Shoulder Roll Sweep

The Shoulder Roll Sweep is a dynamic sweep that utilizes momentum, angles, and hip movement to roll your opponent over their shoulder and transition into a dominant position such as Mount, Side Control, or Back Control. This sweep is typically executed from Butterfly Guard or Half Guard and relies on using a rolling motion to disrupt your opponent’s base and take advantage of their forward pressure or posture.

Key Principles

Momentum and Rolling Motion

  • The sweep uses your body’s rotation and inversion to redirect your opponent’s weight.

Grip Fighting and Control

  • Securing grips on your opponent’s upper body or legs prevents them from posting and stabilizing.

Leverage and Hip Movement

  • Using your legs and hips to elevate their center of gravity is key to tipping them over.

Timing

  • Best executed when your opponent applies forward pressure or is leaning into you.

Steps to Perform the Shoulder Roll Sweep

Set-Up in Guard

Secure Grips

  • Use an underhook on one side to control their upper body or torso.
  • Your other hand can secure their wrist, sleeve, or leg to prevent them from posting.

Create the Angle

  • Shift your hips slightly to the side of your underhook to create the angle for the rolling motion.
  • Keep your head close to their torso or hip for additional leverage.

Initiate the Roll

  • Use your underhook and grips to pull your opponent’s weight forward and toward the angle of your roll.
  • Simultaneously, use your legs to elevate and guide their hips over their shoulder.

Complete the Sweep

  • Roll through with your momentum, maintaining control of their body as they are flipped over.
  • Follow through by driving into a dominant position like Mount or Side Control.

Transition to Dominance

  • Once the sweep is completed, adjust your grips and position to secure control and maintain pressure.

Variations of the Shoulder Roll Sweep

From Butterfly Guard

  • Use butterfly hooks to elevate your opponent’s legs while rolling them over their shoulder.

From Half Guard

Counter to Guard Passes

  • If your opponent attempts a Guard Passes/Knee Cut pass or pressures forward, use their momentum to initiate the roll and sweep.

No-Gi Version

  • Without gi grips, use an underhook and wrist control to execute the roll.

Common Applications

Against Forward Pressure

  • The sweep is highly effective when your opponent leans forward or drives into your guard, making their base vulnerable.

Counter to Combat Base

  • When your opponent has one knee up and one knee down, target their posted leg to execute the rolling motion.

As a Follow-Up to Other Sweeps

  • Use the Shoulder Roll Sweep if other sweeps, like the Butterfly Sweep, are blocked.

Submission and Transition Opportunities

Submission Threats

  • Threaten a Guillotine or Armbar to force your opponent into a posture conducive to the roll.

Back Take

  • If your opponent turns away to defend the sweep, transition to Back Control by securing hooks and grips.
Tip

The Shoulder Roll Sweep is most effective when you can capitalize on your opponent’s momentum and forward pressure. Focus on tight grip fighting and smooth rolling motion to ensure success.

Positioning

The Shoulder Roll Sweep can be executed from various positions where you can utilize rolling motion, leverage, and momentum to destabilize your opponent’s base. Below is a breakdown of positions where the Shoulder Roll Sweep is most effective:

Primary Guard Positions

Butterfly Guard

  • This is the most common position for the Shoulder Roll Sweep. Use your butterfly hooks to elevate your opponent’s legs and roll them over their shoulder.

Half Guard

  • Incorporate a butterfly hook or use a knee shield to assist the rolling motion and sweep your opponent when they apply forward pressure.

Guard Variations

Open Guard

  • Transition into a rolling motion from Open Guard by controlling their legs or upper body and creating momentum to execute the sweep.

X Guard

  • From X Guard, use your hooks to elevate their leg and roll them forward or to the side to complete the sweep.

De La Riva

  • Transition into a shoulder roll motion when your opponent’s weight shifts forward, using your De La Riva hook to create leverage.

Dynamic Transitions

From a Failed Butterfly Sweep

  • If your opponent posts or shifts their weight to defend a Butterfly Sweep, redirect their momentum into a rolling motion for the Shoulder Roll Sweep.

From Submission Threats

From Guard Retention

  • If your opponent pressures forward aggressively while you recover guard, use the rolling motion to counter and sweep.

Counter and Defensive Positions

Against Forward Pressure

  • The Shoulder Roll Sweep works well when your opponent leans forward or pressures into your guard, making their weight easy to redirect.

Combat Base Counter

  • When your opponent assumes Combat Base (one knee up, one knee down), use the sweep to target their posted leg or destabilize their center of gravity.

Countering Guard Passes/Knee Cut Pass

  • If your opponent attempts a Guard Passes/Knee Cut pass, use their forward momentum to initiate the rolling motion and sweep them.

Scramble and Advanced Positions

In a Scramble

  • During dynamic exchanges or scrambles, establish hooks and grips to execute the rolling motion effectively.

From Inversion

  • Use an inverted guard setup to roll underneath your opponent and sweep them over their shoulder.

Submission and Transition Opportunities

Submission Threats

  • Threaten a submission like a Guillotine or Kimura to force your opponent to lean forward, creating the perfect angle for the sweep.

Back Take Transition

  • If your opponent turns away during the roll, follow through to secure Back Control.
Tip

The Shoulder Roll Sweep thrives in positions where your opponent’s forward pressure compromises their base. Focus on tight grips, precise hip movement, and smooth rolling motion to execute the sweep effectively.

By understanding these positional setups, the Shoulder Roll Sweep becomes a versatile tool to counter aggressive opponents, reverse positions, and transition into dominant control.

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