BJJ Butterfly Guard Guide — Sweeps, Back Takes & Submissions
☰Contents
Complete guide to BJJ butterfly guard — the hook mechanics, elevating sweeps, back takes, and submission entries from the butterfly system.
Complete guide to BJJ butterfly guard — the hook mechanics, elevating sweeps, back takes, and submission entries from the butterfly system.
What Makes Butterfly Guard Unique
Butterfly guard is a seat-to-seat guard where both feet hook under the opponent's thighs. Unlike closed guard, butterfly guard is active and movement-based — the hooks create elevating force that disrupts base and creates sweep opportunities without pulling the opponent down.
Installing the Butterfly Hooks
From a seated position, insert both insteps under the opponent's thighs. Maintain an upright, active spine — do not lean back. Grip: an underhook on one side and a wrist or sleeve control on the other creates the most versatile butterfly position.
Hook and Grip Combinations
- Double underhooks: maximum control, limits submission attacks
- Underhook + opposite wrist: best sweep and back-take platform
- Over-under: transition platform for back takes and arm locks
- No-gi: underhook + wrist control replaces all sleeve grips
The Elevator Sweep
The fundamental butterfly sweep: underhook one side, control the opposite wrist, break their base forward, elevate the same-side hook while rolling, and come to top. The key is breaking posture before elevating — a based opponent cannot be elevated directly.
Back Take from Butterfly
When the opponent leans to prevent the sweep, the back take opportunity opens. Post your foot on the mat (underhook side), use the hook and underhook to rotate them onto their side, and climb to the back. This is one of the highest-percentage back takes in BJJ.
Submissions from Butterfly
The front headlock from butterfly sets up the guillotine and D'Arce. The underhook position creates kimura and arm triangle opportunities. When they post to base, the armbar and triangle become available. Butterfly guard feeds into a rich submission chain.
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FAQ
Closed guard traps the opponent inside your legs, limiting their movement. Butterfly guard allows both players to move freely but creates elevating force through the hooks that disrupts base without restricting mobility.
The elevator sweep (single hook elevate with underhook) is the foundational butterfly sweep. The angle sweep (rolling to the underhook side) is the highest-percentage sweep when the opponent leans correctly.
Yes — butterfly guard is one of the most effective no-gi guards because the hooks work without fabric. Replace sleeve grips with wrist control. Marcelo Garcia built his world championship game largely on butterfly guard.