Reverse Butterfly Sweep

The Reverse Butterfly Sweep is a powerful sweep executed from Butterfly Guard or related positions, where you use Hooks, grip fighting, and a rotational motion to reverse your opponent. It is particularly effective when your opponent pressures forward, posts, or shifts their weight in a way that makes traditional sweeps difficult. The Reverse Butterfly Sweep takes advantage of their forward momentum and leverage created by your hooks to flip them over to the opposite side.

Key Principles

Hooks and Rotation

  • Use one butterfly hook to elevate and redirect your opponent’s base while turning your body in the opposite direction.

Grip Fighting and Control

  • Secure grips on your opponent’s sleeve, arm, or collar to control their posture and limit their ability to post.

Hip Movement and Angle Creation

  • Create space by adjusting your hips and positioning yourself at the right angle for the sweep.

Timing and Momentum

  • Execute the sweep when your opponent applies forward pressure or shifts their weight to one side.

Steps to Perform the Reverse Butterfly Sweep

Set-Up in Butterfly Guard

  • Start in Butterfly Guard with your feet hooked under your opponent’s inner thighs.
  • Keep an upright posture and stay connected to their upper body with tight grips.

Secure Grips

  • Use one hand to grab their sleeve, arm, or collar on the side you want to sweep toward.
  • Your other hand can underhook or control their far arm or torso for added leverage.

Create the Angle

  • Scoot your hips slightly to the side opposite your sweep, creating a rotational angle.
  • Position your head close to their torso or lower body for stability and leverage.

Elevate with Your Hook

  • Use your butterfly hook to elevate their leg or hip while pulling their arm or sleeve to destabilize their base.

Rotate Your Body

  • Use a rotational motion to spin underneath your opponent, flipping them over their trapped leg.
  • Drive with your hips and continue pulling with your grips to guide them over.

Follow Through to a Dominant Position

  • As they fall, use the momentum to transition into Mount, Side Control, or another advantageous position.

Variations of the Reverse Butterfly Sweep

Single Hook Variation

  • If you lose one hook, use the remaining butterfly hook to elevate and sweep your opponent.

Counter to Butterfly Sweep Defense

  • If your opponent posts or shifts their weight to block a Butterfly Sweep, redirect their momentum into a Reverse Butterfly Sweep.

No-Gi Version

  • Without grips on the gi, control their arm with a wrist grip or underhook and use the same mechanics to sweep.

Common Applications

Against Forward Pressure

  • Effective when your opponent leans forward aggressively, exposing their weight and center of gravity.

As a Counter to Posts

  • Use the Reverse Butterfly Sweep when your opponent posts to block your initial Butterfly Sweep attempt.

In Combination with Other Sweeps

Submission and Transition Opportunities

Submission Threats

Transition to Back Control

  • If they expose their back during the sweep, follow through to secure hooks and take their back.
Tip

The Reverse Butterfly Sweep works best when your opponent commits their weight forward or shifts laterally, making their base unstable. Focus on precise hip movement and hooks to redirect their momentum effectively.

Positioning

The Reverse Butterfly Sweep can be executed from several positions where Hooks, leverage, and a rotational motion allow you to off-balance your opponent. Below is a breakdown of the positions where the Reverse Butterfly Sweep can be effectively applied:

Primary Guard Position

Butterfly Guard

  • The most common setup for the Reverse Butterfly Sweep. Use your butterfly hooks to elevate and redirect your opponent’s base, taking advantage of their forward pressure or lateral weight shift.

Guard Variations

Half Guard with a Butterfly Hook

  • Transition from Half Guard into a butterfly hook under their near leg, creating the angle needed to execute the sweep.

Z Guard

  • Use the Z Guard to control their posture, then insert a butterfly hook to transition into the Reverse Butterfly Sweep.

Open Guard

Dynamic Transitions

From a Failed Butterfly Sweep

  • If your opponent posts or shifts their weight to counter a Butterfly Sweep, transition into the Reverse Butterfly Sweep by redirecting their momentum in the opposite direction.

From X Guard or Single-Leg X Guard

  • Transition to a butterfly hook if your opponent adjusts their base, setting up the Reverse Butterfly Sweep.

From a Scramble

  • During dynamic exchanges, establish a butterfly hook under their leg and secure grips to initiate the sweep.

Defensive and Counter Positions

Against Forward Pressure

  • Use the sweep when your opponent leans heavily into you in Butterfly Guard or Half Guard, making their weight vulnerable to redirection.

Countering Guard Passes

  • If your opponent drives forward aggressively to pass, such as with a Guard Passes/Knee Cut or Smash Pass, insert a butterfly hook and transition to the Reverse Butterfly Sweep.

Combat Base Counter

  • When your opponent kneels in combat base (one knee up, one knee down), use the hook on their posted leg to destabilize them and execute the sweep.

Submission and Transition Opportunities

With Submission Threats

To Back Control

  • If your opponent exposes their back during the sweep, follow through to secure hooks and take their back.

Common Combinations

With Hook Sweep

  • Use the Hook Sweep as an initial attack. If it’s blocked or countered, redirect their weight into the Reverse Butterfly Sweep.

With Butterfly Sweep

  • Pair the two techniques to attack both sides dynamically, adjusting based on your opponent’s reactions.
Tip

The Reverse Butterfly Sweep thrives in positions where your opponent’s base is compromised or their weight distribution shifts laterally. Tight grip fighting and smooth hip movement are critical to its success.

By understanding these positional setups, you can incorporate the Reverse Butterfly Sweep into your guard game, creating a dynamic and effective way to counter pressure and transition to dominant positions.

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