Scissor Sweep

The Scissor Sweep is a classic and highly effective sweep executed from Closed Guard or Open Guard. It relies on the scissor-like motion of your legs to off-balance and topple your opponent, allowing you to transition into a dominant position like Mount or Side Control. This sweep is simple to learn but remains effective at all levels due to its reliance on core leverage, angles, and grip fighting.

Key Principles

Breaking Base

  • The sweep works by destabilizing your opponent’s base through a combination of pulling with grips and a scissor motion of your legs.

Grip Fighting and Control

  • Proper grips on your opponent’s collar and sleeve (or alternatives) control their posture and prevent them from posting.

Angles and Hip Movement

  • Creating the correct angle ensures your legs can generate the necessary leverage for the sweep.

Timing and Momentum

  • Execute the sweep as your opponent’s weight shifts or when they lean forward.

Steps to Perform the Scissor Sweep

Set-Up in Closed Guard

  • Start in Closed Guard with your opponent postured up or leaning slightly forward.

Secure Grips

  • Grab your opponent’s collar with one hand (cross grip is preferred) to control their posture.
  • Use your other hand to grip their opposite sleeve to prevent them from posting.

Open Your Guard and Create the Angle

  • Open your guard and plant your foot on the mat to shrimp your hips slightly to one side.
  • Position your shin across their abdomen or hips (knee pointing diagonally upward) while your other leg extends flat on the mat.

Off-Balance Your Opponent

  • Pull their collar and sleeve toward you to break their posture and shift their weight forward or to the side.
  • Ensure their weight is distributed over the side of the leg you are sweeping toward.

Execute the Scissor Motion

  • Use your top leg to push against their body, driving them in the direction of the sweep.
  • Simultaneously, use your bottom leg to sweep their trapped leg out from under them, like the motion of scissors.

Follow Through to Mount

  • As your opponent falls, maintain your grips and use the momentum to transition into Mount or Side Control.

Variations of the Scissor Sweep

Modified Scissor Sweep

  • If your opponent’s posture is too strong, adjust by gripping their pants or belt and using additional hip movement to create leverage.

Spider Guard Scissor Sweep

  • From Spider Guard, use your feet on their biceps or hips to add leverage and push into the scissor motion.

Butterfly Guard Variation

  • Use a butterfly hook to replace the bottom leg for added control during the sweep.

Reverse Scissor Sweep

  • Reverse the direction of the sweep if your opponent leans heavily to the opposite side.

Common Applications

Against a Kneeling Opponent

  • The sweep works well when your opponent kneels in guard and maintains a neutral or forward-leaning posture.

Counter to Combat Base

  • Use the sweep when your opponent has one knee up and one knee down, targeting their posted leg for the scissor motion.

As Part of a Sweep-Submission Chain

Submission and Sweep Combinations

With Armbar Setup

  • If your opponent defends the sweep by posting their arm, transition into an Armbar on the posted arm.

With Triangle Choke Setup

  • If they resist by leaning back or posting, use their extended posture to set up a Triangle Choke.
Tip

The Scissor Sweep works best when your opponent’s base is neutral or forward-leaning. Proper grip fighting and hip movement are essential to ensure the sweep's effectiveness.

By mastering the Scissor Sweep, you develop a reliable tool for transitioning to dominant positions, disrupting your opponent’s base, and setting up submissions, making it a cornerstone of any strong guard game.

Positioning

The Scissor Sweep is primarily executed from Closed Guard, but its mechanics and variations allow it to be applied from multiple positions. Below is a detailed breakdown of where the Scissor Sweep can be executed effectively:

Primary Guard Position

Closed Guard

  • The most common starting point for the Scissor Sweep. The sweep is initiated when your opponent kneels in your guard, and you create the necessary angle by opening your guard and positioning your legs for the scissor motion.

Guard Variations

Open Guard

  • Transition into a Scissor Sweep by establishing grips on their collar and sleeve, then using your legs to create the scissor motion and off-balance them.

Half Guard

  • From Half Guard, use the scissor motion by framing your shin against their abdomen and sweeping their trapped leg.

Z Guard

  • Use the Z Guard knee shield to create space and transition to a modified Scissor Sweep when your opponent pressures forward.

Spider Guard

  • With your feet on their biceps or hips, incorporate the scissor motion to sweep your opponent when they lean forward or pressure into you.

Butterfly Guard

  • If your opponent blocks traditional butterfly sweeps, insert one shin across their body and transition to a Scissor Sweep motion.

Dynamic Transitions

From a Failed Submission

  • If a Triangle Choke or Armbar attempt is defended, transition into a Scissor Sweep by opening your guard and using your shin to create the necessary leverage.

From Guard Recovery

  • During guard retention, if your opponent applies pressure, establish grips and transition into a Scissor Sweep.

From Combat Base

  • If your opponent kneels in Combat Base (one knee up and one knee down), target their posted leg to initiate the sweep.

Counter and Defensive Positions

Countering Strong Posture

  • Use the sweep when your opponent sits back in your guard, pulling them forward to break their posture before executing the scissor motion.

Against a Standing Opponent

  • Use the sweep when transitioning from Closed Guard to Open Guard, targeting their legs to execute the sweep as they attempt to stand.

Submission and Sweep Combinations

With Armbar Setup

  • If your opponent defends the sweep by posting an arm, transition into an Armbar using the momentum of the scissor motion.

With Triangle Choke Setup

  • If they resist the sweep by leaning back, adjust to trap their arm and transition into a Triangle Choke.

With Omoplata Setup

  • If they post to block the sweep, use their extended arm to set up an Omoplata.

Other Situations

Scramble Scenarios

  • Use the Scissor Sweep during dynamic exchanges where you can create the angle and establish grips to disrupt their base.

In Response to Guard Passing

Tip

The Scissor Sweep thrives in positions where your opponent’s base is stable but neutral or forward-leaning. Focus on grip fighting and precise hip movement to create the angle and execute the sweep smoothly.

By mastering these positional setups, the Scissor Sweep becomes a versatile tool for reversing your opponent, transitioning to dominant positions, and chaining into submissions, making it a staple of any guard game.

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