Butterfly Guard Bottom represents one of the most dynamic and offensive-minded guard positions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. From the bottom perspective, this position offers exceptional sweeping opportunities through the combination of inside position via hooks and superior upper body control. The bottom player sits upright with both feet inserted as hooks under the opponent’s inner thighs, creating constant elevator pressure that compromises the top player’s base and posture. This configuration allows for explosive, high-percentage sweeps while simultaneously providing pathways to back takes, leg entanglements, and submission opportunities.
The fundamental strength of butterfly guard from bottom lies in its offensive capabilities paired with good defensive retention when executed properly. Unlike more passive guards, butterfly guard demands active engagement and constant pressure, rewarding practitioners who maintain aggressive intent. The seated posture provides excellent mobility for angle adjustment, hip movement, and defensive framing, while the hooks create immediate sweeping threat that opponents must constantly defend against. This forces opponents to make tactical decisions under pressure, creating opportunities for the guard player to capitalize on defensive reactions.
From a tactical perspective, butterfly guard bottom serves as a central hub in modern guard systems. It connects seamlessly to X-Guard when opponents stand, transitions naturally to deep half guard under pressure, and provides excellent entries to back control through arm drags and back takes. The position is particularly effective in no-gi where the absence of gi friction makes other guards more difficult to maintain, as the hooks provide mechanical control independent of grips. Elite practitioners use butterfly guard as both a destination position for launching sweeps and as a transitional position for entering more dominant configurations.
The learning curve for butterfly guard involves developing several interconnected skills: maintaining upright posture under pressure, generating constant elevator pressure through hooks, establishing and maintaining dominant grips, timing sweeps with opponent weight shifts, and smoothly transitioning to alternative positions when primary attacks are defended. Success requires coordination between upper and lower body, understanding of leverage mechanics, and ability to read opponent’s defensive reactions. When mastered, butterfly guard bottom becomes one of the most versatile and high-percentage positions in competitive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Position Definition
- Both hooks inserted under opponent’s thighs with insteps or balls of feet making contact against inner thighs, creating inside position and leverage points for elevation
- Seated upright position maintained with core engaged, chest forward, and hips mobile rather than flat on back, allowing for dynamic movement and proper leverage mechanics
- Upper body control established through grips on collar, sleeves, or underhooks, controlling opponent’s posture and preventing them from standing tall or creating excessive distance
- Opponent facing you in combat base, on knees, or standing posture, positioned close enough for hooks to engage their thighs while attempting to pass or establish dominant grips
Prerequisites
- Sufficient hip mobility and flexibility to maintain seated position with knees flared outward comfortably for extended periods
- Core strength and stability to maintain upright posture under opponent’s forward pressure and passing attempts
- Understanding of inside position concepts and how hooks create mechanical advantage through elevation
- Ability to control distance and timing with upper body grips while coordinating lower body hook pressure
- Basic knowledge of sweeping mechanics, leverage principles, and rotational force generation
Key Defensive 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
Available Escapes
Butterfly Sweep → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 50%
- Intermediate: 65%
- Advanced: 80%
Butterfly Sweep → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 55%
- Intermediate: 70%
- Advanced: 82%
Arm Drag to Back → Back Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 45%
- Intermediate: 60%
- Advanced: 75%
Butterfly Guard to X-Guard → X-Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 40%
- Intermediate: 55%
- Advanced: 70%
Elevator Sweep → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 48%
- Intermediate: 63%
- Advanced: 78%
Hook Sweep → Side Control
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 52%
- Intermediate: 67%
- Advanced: 80%
Overhook Sweep → Mount
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 46%
- Intermediate: 61%
- Advanced: 76%
Butterfly Guard to X-Guard → Single Leg X-Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 38%
- Intermediate: 53%
- Advanced: 68%
Open Guard to Deep Half → Deep Half Guard
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 42%
- Intermediate: 57%
- Advanced: 72%
Arm Drag → Turtle
Success Rates:
- Beginner: 44%
- Intermediate: 59%
- Advanced: 74%
Decision Making from This Position
If opponent maintains low combat base with hands posted forward defensively:
