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Butterfly Guard

Dec 09, 20259 min read

Butterfly Guard is a dynamic open guard variation where the bottom player inserts hooks (feet) under the opponent’s thighs while sitting up, creating powerful leverage for sweeps and upper body control. This position allows for explosive elevation of the opponent and offers exceptional offensive options while maintaining defensive capabilities. Butterfly Guard serves as both a powerful position in its own right and as a connector between various guard configurations.

The position derives its name from the appearance of the legs with knees flared outward like butterfly wings. It is particularly effective against opponents in combat base or on their knees, where the hooks can generate maximum elevation. The butterfly guard practitioner maintains an upright seated posture, using grips and upper body control to manipulate the opponent’s balance while the hooks create lifting power from below. This combination of upper body control and lower body elevation makes butterfly guard one of the most dynamic sweeping platforms in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, favored by competitors who excel at aggressive, offensive guard play.

Biomechanically, butterfly guard operates on the principle of inside position and mechanical advantage through elevation. The hooks create a fulcrum point directly under the opponent’s center of mass, allowing the guard player to generate significant lifting force with minimal energy expenditure. When combined with proper upper body control through collar grips, sleeve grips, or underhooks, this creates a powerful system for off-balancing and sweeping opponents. The seated posture provides mobility and reaction capability while maintaining constant pressure through the hooks, keeping opponents defensive and preventing them from establishing dominant passing grips or posture.

Modern butterfly guard has evolved significantly, particularly in no-gi grappling where the absence of gi grips requires adaptations in control strategies. Contemporary practitioners emphasize the integration of butterfly guard with leg entanglement systems, using it as an entry point to X-Guard, Single Leg X-Guard, and ashi garami positions. The position has also become central to many competition strategies as a counter to modern pressure passing, where the hooks and seated posture provide excellent defensive retention capabilities while maintaining offensive threat.

Key Principles

  • Maintain active elevator pressure through hooks to compromise opponent’s base constantly

  • Control inside space and prevent opponent from establishing outside control or distance

  • Coordinate upper body pulling and lower body elevation in unified directional force

  • Time attacks with opponent’s forward pressure and weight distribution shifts

  • Chain multiple attack options together to create compound offensive dilemmas

  • Use butterfly as transitional hub to X-Guard, back attacks, and leg entanglements

Top vs Bottom

VariantBottom RiskTop RiskBottom EnergyTop EnergyKey Difference
Butterfly GuardMediumMediumMediumMediumExplosive elevation over defensive stability
Butterfly Hook ControlMediumMedium to HighMediumMediumActive elevation hooks create instability
Half ButterflyMediumMediumMediumMediumButterfly hook adds elevation to half guard

Playing as Bottom

→ Full Bottom Guide

Key Principles

  • Maintain inside position with hooks deep under opponent’s thighs to maximize elevation potential and prevent opponent from establishing outside control

  • Keep seated posture upright with active core engagement to prevent being flattened, maintaining offensive capability and sweep readiness

  • Control opponent’s upper body through strategic grips to break posture, prevent defensive base, and set up sweeping directions

  • Generate elevation through coordinated leg drive and upper body pull in same direction, creating unified rotational force

  • Time sweeps with opponent’s weight shifts and forward movement for maximum effectiveness and energy efficiency

  • Maintain defensive awareness for passing attempts while staying offensive-minded and ready to capitalize on opportunities

  • Use hooks dynamically to adjust angles, create off-balancing opportunities, and transition to alternative positions when needed

Primary Techniques

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Lying flat on back instead of maintaining upright seated posture with active core

    • Consequence: Eliminates leverage for sweeps and makes it easy for opponent to apply pressure and pass guard
    • ✅ Correction: Keep chest forward, core engaged, and maintain active seated position with weight on hips and hooks creating constant upward pressure

  • ❌ Passive hooks that do not actively engage opponent’s thighs with continuous elevator pressure

    • Consequence: Reduces elevation power and makes sweeps ineffective, allowing opponent to easily control distance and establish passing position
    • ✅ Correction: Actively drive hooks upward into opponent’s inner thighs with constant elevator pressure, treating hooks as active tools not passive barriers

  • ❌ Poor upper body control or ineffective gripping strategy that allows opponent good posture

    • Consequence: Opponent can maintain good posture and base, neutralizing sweep attempts and controlling the engagement
    • ✅ Correction: Establish strong grips on collar, sleeves, or underhooks to break opponent’s posture and control their weight distribution before attempting sweeps

