weight.

Grip Fighting

  • Proper grips on the sleeves, collar, or pants are essential to control your opponent’s movement and posture.

Angles

  • Creating a favorable angle enhances your leverage and ensures the sweep's effectiveness.

Momentum

  • Use your opponent’s forward pressure or movement to amplify the sweep.

Steps to Perform the Elevator Sweep

Set-Up

  • Begin in a Guard position such as Butterfly Guard or Closed Guard.
  • Secure grips:
  • One hand grips your opponent’s sleeve, arm, or collar to control their upper body.
  • The other hand controls their far leg or pants to prevent posting.

Insert the Elevator Hook

  • Place your foot or shin as a hook under your opponent’s inner thigh on the side you intend to sweep.
  • Your other leg frames or pushes against their hip or thigh to aid in creating leverage.

Create the Angle

  • Shrimp or adjust your hips slightly to the side of your elevator hook to position yourself under your opponent’s center of gravity.
  • This angle maximizes your ability to lift and direct their weight.

Off-Balance the Opponent

  • Pull with your grips to break their posture and shift their weight toward the side of your elevator hook.
  • Use your hook to lift their leg while simultaneously pulling their upper body toward you.

Execute the Sweep

  • Extend your elevator hook upward and to the side while pushing with your framing leg to topple their base.
  • Use your grips to guide their body over the direction of the sweep.

Follow Through to a Dominant Position

  • As they fall, follow their momentum and transition into Mount or Side Control, maintaining control of their upper body.

Variations of the Elevator Sweep

From Closed Guard

  • Open your guard and insert the elevator hook while controlling their arm and leg to execute the sweep.

From Butterfly Guard

  • Use the elevator hook on one leg and your other leg as a post to generate leverage and lift.

From Half Guard

  • When your opponent pressures forward, insert an elevator hook and combine it with an underhook to execute the sweep.

Overhead Sweep Variation

  • Redirect your opponent’s weight directly over your head and roll them to the side by lifting with the hook.

Common Applications

  • Against an opponent leaning forward to pressure pass.
  • To counterbalance an opponent who has a wide or stable base.
  • As a follow-up when other Guard sweeps, like the Scissor Sweep, are defended.
Tip

Timing is key! The Elevator Sweep works best when your opponent is actively pressuring forward or has their weight shifted toward you. Practice creating momentum and coordinating your grips and hooks for smooth execution.

By mastering the Elevator Sweep, you add a versatile and effective tool to your Guard game, allowing you to transition to dominant positions and control the flow of the match.

Positioning

The Elevator Sweep can be executed from several positions where hooks, grips, and angles allow you to lift and redirect your opponent’s center of gravity. Below is a breakdown of the positions where the Elevator Sweep is commonly applied:

Primary Positions

Butterfly Guard

  • The Elevator Sweep is a natural fit here, where your hooks are already positioned under your opponent’s thighs, allowing for easy elevation and redirection of their weight.

Closed Guard

  • Open your guard and insert the elevator hook under one of your opponent’s thighs while controlling their posture and base. This is effective when your opponent leans forward or attempts to break your guard.

Guard Variations

Open Guard

  • Insert your elevator hook while controlling your opponent’s grips and legs to execute the sweep. This is particularly useful when your opponent is standing.

Half Guard

  • Insert the elevator hook under your opponent’s thigh on the trapped leg side. Use your underhook to control their upper body and execute the sweep.

Deep Half Guard

  • Transition to an elevator hook when your opponent’s weight shifts forward, allowing you to elevate their hips and redirect their balance.

Z Guard

  • Replace the knee shield with an elevator hook when your opponent pressures forward, using grips to off-balance and sweep them.

Defensive and Counter Positions

Opponent in Combat Base

  • If your opponent is kneeling in combat base, use the elevator hook on their raised leg to destabilize their base and execute the sweep.

Opponent Standing in Guard

  • Insert the elevator hook on their leg while controlling their grips and posture, then sweep them as they lean forward or shift their weight.

Opponent Passing Guard

Dynamic Transitions

From X Guard or Single-Leg X Guard

  • Transition to an elevator hook if your opponent adjusts their stance, allowing you to elevate their leg and complete the sweep.

From De La Riva

  • Replace the De La Riva hook with an elevator hook to lift their hips and redirect their balance.

Failed Scissor Sweep

  • If your opponent resists the Scissor Sweep, insert an elevator hook on the leg you initially tried to chop and transition into the Elevator Sweep.

Scramble Situations

During Guard Retention

  • If your opponent attempts to pass, use the elevator hook as part of your guard recovery to reverse their position and sweep them.

Against Forward Pressure

  • If your opponent drives forward aggressively, use the momentum to insert the elevator hook and execute the sweep.
Tip

The Elevator Sweep thrives in positions where your opponent's base is compromised or their weight is forward. Maintain tight connections and use your grips effectively to control their posture and execute the sweep smoothly.

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