Spider Guard Sweep (Lasso Scissor)

SweepOpen-guard sweepBelt: blue+Risk: moderateIBJJF

The Spider Guard Lasso Scissor Sweep uses a deep lasso and spider hook to off-balance and topple a standing or kneeling opponent, allowing the guard player to transition to top. This sweep is highly effective in gi competition, offering strong control and a high success rate against opponents posturing to break grips.

Start

Spider guard with lasso

End

Top

Prerequisites: Basic spider guard grips · Establishing a lasso · Hip escape · Collar-and-sleeve control

Steps

1
Establish Spider Guard with Lasso
From open guard, secure a sleeve grip on your opponent's right arm with your left hand and insert your left leg deep as a lasso, wrapping it around their arm and hooking behind their upper back. Your right foot is placed on their left biceps, with a strong sleeve grip in your right hand.
2
Angle Your Hips
Shift your hips out to your left side using a hip escape, creating a 30–45° angle to your opponent. Keep your left knee flared and your lasso foot active to maintain tension.
3
Control Distance and Base
Pull with your lasso and spider grips to break your opponent's posture and force them to post their right knee or hand. Keep your right foot flexed on their biceps, toes pointing outward for maximum push.
4
Set Up the Scissor Motion
Drop your right shin across their left thigh, just above their knee, while maintaining your spider hook. Your left leg remains as a lasso, tight and high behind their back.
5
Initiate the Sweep
Simultaneously pull their right sleeve across your body with your left hand and drive your right shin laterally into their left thigh, while your lasso leg kicks upward and outward. This scissor motion destabilizes their base.
6
Follow Through and Come Up
As your opponent falls to their right side, maintain your sleeve grips and use the momentum to come up onto your right elbow, then your hand, following them into top position.
7
Secure Top Position
Release the lasso as you clear your legs, maintaining at least one sleeve grip, and establish a knee-cut or headquarters passing position, ensuring chest-to-chest connection and dominant grips.

Key details most people miss

The lasso leg must be deep and tight, with the foot hooking high on the opponent's back to maximize leverage.
Angle your hips significantly before sweeping—being square reduces your ability to generate lateral force.
The scissor motion should be explosive but timed with a strong pull on the opponent's sleeve to ensure their weight is moving over your shin.
Keep your spider hook foot flexed and active throughout, not just as a placeholder but as a dynamic lever.

Common mistakes

If the lasso is shallow, the opponent can posture up and strip your grip, killing the sweep.
Failing to angle your hips leaves your shin misaligned, resulting in a weak scissor motion that doesn't off-balance the opponent.
Letting go of the sleeve grip too early allows the opponent to post and recover base.
Trying to sweep when the opponent's weight is back (not forward or centered) leads to poor leverage and stalled sweeps.

Counters & responses

They try: Opponent postures up and circles their lassoed arm out

You do: Regrip deeper on the sleeve and re-extend your lasso leg, using your spider hook to off-balance them forward before attempting the sweep again.

They try: Opponent steps their left leg far back to widen base

You do: Switch to a triangle or omoplata attack as their posture and base become vulnerable to submissions.

They try: Opponent grips your pants at the knee to pin your spider hook

You do: Switch your right foot to their hip and use your lasso to angle out further, regaining inside control for the sweep.

They try: Opponent drops their weight low and hugs your lasso leg

You do: Use your free foot to push on their knee and create space, then transition to a de la Riva or sit-up guard variation.

Drill prescription

6 rounds × 2 min, alternating top and bottom; partner gives 40% live resistance (base, posture, grip breaks); goal is 4 successful sweeps per round with full top control established.

How the masters teach it

Videos are still being curated for this technique. AI suggests these instructors:

Rafael Mendes — Emphasizes deep lasso and hip angle to create maximum off-balance, often chaining directly to back takes.Cobrinha — Focuses on dynamic grip switching and using the lasso as both control and attack lever, especially for high-paced transitions.Lucas Lepri — Integrates the lasso scissor sweep into a broader open guard system, prioritizing grip retention and smooth transitions to passing.Leandro Lo — Known for explosive use of the lasso scissor sweep to quickly reverse aggressive top players, blending it with his trademark guard mobility.

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