  • ❌ Attempting sweeps without proper timing or setup, forcing techniques against opponent’s base

    • Consequence: Wasted energy on failed sweep attempts and vulnerability to counter-passes during committed sweep attempts
    • ✅ Correction: Time sweeps with opponent’s forward pressure or weight shifts; use grips to create off-balance before committing to sweep execution

  • ❌ Neglecting transitions when sweeps are defended, becoming stagnant in position

    • Consequence: Getting stuck in stalemate or allowing opponent to establish dominant passing position while you remain inactive
    • ✅ Correction: Chain sweeps together and transition to X-Guard, Deep Half, or Back Takes when primary sweep is defended; maintain constant offensive pressure

  • ❌ Allowing hooks to be cleared or stepped over without immediate reaction or recovery

    • Consequence: Loss of butterfly guard entirely and vulnerability to immediate pass with no defensive structure remaining
    • ✅ Correction: Immediately recover hooks, transition to alternative guard retention strategy, or work for technical standup when hooks are threatened

  • ❌ Crossing ankles behind opponent’s back which eliminates elevation capability

    • Consequence: Transforms position into ineffective configuration with no sweeping power and vulnerability to pressure passing
    • ✅ Correction: Keep hooks independent with feet under opponent’s thighs, never crossing ankles; maintain hook separation for maximum elevation

Playing as Top

→ Full Top Guide

Key Principles

  • Maintain strong base with wide stance and low center of gravity to resist elevation attempts from hooks

  • Control grips strategically to prevent opponent from establishing dominant upper body control that enables sweeps

  • Keep proper posture with chest up and hips back to avoid being pulled forward into optimal sweeping range

  • Clear or neutralize hooks through distance management, over-under control, or transition to standing passes

  • Time passing movements with opponent’s offensive attempts when their structure is temporarily compromised

  • Avoid committing weight forward excessively which makes you vulnerable to explosive elevation sweeps

  • Transition fluidly between combat base, standing, and passing configurations based on opponent’s reactions

Primary Techniques

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Committing too much weight forward into opponent’s hooks and upper body control

    • Consequence: Makes sweeps extremely easy to execute as you provide the forward momentum opponent needs for elevation
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain balanced posture with hips back, distributing weight evenly and avoiding excessive forward lean into optimal sweeping range

  • ❌ Allowing opponent to establish dominant upper body grips without contesting

    • Consequence: Gives opponent full control over your posture and movement, enabling high-percentage sweeps and transitions
    • ✅ Correction: Actively fight grips and establish your own controlling grips to prevent opponent from breaking your posture and setting up attacks

  • ❌ Attempting to pass with poor posture or broken base

    • Consequence: Vulnerability to immediate sweeps as your compromised structure provides no resistance to elevation attempts
    • ✅ Correction: Prioritize establishing proper posture and solid base before attempting passing movements; posture first, then pass

  • ❌ Staying static in combat base without attempting to clear hooks or advance position

    • Consequence: Allows opponent to maintain optimal position indefinitely while setting up attacks and creating sweeping opportunities
    • ✅ Correction: Constantly work to clear hooks through distance management, transition to standing, or secure over-under control to neutralize threats

  • ❌ Pulling hooks outward or away from opponent’s body when attempting to clear them

    • Consequence: Strengthens opponent’s hook connection and makes clearing more difficult while tiring yourself
    • ✅ Correction: Push knees together and forward toward opponent’s centerline to compromise hook leverage, or create distance to disengage entirely

  • ❌ Neglecting to recognize opponent’s transition to X-Guard or leg entanglements

    • Consequence: Finding yourself in even more dangerous positions with complex escape requirements
    • ✅ Correction: Maintain awareness of opponent’s lower body movements and immediately counter transitions to alternative guard positions

  • ❌ Using purely strength and pressure against butterfly guard without technical passing strategy

    • Consequence: Energy depletion while making minimal progress against properly maintained butterfly structure
    • ✅ Correction: Employ technical passing sequences that specifically address butterfly guard mechanics rather than generic pressure approaches

  • X-Guard - Common progression when opponent stands or attempts to create distance

  • Single Leg X-Guard - Natural transition when one hook is cleared or opponent stands asymmetrically

  • Deep Half Guard - Defensive transition when opponent applies heavy forward pressure

  • Half Guard - Fallback position when one hook is cleared during passing attempts

  • Seated Guard - Related open guard variation with similar seated posture mechanics