The Butterfly Sweep, also known as the Hook Sweep, is a classic open-guard sweep from butterfly guard that uses an underhook and a lifting hook to elevate and overturn an opponent. It is fundamental for transitioning from bottom to top, especially against a kneeling or combat-base opponent. Mastery of this sweep is essential for guard players seeking to reliably reverse and establish dominant top position.
Start
Butterfly guard
End
Top side control
Prerequisites: Establishing an underhook · Seated guard posture · Posting with the far arm
Steps
1
Establish Butterfly Guard Position
Sit upright with both feet as hooks inside opponent’s thighs, knees flared, and chest close to their torso. Keep your head slightly lower than their head and maintain a straight spine.
2
Secure the Underhook
Thread your arm under their armpit on your target side (e.g., left arm under their right armpit), palm open and gripping around their back or belt/lat. Pull their weight forward over your hooks.
3
Post the Far Arm
With your far arm (e.g., right hand), post on the mat behind you at a 45° angle. This post gives you base and prevents the opponent from flattening you or sprawling.
4
Load Their Weight
Pull the opponent forward and slightly to your underhook side using your underhook and your overhook or wrist grip. Simultaneously, scoot your hips under their center of gravity while keeping your chest connected to their torso.
5
Lift with the Hook
On the underhook side, flex your foot and lift with your butterfly hook (e.g., left foot under their right thigh), aiming to elevate their knee and hip. Your knee should flare outward for maximal leverage.
6
Drive with the Underhook and Post
Drive your underhook upward and across at a 45° angle while simultaneously pushing off your posted hand to generate rotational force. Your head should move under their armpit as you sweep.
7
Guide Over with the Overhook or Wrist Grip
Use your overhook (or wrist grip) to guide their far arm across their body, preventing them from posting and blocking the sweep. Keep your grip tight until their base is fully compromised.
8
Follow Through and Come Up
As they tip, follow their momentum, coming up onto your knees and driving your chest forward. Release your hooks and transition your top knee to clear their legs, establishing top side control with chest-to-chest pressure.
Key details most people miss
The sweep works best when you load their weight onto your hooks before lifting—if they are too far back, the hook has no leverage.
Flaring your butterfly knee outward creates a stronger lifting angle and prevents your hook from slipping.
The posted hand must be placed far enough behind you to allow a strong bridge, but not so far that you lose balance or mobility.
Driving your head under their armpit, not just to the side, ensures you rotate their base rather than just lifting vertically.
Common mistakes
Failing to load their weight results in your hook lifting air, allowing the opponent to sprawl or pass.
Posting your hand too close to your hip reduces your ability to drive and bridge, making the sweep weak.
Allowing your knees to collapse inward lets your hooks slip and the opponent to flatten you.
Not controlling their far arm allows them to post and block the sweep, leaving you stuck underneath.
Counters & responses
They try: Opponent posts their far arm to block the sweep.
You do: Switch to an arm drag or transition to a single-leg sweep by immediately releasing the overhook and attacking their posted arm.
They try: Opponent sprawls their hips back to disengage your hooks.
You do: Sit up and chase a single-leg entry or switch to a shin-shin guard to re-engage your hooks.
They try: Opponent bases wide with their knees to prevent being loaded.
You do: Use your overhook side hook to elevate and attack the opposite direction, or transition to a double butterfly sweep.
They try: Opponent drives their head and chest low to flatten you.
You do: Use your posted hand to create space and re-establish upright posture, or invert to attack a guillotine or triangle.
Drill prescription
6 rounds × 2 min; 50% resistance; goal: 5 clean sweeps per round with full follow-through to side control, alternating sides each round.
How the masters teach it
Marcelo Garcia
Emphasizes deep underhook, constant forward pressure, and seamless transition to attacking the back if sweep is blocked.
Marcelo Garcia Jiu-Jitsu
Lachlan Giles
Focuses on precise hip loading and using the overhook side to attack arm drags and back takes in combination.