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Tripod Sweep (Ankle Pick)

SweepSit-up sweepBelt: white+Risk: lowIBJJFADCCNo-GiSub-OnlyMMA

The tripod sweep is a classic open guard sweep that utilizes a sleeve and ankle grip to off-balance and topple a standing opponent. Its effectiveness lies in its simplicity and the ability to transition directly to a dominant top position, making it a staple for both gi and no-gi competitors.

Start
Open guard with sleeve/ankle grip
End
Top
Prerequisites: Grip breaking on standing opponent · Establishing sleeve grip · Foot placement on hip · Basic technical stand-up

Steps

  1. 1
    Establish Open Guard and Grips
    Start seated with your right hand gripping your opponent’s right ankle (C-grip) and your left hand controlling their left sleeve (or wrist in no-gi). Your left foot is placed on their right hip, and your right foot is hooked behind their left ankle.
  2. 2
    Set Angle and Distance
    Scoot your hips slightly away from their right leg to create a 30–45° angle, ensuring your left foot is firmly pressing into their hip and your right foot is actively hooking behind their left ankle.
  3. 3
    Load the Sweep
    Pull their left sleeve/wrist forward while simultaneously pushing with your left foot into their hip, creating tension and off-balancing them toward their rear left corner.
  4. 4
    Execute the Tripod Motion
    As they shift weight, kick your right foot straight out to extend their left ankle while maintaining sleeve control. Simultaneously, drive your left foot against their hip to amplify the off-balance.
  5. 5
    Follow Through and Maintain Grips
    As your opponent falls backward, keep your sleeve/wrist and ankle grips. Use your left foot on their hip to control distance and prevent them from sitting up.
  6. 6
    Technical Stand-Up to Top Position
    Release your right foot from behind their ankle and post it on the mat. Use your left hand (still controlling the sleeve/wrist) to help you technical stand-up, driving your hips forward to claim top position.
  7. 7
    Secure the Pass or Stabilize
    Immediately look to either control their legs for a direct guard pass or establish a stable top position, keeping your posture low and grips strong to prevent counters.

Key details most people miss

  • The push-pull timing between the hip and sleeve grips is critical—initiate the sleeve pull a split second before the hip push for maximum off-balance.
  • The right foot must hook low on the opponent’s ankle, not the calf, to effectively block their base and prevent them from stepping out.
  • Angle your hips slightly off-center to avoid being directly in front of their base, which increases leverage and sweep power.
  • Maintain sleeve/ankle control throughout the transition to top to prevent opponent from scrambling or re-guarding.

Common mistakes

  • If you place your right foot too high on their shin, they can step out and avoid the sweep entirely.
  • Failing to control the sleeve/wrist allows the opponent to post and recover balance, nullifying the sweep.
  • Trying to sweep while squared up (hips directly in front) gives your opponent too much base and makes the sweep ineffective.
  • Letting go of grips too early during your technical stand-up allows the opponent to scramble or re-guard.

Counters & responses

They try: Opponent circles their ankle out of your hook
You do: Switch immediately to a sickle sweep by dropping your right foot to the mat and sweeping their other ankle.
They try: Opponent posts their free hand to base
You do: Pull their sleeve/wrist across your centerline to break their post and re-initiate the sweep.
They try: Opponent steps their trapped ankle back
You do: Follow their movement by scooting your hips forward and re-hooking or transitioning to single-leg X guard.
They try: Opponent drops weight on your hooking leg
You do: Release the hook and invert your hips to attack a leg entanglement or transition to De La Riva guard.

Drill prescription

6 rounds × 2 minutes; partner stands at 60% resistance, feeder attempts 5 clean sweeps per round (must achieve top position with sleeve/ankle control maintained). Success metric: 80% sweep-to-top conversion rate.

How the masters teach it

Videos are still being curated for this technique. AI suggests these instructors:
Lucas Lepri — Emphasizes precise sleeve control and angle creation for high-percentage sweeps in competition.Marcelo Garcia — Focuses on seamless transitions from tripod sweep to technical stand-up and immediate guard passing.Rafael Mendes — Integrates tripod sweep with De La Riva guard entries and dynamic grip switching for modern open guard play.John Danaher — Details the mechanical principles of push-pull and lever creation, especially for no-gi application.
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