- Execute Butterfly Sweep → Mount (Probability: 65%)
- Execute Elevator Sweep → Mount (Probability: 60%)
If opponent extends arms or creates distance defensively to avoid sweep:
- Execute Arm Drag to Back → Back Control (Probability: 58%)
- Execute Butterfly Guard to X-Guard → X-Guard (Probability: 52%)
If opponent stands up or begins withdrawing from hooks to establish standing pass:
- Execute Butterfly Guard to X-Guard → Single Leg X-Guard (Probability: 55%)
- Execute Technical Stand-up → Standing Position (Probability: 50%)
If opponent drives heavy pressure forward attempting to flatten you to mat:
- Execute Granby to Closed Guard → Closed Guard (Probability: 48%)
- Execute Open Guard to Deep Half → Deep Half Guard (Probability: 45%)
If opponent clears one hook or establishes half guard configuration:
- Execute Half Guard Sweeps → Half Guard (Probability: 50%)
- Execute Open Guard to Deep Half → Deep Half Guard (Probability: 46%)
Escape and Survival Paths
High-percentage submission path via sweep to mount
Butterfly Guard → Butterfly Sweep → Mount → Armbar from Mount
Back attack path via arm drag
Butterfly Guard → Arm Drag to Back → Back Control → Rear Naked Choke
Guillotine path from sweep or scramble
Butterfly Guard → Guillotine Choke → Won by Submission
Leg entanglement path via X-Guard transition
Butterfly Guard → Butterfly Guard to X-Guard → Single Leg X-Guard → Straight Ankle Lock
Triangle path from mount after sweep
Butterfly Guard → Butterfly Sweep → Mount → Triangle from Mount
Success Rates and Statistics
| Skill Level | Retention Rate | Advancement Probability | Submission Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 30% | 35% | 15% |
| Intermediate | 50% | 55% | 28% |
| Advanced | 70% | 72% | 45% |
Average Time in Position: 20-45 seconds before sweep or transition
Expert Analysis
John Danaher
The butterfly guard represents a fundamental shift in guard philosophy from the closed guard’s focus on breaking posture through closed leg configuration to an open guard system that emphasizes inside position and mechanical elevation. The key biomechanical principle is understanding the fulcrum created by your hooks under the opponent’s center of mass - when you pull with the upper body in one direction while simultaneously driving with the hooks in the same direction, you create an irresistible rotational force that overcomes even superior strength and weight. The critical error most practitioners make is treating the hooks as passive barriers rather than active elevators; you must constantly maintain upward pressure against the opponent’s inner thighs to compromise their base before initiating sweeps. Superior butterfly guard is characterized by the ability to maintain this elevator pressure while simultaneously controlling the opponent’s upper body to prevent defensive posting and base recovery, creating a unified system of control that generates high-percentage sweeping opportunities.
Gordon Ryan
In competition, I use butterfly guard primarily as a transitional position rather than a destination - it’s a staging area for entering more dominant positions like X-Guard or taking the back when opponents react defensively. The modern competitor needs to understand that elite passers will not allow you to sit in butterfly comfortably, so you must be explosive with your entries and attacks, never passive or waiting. My approach is to use false retreats - appearing to lose the position or give ground - which baits opponents into driving forward with pressure, setting up perfectly timed sweeps or transitions to leg entanglements when they overcommit. When I do sweep from butterfly, I prioritize the positions that immediately threaten submissions: I aim for mount or back control rather than side control because these positions offer immediate finishing opportunities. The guillotine from butterfly is also extremely high percentage when timed correctly during scrambles, as opponents often overcommit to passing pressure and expose their necks in ways they wouldn’t from other guard positions.
Eddie Bravo
Butterfly guard is one of those positions that really opens up when you start combining it with rubber guard principles and unorthodox gripping strategies - I teach my students to think about butterfly as a launchpad for creative attacks rather than just a traditional sweeping position with predictable outcomes. One thing we emphasize heavily in 10th Planet is the integration with the lockdown when one hook gets partially cleared - instead of losing the position entirely and conceding the pass, you can immediately transition to a lockdown half guard and maintain offensive pressure through an entirely different system. The overhook from butterfly is particularly powerful in no-gi, where you can threaten submissions like the guillotine while simultaneously using the hook for sweeps, creating true dilemmas for opponents. We also drill extensively on going from butterfly directly to leg entanglements and back attacks, treating the position as a hub in a larger system of interconnected attacks rather than an isolated position. The key innovation is not being stuck in the traditional mindset of ‘I must sweep to top position’ but rather ‘how can I create the most chaos and submission opportunities from this configuration regardless of whether I end up on top or not.‘